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Assessing heavy metal contamination and ecological risk of urban topsoils in Tarkwa, Ghana

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Abstract

This study aimed to assess the spatial distribution, contamination levels, pollution degree and ecological risks of eight heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) in topsoils of UMaT, Brahabobom, A’koon, Boboobo and Bogoso Junction (areas in Tarkwa, a mining town in Ghana). Eighty soil samples were collected, and metal concentrations were determined using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The results revealed that Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn concentrations exceeded the WHO/FAO (2001) standard in some areas. The geoaccumulation index (Igeo) value of metals in soils under study revealed extreme contamination by Pb and Mn; however, Mn was in abundance due to the presence of Mn minerals in the study area. The study area was also moderately contaminated by Cd, Cu and Zn. Cd and Pb posed a considerable and very high potential ecological risk to the study area, respectively, especially at Bogoso Junction. The two metals were mainly from vehicular traffic and the activities of auto mechanics at Bogoso Junction. Nemerow’s pollution index also revealed that about 20% of the study area was polluted, mainly from Cu and Pb concentrations.

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The datasets generated and analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Department of Environmental and Safety Engineering and Minerals Engineering, University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa, Ghana, for supporting this research. Lastly, the authors would like to acknowledge the support of Intertek Mineral Laboratory in sample preparation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental and Safety Engineering, University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa, Ghana

    Linda Bentuma Osei, Shadrack Fosu & Samuel Agyarko Ndur

  2. Cranfield Water Science Institute, Cranfield University, Bedfordshire, UK

    Samuel Yeboah Nyarko

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  1. Linda Bentuma Osei
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  2. Shadrack Fosu
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  3. Samuel Agyarko Ndur
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  4. Samuel Yeboah Nyarko
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Sample collection and data analysis were performed by Linda Bentuma Osei and Samuel Yeboah Nyarko. Linda Bentuma Osei wrote the first draft of the manuscript. Shadrack Fosu reviewed and commented on previous versions of the manuscript, and Samuel Agyarko Ndur supervised the project. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Linda Bentuma Osei.

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Osei, L.B., Fosu, S., Ndur, S.A. et al. Assessing heavy metal contamination and ecological risk of urban topsoils in Tarkwa, Ghana. Environ Monit Assess 194, 710 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-10398-w

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