Article
Impact of gold-mining activity on trace elements enrichment in the West African estuaries: The case of Pra and Ankobra rivers with the Volta estuary (Ghana) as the reference
Author/s | Klubi, Emmanuel
Abril Hernández, José María Nyarko, Elvis Delgado García, Antonio |
Department | Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Física Aplicada I Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Ciencias Agroforestales |
Publication Date | 2018 |
Deposit Date | 2022-10-04 |
Published in |
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Abstract | This study aimed at assessing trace element concentrations in two representative estuaries of Ghana (Pra and Ankobra) affected by gold-mining, relative to the levels of the unaffected Volta estuary. Surficial sediments ... This study aimed at assessing trace element concentrations in two representative estuaries of Ghana (Pra and Ankobra) affected by gold-mining, relative to the levels of the unaffected Volta estuary. Surficial sediments (n = 16–17) were sampled at each estuary and analysed by ICP-MS for 25 elements after pseudo-total digestion. The enrichment and geoaccumulation indexes revealed a moderate to significant contamination of As, Ag and Cu in the Pra and Ankobra estuaries. Spatial maps of concentrations revealed non-localized sources. High As concentrations were attributable to runoff transport and sedimentation of gold mining-tailing particles, as suggested by results from granulometric distributions, correlation and PCA analysis. The probabilities of surpassing the probable effects level (PEL) were 77% for As, 50% for Cr and 27% for Ni in Ankobra; these values were of 13%, 23% and 10% for the Pra. Results reveal potential future implications on ecosystems and human health in these both estuaries as result of the gold-mining activity. |
Funding agencies | International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO). España |
Project ID. | RAF7009
AGl2014-57835-C2-1-R |
Citation | Klubi, E., Abril Hernández, J.M., Nyarko, E. y Delgado García, A. (2018). Impact of gold-mining activity on trace elements enrichment in the West African estuaries: The case of Pra and Ankobra rivers with the Volta estuary (Ghana) as the reference. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 190 (July 2018), 229-244. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gexplo.2018.03.014. |
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