Abstract
The concentrations of Hg, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Fe, Mn, Cr and As were measured in groundwaters from the Upper West and Upper East Regions and the Accra Plains of Ghana. Apart from Fe, the trace metal levels for the two Upper Regions were similar. Samples from the Accra Plains had the highest trace metal concentration. However, Hg and As were undetected in all the samples. While the mean Cd, Mn and Cu concentrations for all the 3 study areas fell below the WHO limit, values for Pb and Cr exceeded the WHO limits for drinking water. Iron exceeded the limits in the Upper West Region and the Accra Plains. Overall, the most abundant elements in groundwaters were Zn, Fe and Cr.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Akiti, T. T.: 1982, Nitrate Levels in some Granite Aquifers from Tamne Basin North East Ghana, Water Resources Research Unit (CSIR) Report, Accra, Ghana.
Amuzu, A. T.: 1974, A study of the Drinking Water Quality of Boreholes in the Rural Areas of Ghana, Water Resources Research Unit (CSIR) Report, Accra, Ghana.
Amuzu, A. T.: 1978, The Quality of Groundwater in the Accra Plains of Ghana, Water Resources Research Unit (CSIR) Report, Accra, Ghana.
Antwi, L. A. K.: 1978, Natural Fluoride Levels of Some Borehole and River Waters in Ghana. Institute of Aquatic Biology, (CSIR) Report, Accra, Ghana.
Biney, C. A.: 1987, Combating Coastal Pollution in Ghana, in Coastal Zone 87, Proceedings of International Symposium, Seattle, Washington, May 26–29, 1987, pp. 960–969.
GESAMP: 1986, Review of Potentially Harmful Substances — Arsenic, Mercury and Selenium, GESAMP Reports and Studies No. 28, World Health Organisation, Geneva.
Hem, J. D.: 1985, Study and Interpretation of Chemical Characteristics of Natural Waters 3rd, U.S. Geological Survey Paper No. 2254.
Kerbyson, J. D. and Schandorf, J. R. H.: 1966, Chemical Analysis of Ghana Rocks, Ores and Minerals, 1945–1963, Geological Survey Bulletin No. 42, Accra, Ghana.
Langanegger, O.: 1987, Groundwater Quality, An Important Factor for Selecting Hand Pumps, BP.1850.01, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
Pelig-Ba, K. B.: 1987, Hydrochemical Study of Groundwater in Some Aquifers in the Upper Regions of Ghana, presented at the Joint Conference of the West African Science Assoc. & the Ghana Science Assoc., August 1987, Accra, Ghana.
Pelig-Ba, K. B.: 1989, A Report on an Investigation of Water Quality Problems on Borehole AP216 at Oyibi, Water Resources Research Institute Report, Accra, Ghana.
Pelig-Ba, K. B., Herawan, W., and Sardjan, K. Y.: 1988, Assessment of Groundwater Quality in the Upper Region of Ghana, Water Resources Research and Documentation Centre Report. Villa La Colombella, Perugia, Italy.
Quist, L. G.: 1976, A Preliminary Report of Groundwater Assessment of the Accra Plains, Water Resources Research Unit Report, Accra, Ghana.
Salomons, W. and Forstuer, U. 1984, Metals in the Hydrocycle, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, New York.
Stoeppler, M. and Backhaus, F.: 1978, Fresenius, Z Anal. chem. 291, 116.
Stumm, W. and Morgan, J. J.: 1981, Aquatic Chemistry, John Wiley and Sons, New York.
UNEP. 1984, Determination of Total Mercury in Selected Marine Organisms by Cold Vapour Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry, Reference Methods for Marine Pollution Studies No. 8.
Wadrops and Associates: 1978, Location of Well Water Supplies, Upper Region (CIDA) Water Supply Project, Accra, Ghana.
WHO: 1984, Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality, Vol. 1, World Health Organisation, Geneva.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pelig-Ba, K.B., Biney, C.A. & Antwi, L.A. Trace metal concentrations in borehole waters from the Upper Regions and the Accra Plains of Ghana. Water Air Soil Pollut 59, 333–345 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00211841
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00211841