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Spatial distribution of Hg in Pra River Basin, Southwestern Ghana using HF acid combination method

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Abstract

The study assessed the spatial distribution of total mercury (THg) in soils, sediments, mining wastes, and Au-rich Hg-contaminated tailings from artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) from Offin, Lower and Upper Pra, Birim, and Anum Rivers, Pra River Basin, Southwestern Ghana. THg measurement using Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (CVAAS) after acid digestion with HNO3/HCl/HF and k0-INAA, as a reference method, and both provided comparable results. A digestion method, HNO3/HClO2/H2SO4 acid mixture before CVAAS provided lower results, which indicates that the use of HF is of fundamental importance in THg analysis based on acid digestion and its omission may significantly underestimate the presence of Hg in soils and sediments. THg in soils, sediments, Au-rich Hg-contaminated tailings, and mining wastes from the river basin were liberated into a solution for measurement using HNO3/HCl/HF. The study revealed Offin and Lower Pra Rivers showed high distribution (ranges; mg Hg kg−1) of THg in soils (103–770) and sediments (0.20–20.8), respectively; Upper Pra and Anum rivers showed the lowest THg in soils (2.20–3.20) and sediments (0.004–0.02), respectively. About 76.0% of THg in sediments was lower than the USEPA guideline of 0.2 mg Hg kg−1. The highest mean THg (mg Hg kg−1) in Au-rich Hg-contaminated tailings (1673 ± 4.8, n = 4) and mining wastes (17.3–21.5) were from the river Offin. The study showed Offin (Dunkwa-on-Offin site 1) and Lower Pra (Beposo Township) rivers are Hg hotspots that need attention.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the staff especially, Ms. Vesna Fajon of the Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Slovenia. Also, to Prof. Fredrick Ato Armah, Dr. Michael Miyittah, and Dr. K. K. Mireku of the School of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Ghana. Again to Dr. Dennis K. Adotey and Dr. Delali Tulasi of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Ghana.

Funding

The research leading to these results received funding from ICTP/IAEA Sandwich Training Educational Programme (STEP), Italy to undertake this research at the Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Slovenia.

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  1. Department of Environmental Science, School of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana

    Christiana Odumah Hood

  2. Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova Cesta 39, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Jaćimović Radjoko & Milena Horvat

  3. Department of Physics, School of Physical Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana

    Samuel Yeboah Mensah

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Christiana Odumah Hood wrote the paper with guidance and contributions from Prof. Dr. Milena Horvat, Prof., Samuel Yeboah Mensah, and Prof., Dr. Radojko Jacimovic.

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Hood, C.O., Radjoko, J., Mensah, S.Y. et al. Spatial distribution of Hg in Pra River Basin, Southwestern Ghana using HF acid combination method. Environ Monit Assess 195, 604 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-023-11122-y

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