The main objective of this study is to assess the level of heavy metals pollution in soil samples collected around gold mines located in Betaré Oya (BO) and Batouri (BA) in Eastern Cameroon. Elemental analysis of soil samples was carried out using Quant´X EDXRF spectrometer. Its sensitivity and accuracy were increased by using the Fundamental Parameter approach for quantification of the results. Analysis results showed high content of iron (39300±200 ppm), the presence of manganese (730±70 ppm), arsenic (4±2 ppm), zirconium (314±4 ppm) and lead (79±9 ppm) as compared to worldwide average upper continental crust (UCC). The mean Enrichment Factors (EF) decrease as Pb>As>Zr>Mn>Fe>Y>Ga>Zn>Cu>Ni> Rb>Sr>Sn>Ba in agreement with the Contamination Factors (CF). The values of pollution load index (PLI) were found to be low in all the studied samples and indicate that the studied sites in Bétaré Oya and Batouri are in low pollution status regarding the total of the studied metals. Results of this study pointed out that soils examined in the gold mining areas of Eastern Cameroon are polluted by heavy metals. It is therefore important that measures should be geared towards strengthening the monitoring of mining areas to stem down the level of contamination of soil. Phytoremediation of sites after closing open pits or the biogeosystem method would be a suitable way of regulation of the studies areas.
The concentration and composition of particulate matter (PM) in the atmosphere can directly reflect the environmental pollution. The atmospheric pollution in some Cameroonian cities is increasing with the industrial development and urbanization. Air pollution is inherently complex, containing PM of varied size and composition. This PM exists as a dynamic cloud interacting with sunlight and is modified by the meteorology. The reflectometer and the EDXRF spectrometry are applied to determine the concentration of some specific elements at four sites in the city of Yaoundé. The particular aim of the present work is to put in place data base on air pollution in urban area and elaborate regulations on the emissions issued to industrial and vehicle activities. This study provides an overview of the concentration of black carbon and some specific elements in the air, which have impacts on human health. The measurement was done by distinguishing the size of particle. So that, the particle with aerodynamic diameter between 2.5-10 μm (so-called coarse particle) and aerodynamic diameter ⁄ ⁄2.5 μm (so-called fine particle) were considered to obtain more information about levels of the inhalable fraction of the location. The results obtained in four locations of the city of Yaoundé show that the black carbon concentration is very considerable, the element sulfur is a major pollutant and the concentration of fine particle is very greater. The results obtained of fine and coarse filters range from 5-17 μg/m 3 and 10-18 μg/m 3 for the black carbon. S, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, As, Se and Hg are the specific findings of this work. The pollutants with a greater concentration are S, Pb, and Zn. These later seem to be non-uniformly, non-regular in some location and high compared to other countries. This work allows us to make a potential relation between pollutants and emission sources. In this framework, some suggestions have been proposed to reduce emissions for an improvement of the air quality in the environment and thus, the one of the city of Yaoundé.
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