Poisoned for gold: Assessing the spatial extent of heavy metal contamination within the Tutua-Bura-Angoben Shelter Belt Forest Reserve in Ghana

Watershed Ecology and the Environment Pub Date : 2024-01-01 DOI:10.1016/j.wsee.2024.08.001

Jeff Dacosta Osei , Emmanuel Arhin , Yaw A. Twumasi , Lily Lisa Yevugah , Louvis Boakye , Peter Damoah-Afari , Doris Saah , Priscilla Badaweh Coffie

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The Tutua-Bura-Angoben Shelter Belt project in Ghana, aimed at combating desertification and land degradation, faces an unexpected threat from heavy metal contamination. This study investigates the levels and spatial distribution of arsenic (As), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) within the forest reserve, focusing on the implications for environmental health and sustainable development goals (SDGs). Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), 195 soil samples from the forest reserve were analyzed for heavy metal concentrations. The results reveal significant contamination, with arsenic levels ranging from 3.19 to 138.63 ppm, and an alarming 26 % of the reserve exceeding the 20 ppm threshold for arsenic. Copper, lead, and zinc showed lower contamination levels, with mean concentrations of 13.83 ppm, 7.63 ppm, and 27.53 ppm, respectively. Spatial interpolation using kriging in ArcGIS highlighted localized hotspots of arsenic contamination, primarily influenced by nearby Artisanal Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) activities. The study underscores the urgent need for targeted environmental management strategies, including stricter waste management protocols, sustainable mining practices, and community engagement to mitigate the contamination risks and preserve the ecological integrity of the Tutua-Bura-Angoben Shelter Belt.

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为黄金而中毒：评估加纳 Tutua-Bura-Angoben 庇护带森林保护区内重金属污染的空间范围

加纳 Tutua-Bura-Angoben 防护林带项目旨在防治荒漠化和土地退化，但却面临着重金属污染的意外威胁。本研究调查了森林保护区内砷（As）、铅（Pb）、铜（Cu）和锌（Zn）的含量和空间分布，重点关注对环境健康和可持续发展目标（SDGs）的影响。利用电感耦合等离子体质谱仪 (ICP-MS)，对森林保护区的 195 个土壤样本进行了重金属浓度分析。结果显示污染严重，砷含量从 3.19 ppm 到 138.63 ppm 不等，令人震惊的是，26% 的保护区土壤砷含量超过了 20 ppm 的阈值。铜、铅和锌的污染水平较低，平均浓度分别为 13.83 ppm、7.63 ppm 和 27.53 ppm。利用 ArcGIS 中的克里格法进行空间插值，突出显示了砷污染的局部热点，主要受附近手工小规模采金业（ASGM）活动的影响。这项研究强调，迫切需要制定有针对性的环境管理战略，包括更严格的废物管理规程、可持续采矿实践和社区参与，以减轻污染风险，保护图图阿-布拉-安戈本防护林带的生态完整性。

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来源期刊

Watershed Ecology and the Environment

CiteScore

3.00

自引率

0.00%

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