Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Potentially toxic Metal Loads in Soils Supporting Medicinal Plants in the Ashanti Region of Ghana

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Chemistry Africa Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The emission of potentially toxic metals from both anthropogenic and natural sources into the ecosystem has resulted in the contamination of soils. This study evaluated the levels of potentially toxic metals accumulation and enrichment in soils supporting medicinal plants in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Soil physical characteristics (pH), cation exchange capacity, and soil organic matter were evaluated using standard methods. Levels of selected potentially toxic metals (lead, Arsenic, Copper and Cadmium) and mercury in soils were assessed using the X-Ray Fluorescence technique and RA − 915 M mercury analyzer, respectively. The extent of soil contamination was determined using enrichment factor (EF), geo-accumulation index (Igeo), contamination factor (CF), and pollution load index (PLI). Ecological risk (Er) and non-carcinogenic health risks of soils were also evaluated. The pH of the soils ranged from 4.87 to 7.88, and the soil organic matter ranged from 0.35 to 2.63%. The soil cation exchange capacity ranged from 1.14—5.98 meq/100 g. The mean levels of potentially toxic metals were Pb (2.93 ± 0.53–11.22 ± 2.80 mg/kg), As (2.37 ± 0.56–7.52 ± 1.97 mg/kg), Cu (8.87 ± 2.23–23.20 ± 3.62 mg/kg), Cd (4.29 ± 0.90–15.28 ± 3.01 mg/kg) and Hg (4.00 × 10–3 ± 0.00–1.05 × 10–3 ± 0.03 mg/kg). The mean EF and CF contents ranged from 238.22 (extremely high contamination) to 0.1 (low contamination), and 0.17 (low contamination) to 76.40 (very high contamination), respectively. The mean PLI and Igeo ranged between 1.04 (moderate polluted) and 1.8180 (strongly polluted), and − 9.35 (practically uncontaminated) to 9.43 (contaminated). The ecological risk was between 0.81 (low risk) and 1134 (very high risk). Levels of all metals were lower than the World Health Organization/Food and Agriculture Organization maximum permissible limits except cadmium, and the soils manifested similar enrichment for the potentially toxic metals but exhibited variable physical properties. Levels of selected metals were within that of naturally occurring concentration in soils except for cadmium that could be from anthropogenic sources.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Li C, Zhou K, Qin W, Tian C, Qi M, Yan X, Han W (2019) A review on heavy metals contamination in soil: effects, sources, and remediation techniques. Soil Sediment Contam 28(4):380–394

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Turkdogan MK, Kilicel F, Kara K, Tuncer I, Uygan I (2003) Heavy metals in soil, vegetables and fruits in the endemic upper gastrointestinal cancer region of Turkey. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 13:175–179

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Genchi G, Sinicropi MS, Lauria G, Carocci A, Catalano A (2020) Effects of cadmium toxicity. Int J Environ Res Public Health 3782(17):1–24

    Google Scholar 

  4. Dissanayake CB, Chandrajith R (2009) (2009) Phosphate mineral fertilizers, trace metals and human health. J Natn Sci Foundation Sri Lanka 37(3):153–165

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Nagajyoti PC, Lee KD, Sreekanth TVM (2010) Heavy metals, occurrence and toxicity for plants; a review. Environ Chem lett 8(3):199–216

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Davidson PW, Myers GJ, Weiss B (2004) Mercury exposure and child development outcomes. Pediatrics 113(3):1023–1029

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Gyamfi O, Sorenson PB, Darko G, Ansah E, Lethbak J (2020) Human health risk assessment of exposure to indoor mercury vapour in a Ghanaian artisanal small-scale gold mining community. Chemosphere 241:125014

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. UNEP (2015) Global mercury assessment 2013: sources, emissions, releases, and environmental transport (Tech report). United Nations Environment Programme Chemicals Branch, Geneva, Switzerland.

  9. Rahman SF, Khanam D, Adyel TM, Islam MS, Ahsan MA, Akbor MA (2012) Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination of Agricultural Soil around Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ), Bangladesh: Implication of Seasonal variation and Indices. Appl Sci 2:584–601

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Yabe J, Ishizuka M, Umemura T (2010) Current Levels of Heavy Metal Pollution in Africa. J Vet Med Sci 72(10):1257–1263

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Ghana Herbal Pharmacopoeia (2015) Science and Technology Policy Research Institute (STEPRI), 3rd Edition, pp 15.

  12. Feng G, Xie T, Wang X, Bai J, Tang L, Zhao H, Wei W, Wang M, Zhao Y (2018) Metagenomic analysis of microbial community and function involved in cd-contaminated soil. BMC Microbiol 18(1):1–13

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Tu C, Lena Q, Ma, and Bhaskar B, (2002) – Plant and Environment Interactions – Arsenic Accumulation in the hyperaccumulator Chinese Brake and its utilization potential for phytoremediation. J Environ Qual 31:1671–1675

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Rowell DL (2014) Soil science: Methods & Applications. Routledge

    Book  Google Scholar 

  15. Darko G, Boakye KO, Nkansah MA, Gyamfi O, Ansah E, Yevugah LL, Acheampong A, Dodd M (2019) Human Health Risk and Bioaccessibility of Toxic Metals in Topsoils from Gbani Mining Community in Ghana. J Health and Pollut 22:1–11

    Google Scholar 

  16. Gyamfi O, Sorensen PB, Darko G, Ansah E, Vorkamp (2021) Contamination, exposure and risk assessment of mercury in the soils of an artisanal gold mining community in Ghana. Chemosphere 267:128910.

  17. Caeiro S, Costa MH, Ramos TB (2005) Assessing heavy metal contamination in sado estuary sediment: An index analysis approach. Ecol Ind 5:151–169

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Hakanson L (1980) An ecological risk index for aquatic pollution control. A sedimentological approach Water Res 14:975–1001. https://doi.org/10.1016/0043-1354(80)90143-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Kumar PS, Edward JKP (2009) Assessment of metal concentration in sediment cores of Manakudy estuary, southwest coast of India. Indian J Marine Sci 38:235–248

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Nude PM, Foli G, Yidana SM (2011) Geochemical assessment of impact of mine spoils on the quality of stream sediments within the Obuasi mines environment. Ghana Int J Geosci 2:259–266

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Zhang LP, Ye X, Feng H (2007) Heavy metal contamination in western Xiamen Bay sediments and its vicinity. China Marine Pollut Bull 54:974–982

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Yongmin H, Peixuan D, Junji C, Posmentier ES (2000) Multivariate analysis of heavy metal contamination in urban dusts of Xi’an, Cent. China Sci Total Environ 355:176–186

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Ying H, YongXia L, Jian Y, MinMin X, Bo S, FuWei G, and Ning W (2015) Harmful Chemicals in Soil and Risk Assessment of an Abandoned Open Dumpsite in Eastern China. J. Chem. 2015:297686, 10 pages. URL: http://dx.doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/297686

  24. Jiang X, Lu WX, Zhao HQ, Yang QC. and Yang Z. P. (2014). Potential ecological risk assessment and prediction of soil heavy-metal pollution around coal gangue dump. Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 14:1599–1610. URL: https://www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/14/1599/2014/nhess-14-1599-2014.pdf

  25. Gong Q, Deng J, Xiang Y, Wang Q, Yang L (2008) Calculating Pollution Indices by Heavy Metals in Ecological Geochemistry Assessment and a Case Study in Parks of Beijing. J China Univ Geosci 19:230–241

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Liu HY, Probst A, Liao BH (2005) Metal contamination of soils and crops affected by the Chenzhou lead/zinc mine spill (Hunan, China). Sci Total Environ 339:153–166

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Xu ZQ, Ni SJ, Tuo XG (2008) Calculation of heavy metals toxicity coefficient in the evaluation of potential ecological risk index. Environ Sci Tech 31:112–115

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Taylor SR (1964) Abundance of chemical elements in the continental crust: a new table. Department of Geophysics, Institute of Advanced Studies. Australian National University, Canberra. Geochim.Cosmochim.Acta 28:1273–1285, 22 January. Pwgsmon Press Ltd. Printed in Northern Ireland.

  29. Raymond B (2019) Five rules for resistance management in the antibiotic apocalypse, a road map for integrated microbial management. Evol Appl 12(6):1079–1091

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  30. Laurent C, Bravin MN, Crouzet O, Pelosi C, Tillard E, Lecomte P and Lamy I (2020) Increased soil pH and dissolved organic matter after a decade of organic fertilizer application mitigates copper and zinc availability despite contamination. Sci. Total Environ. 709:135927.

  31. Tahervand S, Jalali M (2017) Sorption and desorption of potentially toxic metals (Cd, Cu, Ni and Zn) by soil amended with bentonite, calcite and zeolite as a function of pH. J Geochem Explor 181:148–159

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Akanchise T, Boakye S, Borquaye LS, Dodd M, Darko G (2020) Distribution of heavy metals in soils from abandoned dump sites in Kumasi. Ghana Scientific African 10:e00614. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2020.e00614

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Bai J, Zhao Q, Wang W, Wang X, Jia J, Cui B, Liu X (2019) Arsenic and heavy metals pollution along a salinity gradient in drained coastal wetland soils: Depth distributions, sources and toxic risks’. Ecol Indic 96:91–98

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Carolin CF, Kumar PS, Saravanan A, Joshiba GJ, Naushad M (2017) Efficient techniques for the removal of toxic heavy metals from aquatic environment: A review. J Environ Chem Eng 5(3):2782–2799

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Zhu Y, Fan W, Zhou T, Li X (2019) Removal of chelated heavy metals from aqueous solution: a review of current methods and mechanisms. Sci Total Environ 678:253–266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.416

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Temminghoff EJM, Van Der Zee SEATM, De Haan FAM (1997) Copper mobility in a copper-contaminated sandy soil as affected by pH and solid and dissolved organic matter. Environ Sci Technol 31:1109–1115. https://doi.org/10.1021/es9606236

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Kanmani S, Gandhimathi R (2013) Assessment of heavy metal contamination in soil due to leachate migration from an open dumping site. Appl Water Sci 3:193–205. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-012-0072-z

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Arifin Z, Puspitasari R, Miyazaki N (2012) Heavy metal contamination in Indonesian coastal marine ecosystems: a historical perspective. Coast Mar Sci 35:227–233

    Google Scholar 

  39. Chen M, Ma LQ, Harris WG (2002) Arsenic Concentrations in Florida Surface Soils: Influence of Soil Type and Properties. Soil Sci Soc of Amer J 66(2):632–640

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. WHO/FAO (2001). Codex Alimentarius commission. Food additives and contaminants. Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme, ALINORM 10/12A.

  41. Mohammed SA, Folurunsho JA (2015) Heavy Metal Concentration in Soil and Amaranthus retroflexus grown in irrigated farmland in the Area, Kaduna. Nigeria J Geogr Reg Plann 8(8):210–217

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Cai L, Zhencheng XuZ, Ren M, Guo Q, Hu G, Hu X, Hongfu Wan H, Peng P (2012) Source identification of eight hazardous heavy metals in agricultural soils of Huizhou, Guangdong Province. China Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 78:2–8

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Huang SS, Liao QL, Hua M, Wu XM, Bi KS, Yan CY, Chen B, Zhang XY (2007) Survey of heavy metal pollution and assessment of agricultural soil in Yangzhong district, Jiangsu Province, China. Chemosphere 67:2148–2155

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Sun C, Bi CJ, Chen ZL, Wang DQ, Zhang C, Sun YD, Yu ZJ, Zhou D (2010) Assessment on environmental quality of heavy metals in agricultural soils of Chongming Island, Shanghai City. J Geogr Sci 20:135–147

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Cai L-M, Wang Q-S, Wen H-H, Luo J, Wang S (2019) Heavy metals in agricultural soils from a typical township in Guangdong Province, China: Occurrences and spatial distribution. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 168:184–191

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Kamunda C, Mathuthu M, Madhuku M (2016) Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Soils from Wastewater and Gold Mining Basin, South Africa. Int J Environ Res Public Health 13(663):2–11

    Google Scholar 

  47. Kibassa D, Kimaro AA, Shemdoe RS (2013) Heavy metals concentrations in selected areas used for urban agriculture in Dar es Salaam. Tanzania Sci Res & Essays 8(27):1296–1303

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Mico C, Recatala L, Perıs M, Sanchez J (2006) Assessing heavy metal sources in agricultural soils of an European Mediterranean area by multivariate analysis. Chemosphere 65:863–872

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Abollino O, Aceto M, Malandrino M, Mentasti E, Sarzanini C, Petrella F (2002) Heavy metals in agricultural soils from Piedmont, Italy: distribution, speciation and chemometric data treatment. Chemosphere 49:545–557

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Jarup L, Akesson A (2009) Current status of cadmium as an environmental health problem. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 238(3):201–208

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. World Health Organization (2000) Air Quality Guidelines, 2nd edn. Denmark, Copenhagen

    Google Scholar 

  52. Radojevic M, Bashkin VN (2006) Practical Environmental Analysis, 2nd edn. Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, p 389

    Google Scholar 

  53. Swarnalatha K, Letha J, Ayoob S, Nair AG (2015) Risk assessment of heavy metal contamination in sediments of a tropical lake. Environ Monit Assess 187(6):322. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-4558-7

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Facchinelli A, Sacchi E, Mallen L (2001) Multivariate statistical and GIS-based approach to identify heavy metal sources in soils. Environ Pollut 114:313–324

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Xue L, Liu J, Shi S, Wei Y, Chang E, Gao M, Chen L, Jiang Z (2014) Uptake of Heavy Metals by Native Herbaceous Plants in an Antimony Mine (Hunan, China). CLEAN – Soil, Air, Water. 42(1):81–87. https://doi.org/10.1002/clen.201200490

  56. Xiao R, Wang S, Li R, Wang JJ, Zhang Z (2017) Soil heavy metal contamination and health risks associated with artisanal gold mining in Tongguan, Shaanxi. China Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 141:17–24

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Tóth G, Hermann T, Da Silva MR, Montanarella L (2016) Heavy metals in agricultural soils of the European Union with implications for food safety. Environ Int 88:299–309

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Li Z, Ma Z, van der Kuijp TJ, Yuan Z, Huang LA (2014) review of soil heavy metal pollution from mines in China: Pollution and health risk assessment. Sci Total Environ 468–469:843–853

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Abdel-Haleem AS, Sroor A, El-Bahi SM, Zohny E (2001) Heavy metals and rare earth elements in phosphate fertilizer components using instrumental neutron activation analysis. J Appl Rad & Iso 55(4):569–573

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Awotoye OO, Oyedele DJ, Anwadike BC (2010) Effects of cow-dung and rock phosphate on heavy metal content in soils and plants. J Soil Sci Environ Mgt 2(7):193–197

    Google Scholar 

  61. Javied S, Mehmood T, Chaudhry MM, Tufail M, Irfan N (2008) Heavy metal pollution from phosphate rock used for the production of fertilizer in Pakistan. Microchem J 91:94–99

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. Ayeni OO, Ndakidemi PA, Snyman RG, Odendaal JP (2010) Chemical, biological and physiological indicators of metal pollution in wetlands. Sci Res and Essays 5(15):1938–1949

    Google Scholar 

  63. Kukkola E, Raution P, Huttunen S (2000) Stress indications in copper and nickel exposed Scots pine seedlings. Environ Exp Bot 43:197–210

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Wuana RA, Okieimen FE (2011) Heavy metals in contaminated soils: a review of sources, chemistry, risks and best available strategies for remediation. ISRN Ecol. https://doi.org/10.5402/2011/402647

    Article  Google Scholar 

  65. Zhang X, Yan L, Liu J, Zhang Z, Tan C (2019) Removal of different kinds of heavy metals by novel PPG-nZVI beads and their application in simulated stormwater infiltration facility. Appl Sci 9:4213

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. Su C, Jiang L, Zhang W (2014) A review on heavy metal contamination in the soil worldwide: Situation, impact and remediation techniques. Environ Skept Critics 3:24–38

    Google Scholar 

  67. Abrahim GMS, Parker RJ (2008) Assessment of heavy metal enrichment factors and the degree of contamination in marine sediments from Tamaki Estuary, Auckland. N Zeal Environ Monit Assess 136(1–3):227–238. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-007-9678-2

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  68. Nimick DA, Moore JM (1991) Prediction of water-soluble metal concentrations in fluvially deposited tailings sediments, Upper Clark Fork Valley, Montana, USA. Appl Geochem 6:635–634

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge Mr. Opoku Gyamfi, a PhD student of the Department of Chemistry, KNUST, for his immense assistance. The authors are also grateful to the herbalists at Ejisu and Kumasi who led the authors to the areas where medicinal plants were harvesters and soil samples taken for the work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry Education, Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Asante Mampong, Ghana

    Kofi Sarpong

  2. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Physical and Computational Sciences, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

    Kofi Sarpong, Akwasi Acheampong, Godfred Darko & Osei Akoto

Authors
  1. Kofi Sarpong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Akwasi Acheampong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Godfred Darko
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Osei Akoto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Akwasi Acheampong.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

Godfred Darko is an Associate Editor for Chemistry Africa.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sarpong, K., Acheampong, A., Darko, G. et al. Potentially toxic Metal Loads in Soils Supporting Medicinal Plants in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Chemistry Africa 5, 715–729 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42250-022-00341-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42250-022-00341-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation