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Human exposure to mercury in the atmosphere and soils in Konongo: an age-old mining centre in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.
Coker, Ewura Abena; Nkuah, Bright Cephas; Amoanimaah, Sandra Afia; Oppong, Joel Baffour; Gyamfi, Opoku; Ansah, Eugene; Ababio, Kofi Agyarko; Wemegah, David Dotse; Borquaye, Lawrence Sheringham; Darko, Godfred.
Afiliación
  • Coker EA; Department of Chemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
  • Nkuah BC; Department of Chemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
  • Amoanimaah SA; Department of Chemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
  • Oppong JB; Department of Chemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
  • Gyamfi O; Department of Chemistry Education, Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Asante-Mampong, Ghana.
  • Ansah E; Department of Chemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
  • Ababio KA; Department of Statistical Sciences, Kumasi Technical University, Kumasi, Ghana.
  • Wemegah DD; Department of Physics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
  • Borquaye LS; Department of Chemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
  • Darko G; Department of Chemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. gdarko.sci@knust.edu.gh.
Environ Geochem Health ; 45(6): 3555-3565, 2023 Jun.
Article en En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36449127
The dramatic upsurge of artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) activities in Ghana has resulted in environmental degradation, water pollution and human exposure to mercury-the main hazardous element used in gold extraction. This study evaluated the degree of human exposure to mercury based on the concentrations found in the air and soil samples taken at a resolution of 1 km2 across Konongo, a historic mining town in Ghana's Ashanti Region. The highest atmospheric mercury concentration was 193 ng/m3, which is much higher than the levels the European Union and Japan allowed, which are 10 ng/m3 and 40 ng/m3, respectively. The concentration in the soil was 3.6 mg Hg/kg, which is around ten times higher than the background concentration in nature. Additionally, the soil concentrations were higher above the worrisome levels of soil contamination in agricultural land (4 mg/kg) and industrial areas (16 mg/kg), respectively. Soils are extremely contaminated with mercury at sites artisanal mining activities take place. The concentrations of mercury in the air and soils were significantly higher (p < 0.5) at locations of prominent mining activities compared to areas not close to mining sites. The inhabitants of the Konongo community are therefore exposed to mercury, most likely emitted from artisanal mining activities. A non-carcinogenic risk is posed to the people by inhaling mercury vapour through the air and vapourisation from the soil. Children are exposed to a higher risk than adults as they receive higher daily doses of mercury than adults.
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Texto completo: 1 Colección: 01-internacional Base de datos: MEDLINE Asunto principal: Mercurio Límite: Adult / Child / Humans País/Región como asunto: Africa Idioma: En Revista: Environ Geochem Health Asunto de la revista: QUIMICA / SAUDE AMBIENTAL Año: 2023 Tipo del documento: Article País de afiliación: Ghana Pais de publicación: Países Bajos
Texto completo
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Texto completo: 1 Colección: 01-internacional Base de datos: MEDLINE Asunto principal: Mercurio Límite: Adult / Child / Humans País/Región como asunto: Africa Idioma: En Revista: Environ Geochem Health Asunto de la revista: QUIMICA / SAUDE AMBIENTAL Año: 2023 Tipo del documento: Article País de afiliación: Ghana Pais de publicación: Países Bajos