Nitrate contamination of groundwater in the Lower Volta River Basin of Ghana: Sources and related human health risks

Egbi, Courage; Anornu, Geophrey K.; Ganyaglo, Samuel Y.; Appiah-Adjei, Emmanuel K.; Li, Siliang; Dampare, Samuel B.

doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.110227

Cited by 67 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 70 publications

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“…were below the guideline value. High levels of NO 3 − in the drinking water in the dry season as well as medium to high-risk levels for infants, children, and adults were reported in Ghana [56,57].…”

Section: Physico-chemical Parameters Of the Spring's Watermentioning

confidence: 99%

Quality and Health Risk Assessment Associated with Water Consumption—A Case Study on Karstic Springs

Moldovan

Hoaghia

Kovács

et al. 2020

Water

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In rural areas without centralized water supply systems, inhabitants often use groundwater of unknown quality as drinking water, without understanding the possible negative consequences on their health. Karstic spring waters from Dobrogea region in Romania were assessed for their potential to be used as drinking water source, according to their quality and seasonal variation. The physico-chemical parameters of waters were compared with the guideline values for drinking water established by the World Health Organization and the Directive 98/83/EC. The nitrate and Cr concentrations exceeded the guideline value in the springs from Southern Dobrogea, but met the quality criteria in those from Northern Dobrogea, thus, to be used as drinking water, the karstic springs located in Southern Dobrogea require treatment for nitrates removal. Heavy metals pollution indices showed low to medium cumulative heavy metal pollution in all springs, while the human health risk assessment by oral exposure indicated possible noncarcinogenic risks of nitrates, both for adults and children in springs from South Dobrogea. A rigorous monitoring of the water quality before human consumption is recommended for all four studied water sources.

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Section: Physico-chemical Parameters Of the Spring's Watermentioning

confidence: 99%

Quality and Health Risk Assessment Associated with Water Consumption—A Case Study on Karstic Springs

Moldovan

Hoaghia

Kovács

et al. 2020

Water

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“…However, TH and TDS showed significant positive correlations with Na + , Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , NO 3 − , Cl − , HCO 3 − and SO 4 2− . It indicated that these components may come from common material sources, such as domestic sewage, agricultural fertilizer, industrial wastewater [25,29]. Because it was in the rainy season, during the process of rainwater recharge, a large number of pollutants from the surface were carried and infiltrated into the aquifer, which promoted water-rock interactions, and increased the concentration of groundwater ions [1].…”

Section: Correlation Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Groundwater Chemical Characteristics and Controlling Factors in a Region of Northern China with Intensive Human Activity

Ren

Zhang

2020

IJERPH

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The identification of groundwater chemical characteristics and the controlling factors is of major concern in water environment studies. In this study, we identified the groundwater chemical characteristics, evolution laws and main control factors in a region severely affected by human activities using hydrochemical and multivariate statistical techniques. The results showed that the concentrations of NO3− and TH were the primary pollution factors in the region with intensive human activity because of high concentration and over the standard rates. The major types of groundwater chemistry were HCO3·SO4–Ca and HCO3·SO4–Ca·Mg. The sulfate-type water was as high as 75.0%, 69.2% and 41.2% in the three hydrogeological units. In addition, there were Cl-type and Na-type waters, indicating that the groundwater in this area has been significantly affected by human activities. A principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that the three factors affecting groundwater hydrochemistry in the study area are domestic sewage and fertilizer, water–rock interactions and industrial wastewater. Therefore, we suggest that the government and water environment management departments should prevent the discharge of domestic and industrial wastewater without standardized treatment first in order to effectively prevent the further deterioration of groundwater quality in this area.

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“…In Ghana, the zeal of the farmers to increase their agricultural yields through the use of chemical and organic fertilizers has inadvertently caused elevated nitrate concentrations in groundwaters in some agricultural communities (Anornu et al 2017;Egbi et al 2020). On the other hand, geogenic pollution includes solutes emanating from the water-bearing rocks, which change the chemistry of the groundwater in space and time (Appelo and Postma, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of groundwater in the 'Tamnean' Plutonic Suite aquifers using hydrogeochemical and multivariate statistical evidence: a study in the Garu-Tempane District, Upper East Region of Ghana

2022

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The 'Tamnean' Plutonic Suite aquifer is the main public water supply for the Garu-Tempane District. Thus, hydrogeochemical characterization is essential to provide valuable insights into pollution sources and the main controls on groundwater chemistry. In this regard, multivariate statistical methods, conventional hydrochemical graphical methods, and various ionic ratios complemented with PHREEQC geochemical modelling were carried out using 38 groundwater samples collected from the Tamnean Plutonic Suite aquifers, Ghana. The ionic ratio plots, the chloro-alkaline indices, and the graphical diagrams indicate that the major sources of groundwater chemistry are silicate mineral dissolution and cation exchange coupled with the leaching of domestic solid waste and nitrogen-based fertilizers. The Q-mode hierarchical cluster analysis reveals three spatial groundwater zones. Groundwater from recharge areas consists of Ca–Na–HCO3 water types in cluster 1. The intermediate zone is characterized by Ca–Mg–Na–HCO3 water types of moderate ionic compositions in cluster 2, and this evolves into a discharge zone in cluster 3 mainly of Ca–Mg–Na–HCO3–NO3 water types. The principal component analysis (PCA) reveals three factors, which account for 81% of the total variance, and this suggests most of the groundwater chemistry had longer interaction with the lithological materials. The PHREEQC geochemical modelling consisting of mineral saturation index indicates that groundwater is mostly supersaturated with respect to dolomite and undersaturated with respect to calcite, anhydrite, fluorite, gypsum, and halite. Based on the water quality index, the groundwater in the district is generally suitable for drinking water purposes. All the samples are within the World Health Organization acceptable limits for drinking water except for lower pH, elevated nitrate and bromide concentrations in some of the wells. About 10.5% of the groundwater samples are contaminated with nitrate, which may pose a health danger to the inhabitants in the communities. The finding of this study will not only contribute to solving the research paucity regarding the Tamnean Plutonic Suite aquifers in the Garu-Tempane District but will serve as a valuable document for water managers and decision-makers in Ghana.

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Nitrate contamination of groundwater in the Lower Volta River Basin of Ghana: Sources and related human health risks

Cited by 67 publications

References 70 publications

Quality and Health Risk Assessment Associated with Water Consumption—A Case Study on Karstic Springs

Quality and Health Risk Assessment Associated with Water Consumption—A Case Study on Karstic Springs

Groundwater Chemical Characteristics and Controlling Factors in a Region of Northern China with Intensive Human Activity

Characterization of groundwater in the 'Tamnean' Plutonic Suite aquifers using hydrogeochemical and multivariate statistical evidence: a study in the Garu-Tempane District, Upper East Region of Ghana

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