Health Risks from Intake and Contact with Toxic Metal-Contaminated Water from Pager River, Uganda

Onen, Patrick; Akemkwene, Robin; Nakiguli, Caroline K.; Nimusiima, Daniel; Ruma, Daniel Hendry; Khanakwa, Alice V.; Angiro, Christopher; Bamanya, Gadson; Opio, Boniface; Gonzaga, Allan; Omara, Timothy

doi:10.3390/jox13040035

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 65 publications

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“…Considering the positive correlations between the studied PTEs in the soil samples, the significant correlation coefficients between pairs of PTEs are indicative of their origination from a common source, i.e., MFWs' activities [66][67][68], mutual dependences, or identical behaviors during transport in the environment. Elevated concentrations of siderophilic elements (Ni, Cr, Mn, and Pb) are markers of anthropogenic pollution, supporting the idea that they could have occurred as a result of the metallurgical activities in the MFWs [69].…”

Section: Concentration and Inter-elemental Corrlation Of The Ptes In ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Exposure and Health Risks Posed by Potentially Toxic Elements in Soils of Metal Fabrication Workshops in Mbarara City, Uganda

Nuwamanya,

Byamugisha,

Nakiguli

et al. 2024

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Metal fabrication workshops (MFWs) are common businesses in Ugandan cities, and especially those producing metallic security gates, window and door frames (burglar-proof), and balcony and staircase rails. The objective of this study was to comparatively assess the pollution levels and potential health risks of manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pd) and nickel (Ni) in pooled surface soil samples from four 5-, 7-, 8-, and 10-year-old MFWs (n = 28) and a control site (n = 8) in Mbarara City, Uganda. The concentration of the potentially toxic elements (PTEs) was determined using inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry. Contamination, ecological, and human health risk assessment indices and models were used to identify any risks that the PTEs could pose to the pristine environment and humans. Our results showed that PTE pollution of soils is occuring in the MFWs than at the control site. The mean concentrations of the PTEs (mg kg−1) in the samples were: Mn (2012.75 ± 0.23–3377.14 ± 0.31), Cr (237.55 ± 0.29–424.93 ± 0.31), Cd (0.73 ± 0.13–1.29 ± 0.02), Pb (107.80 ± 0.23–262.01 ± 0.19), and Ni (74.85 ± 0.25–211.37 ± 0.14). These results indicate that the PTEs could plausibly derive from the fabrication activities in these workshops, which is supported by the high values of contamination factors, index of geoaccumulation, and the overall increase in pollution load indices with the number of years of operation of the MFWs. Human health risk assessment showed that there are non-carcinogenic health risks that could be experienced by children who ingest PTEs in the soils from the 7-, 8- and 10-year-old MFWs. The incremental life cancer risk assessment suggested that there are potential cancerous health effects of Cd and Ni that could be experienced in children (who ingest soils from all the four MFWs) and adults (ingesting soils from the 8- and 10-year-old MFWs). This study underscores the need to implement regulatory guidelines on the operation and location of MFWs in Uganda. Further research should be undertaken to investigate the emission of the PTEs during welding operations in the MFWs.

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Section: Concentration and Inter-elemental Corrlation Of The Ptes In ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Exposure and Health Risks Posed by Potentially Toxic Elements in Soils of Metal Fabrication Workshops in Mbarara City, Uganda

Nuwamanya,

Byamugisha,

Nakiguli

et al. 2024

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Heavy metals pollution, distribution and associated human health risks in groundwater and surface water: a case of Kampala and Mbarara districts, Uganda

Sanusi,

Olutona,

Wawata

et al. 2024

Discov Water

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Groundwater and surface water quality is of great significance for humanity as they serve as the primary drinking water sources globally. Due to population growth and the need to provide people with necessities that depend on water as an essential resource, these bodies of water are becoming more polluted. The present study involved the collection of groundwater and surface water samples from Kampala and Mbarara districts in Uganda during the dry and wet seasons. Also, concentrations of lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), and iron (Fe) were analyzed in order to evaluate the toxicity of metals, identify potential sources, and determine the health risk associated with their presence in water. Results showed that metals were observed with higher concentration during the wet season than the dry season. The concentrations of Fe (8.646 ± 0.00 mg/L), Mn (2.691 ± 0.01 mg/L) and Cd (0.090 ± 0.41 mg/L) measured in groundwater were significantly higher than those measured in surface water. However, only Cu was observed with higher concentration (0.322 ± 0.06 mg/L) in surface water during the wet season. Furthermore, the degree of contamination (Cd) and the heavy metal pollution index (HPI) were evaluated for both the wet and dry seasons. Results showed that few samples were found in the category of portable drinking water while majority are within the “poor” and “very poor” classes which require proper treatment before consumption. The oral hazard index (HIoral) results showed that none of the samples are suitable for consumption; therefore, cause potential non-carcinogenic health issues to the consumer (HIoral > 1). Moreover, children are more at risk than adults in the study districts (higher HI values in both seasons). This study recommends frequent monitoring of quality of water and also effluent waste treatment by the major source of pollution.

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Physicochemical and Microbial Quality of Water from the Ugandan Stretch of the Kagera Transboundary River

Nimusiima,

Byamugisha,

Omara

et al. 2023

Limnological Review

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Increasing global pollution of water resources undermines the efforts invested in the realisation of Sustainable Development Goals. In developing countries, for example, water pollution is exacerbated by poor regulatory structures and improper waste disposal. This study, for the first time, investigated the physicochemical and microbial parameters of surface water from the Ugandan stretch of the Kagera transboundary river. Surface water (n = 135) from downstream, midstream and upstream of the river was sampled between February 2021 and June 2021, and analysed following standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. Further, the samples were analysed using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy for the presence of heavy metals: nickel, lead, chromium, cadmium and copper. The obtained results showed that turbidity (24.77 ± 5.5–43.99 ± 6.87 mg/L), colour (118 ± 8.90–145.2 ± 30.58 Pt-co units), Escherichia coli (4.96 ± 7.01 CFU/100 mL), lead (23.0 ± 11.0–43.0 ± 12.0 µg/L) and cadmium (3.3 ± 1.0–10.1 ± 10.0 µg/L) were at levels that surpassed their permissible limits as per World Health Organization guidelines for potable water. These results are lower than previously reported for the Rwandese stretch of this river, but still present potential health risks to the population whose livelihoods depend on the river. Measures should therefore be instituted by the East African Community member states to mitigate riverine pollution and ensure sustainable use of the Kagera transboundary river.

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Health Risks from Intake and Contact with Toxic Metal-Contaminated Water from Pager River, Uganda

Cited by 3 publications

References 65 publications

Exposure and Health Risks Posed by Potentially Toxic Elements in Soils of Metal Fabrication Workshops in Mbarara City, Uganda

Exposure and Health Risks Posed by Potentially Toxic Elements in Soils of Metal Fabrication Workshops in Mbarara City, Uganda

Heavy metals pollution, distribution and associated human health risks in groundwater and surface water: a case of Kampala and Mbarara districts, Uganda

Physicochemical and Microbial Quality of Water from the Ugandan Stretch of the Kagera Transboundary River

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