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Environmental and human health risk assessments for potentially toxic elements in the soils of a prospective phosphate mining area of Hinda district, Republic of the Congo

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Abstract

Soils from a prospective phosphate mining area in the Hinda district of the Congo were analyzed using the ICP-MS technique in order to assess the environmental pollution and human health risks presented by potentially toxic elements (PTEs). The results showed that the mean concentrations of PTEs exceeded the global crustal average. Environmental pollution was assessed, showing the study area polluted by PTEs. Human health risk was also assessed, with the results showing the level of cancer risk greater for children than that for adults, indicating that children are more susceptible to the carcinogenic effects of PTEs than their adult counterparts.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Division for Africa through the PhD Fellowship Sandwich Programme within the framework of regional project RAF9067.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Marien Ngouabi University, BP 69, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo

    R. R. C. Moubakou Diahou, G. B. Dallou, J. S. Sondzo & C. Bouka Biona

  2. Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Applications (LPNA), National Institute for Research in Exact and Natural Sciences (IRSEN), P.O Box 2400, Brazzaville, Congo

    R. R. C. Moubakou Diahou, G. B. Dallou & J. S. Sondzo

  3. National Center for Energy, Science and Nuclear Techniques (CNESTEN), Rabat, Morocco

    H. Bounouira & Y. Maazouzi

  4. ESMAR Research Unit, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University, 4 Avenue Ibn Battouta, B.P. 1014, Rabat, Morocco

    R. R. C. Moubakou Diahou & R. Cherkaoui El Moursli

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  1. R. R. C. Moubakou Diahou
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Correspondence to R. R. C. Moubakou Diahou.

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Moubakou Diahou, R.R.C., Dallou, G.B., Sondzo, J.S. et al. Environmental and human health risk assessments for potentially toxic elements in the soils of a prospective phosphate mining area of Hinda district, Republic of the Congo. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 332, 3587–3595 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-023-09045-6

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