Geochemical Assessment of Metals in Soils and Food Crops Around Alluvial Gold Mining in Abuakwa South Municipal, Ghana

ABSTRACT

This study was to assess the concentrations and dangers of heavy metal contamination in soil and food crops on farmlands around an alluvial gold mining site in Ghana. At the sites, 40 soil samples were obtained from ten randomly dug mini holes at depths of 0 to 40 cm as well as 12 cassavas which were analyzed for cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn). Concentrations of Cd (0.08 g/kg), Pb (0.44 mg/kg), Cu (0.27 mg/kg), and Zn (1.74 mg/kg) in the soil were found to be below the WHO/GEPA guidelines. The mean concentrations of Cd (0.65 mg/kg) and Pb (1.36 mg/kg) were beyond the WHO/GEPA stipulated limit except for Cu and Zn in food crops. Bioaccumulation factor > 1 was recorded for Cd and Zn, which implies possible health risks. Values for non-carcinogenic health risks in adults and children ranged from 0 to 0.002, with the ingestion route representing the highest contributor. Cancer risk assessments for the exposure routes were all above the US EPA tolerable range of 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ to 1 × 10⁻⁴, with Cd being the highest contributor to cancer risk. The results from this study indicate that the populace is at risk of potential health problems.

KEYWORDS:

• Hazard quotient
• bioaccumulation factor
• carcinogenic
• dermal
• alluvial mining

Acknowledgments

Kibi Goldfields Ghana Limited facilitated access to the study sites, which the authors appreciate. For their cooperation during the laboratory tests, the technical team of the CSIR-Soil Research Institute in Kwadaso, Ghana, is also thanked.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Data will be made available upon request.

Authors contributions

All of the writers conceptualized and carried out this multidisciplinary study. Data gathering and experimental activities were done by Douglas Siaw Baah. David Fosu-Asante, Wisdom Mawuli Edzesi, Crentsil Kofi Agyekum, and Eric Boateng Acheampong provided input to the analysis of the data and made a substantial revision to the first draft. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

The research received no funding.