Trace Metals in Groundwater of the South Eastern Piedmont Region of Mount Cameroon: Quantification and Health Risk Assessment

Akoachere, Richard Ayuk Ii; Etone, Edwin Ngwene; Mbua, Roy Lyonga; Ngassam, Marcelle Pami; Longonje, Simon Ngomba; Oben, PM; Engome, Regina Wotany

doi:10.4236/oalib.1105327

Cited by 7 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Despite the natural occurrence of trace metal in the environment, the main sources of their accumulation in nature are human activities [2]. Trace metals are chemical components found in low concentrations, in mass fractions of ppm or less, in water, organisms and soil [3]. Some trace metals are essential as micronutrients Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn for life processes in plants and microorganisms, while others Cd, Cr and Pb have no known physiological activity, but are proven detrimental beyond a certain limit which is very much narrow for some elements like Cd 0.01 mg/L, Pb 0.10 mg/L and Cu 0.050 mg/L [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaluation of Trace Metals in Groundwater of Ekondo-Titi and Environs, Onshore Rio Del Rey, Cameroun

Akoachere¹,

Eyong²,

Ngassam³

et al. 2019

OALib

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Ekondo-Titi and environs are found between 4.500 -4.950N and 8.900 -9.250E onshore Rio Del Rey Basin in Ndian and Meme Divisions of the South West Region in Cameroon. Evaluation of trace metals in groundwater is among the most important environmental issues related to contamination from anthropogenic and natural sources due to increased urbanization and intensive plantation agriculture in Ekondo-Titi and environs. The study investigated the trace metal content of groundwater sources; determined estimates of the health hazard and pollution risk indices; assessed the health hazard and level of risk to trace metal pollution in Ekondo-Titi and environs. Field measurement of physicochemical parameters and analysis of thirty-seven groundwater samples were analyzed to determine their trace metal content using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy ICP-MS. R-mode statistical analysis; Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) and Pearson's correlation analysis (PCA) of the trace metals with the physico-chemical parameters have been carried out. A risk is the chance, high or low, that the exposure to a hazard will actually cause harm. Four pollution hazards were estimated the average daily dose ADD, carcinogenic risks CR, non-carcinogenic risk hazard quotient HQ and hazard index HI. Six pollution risks were determined: the Degree of contamination DC, Enrichment factor EF, Ecological risk factor Er, Ecological risk index RI, Pollution load index PLI, and geo-accumulation index Igeo. The results show that the average abundance of trace metals concentrations in the groundwater is in the order: Fe > Ba > Mn > Zn > Sr > Ni > Cu > Co > Pb > Li > Cr > V > As > Cd. HCA distinguishes the trace metals into two clusters: Cluster one; (01) element Fe; soluble; Cluster two (13) non soluble elements divided into two classes; class one (09) V, As, Cd, Cr, Li, Pb, Co, Ni, C; less enriched; Class two (04) Mn, Ba, Sr and Zn; enriched. PCA shows a very strong positive correlation between Cr/V, Ba/Li, Ba/Mn, Pb/Ni, Pb/Zn, Cu/Zn and a moderately strong correlation between Co/Mn, Ba/Co, Ba/EC and Ba/TDS. The values of groundwater pollution hazard indices range as follows; ADD (5E-06 -0.078), CR (4.3E-06 -0.002), HQ (3E-04 -1.23) and HI (0.03 -1.23). And those of the pollution risk indices are DC (−13.59 to −5.62), EF (0.79 -843.94), Er (−29.84 -0.19), RI (−62.07 to −45.53), PLI (−0.044 -0.046) and Igeo (0 -995.4). The groundwater pollution hazard indices ADD and CR are less than 1 in the categories of insignificant pollution health hazard, are below the acceptable guideline values whereas HQ and HI are above 1, likely to pose health hazards. The pollution health risk indices DC, EF, Er, RI, PLI, and Igeo are all below the acceptable guideline values. The enrichment factor EF showed that the sources of these metals are geogenic and anthropogenic processes. Barium is the most enriched element in the study area; this could be attributed to agricultural fertilizers. Igeo values indicate groundwater is no pollution to moderately pollution risk from...

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Trace metals and their effects[3].ZnZinc suppresses copper and iron intake causing peripheral neuropathy.CoActive in vitamin B12 and in chemical reactions. Excess causes hearth failures.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of Trace Metals in Groundwater of Ekondo-Titi and Environs, Onshore Rio Del Rey, Cameroun

Akoachere¹,

Eyong²,

Ngassam³

et al. 2019

OALib

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Trace metals are chemical components found in low concentrations, in mass fractions of ppm or less, in water, organisms and soil [2]. Some trace metals are essential as micronutrients Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn for life processes in plants and microorganisms, while others Cd, Cr and Pb have no known physiological activity, but are proven detrimental beyond a certain limit which is very much narrow for some elements like Cd 0.01 mg/L, Pb 0.10 mg/L and Cu 0.050 mg/L [3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trace Metals in Groundwater of Kumba and Environs in Cameroon

Akoachere¹,

Eyong²,

Ngassam³

et al. 2019

OALib

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Kumba and environs situate between longitudes 9.24E-9.5E and latitudes 4.44N-4.7N, is the economic capital of the Southwest Region-Cameroon. It is located along the Cameroon Line at northwestern edge of the Douala Basin. The inhabitants depend mostly on groundwater through springs, handdug wells and boreholes. In this area like in most of Cameroon and Africa, water from groundwater sources (springs, wells and boreholes) is not treated. Often, it is given minimal or cosmetic periodic treatment if at all. Although the concentrations of trace metals in groundwater affects its safety and acceptability, testing for trace metals is less common and typically occurs mostly when a specific risk has been identified. This could be attributed to the high cost of analysis and lack of technological know-how. In addition to this, testing and monitoring of groundwater is not carried out most of the time and whenever it is done, only major cations and anions are analyzed. Due to the absence of treatment and testing of groundwater before drinking in Kumba and environs, there is a need to evaluate the trace metal content. The study had 21 groundwater samples analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy. Field measurement of physicochemical parameters was determined. R-mode statistical analysis; Pearson's Correlation Analysis (PCA) together with Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) between the trace metals and the physico-chemical parameters was carried out. Ten indices were determined: Four trace metal hazard indices: the average daily dose ADD, carcinogenic risks CR and the non-carcinogenic risk hazard quotient HQ which yields the hazard indices HI, and six trace metal pollution indices: Degree of contamination (DC), Enrichment factor (EF), Ecological risk index (Er), Po

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“…Trace metals are chemical components found in low concentrations, in mass fractions of ppm or less, in water, organisms and soil (Akoachere et al, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some trace metals are essential as micronutrients Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn for life processes in plants and microorganisms, while others Cd, Cr and Pb have no known physiological activity, but are proven detrimental beyond a certain limit which is very much narrow for some elements (mg/L) like Cd 0.01, Pb 0.10 and Cu 0.050 (Verma & Dwivedi, 2013). These toxic metals, unlike some organic substances, are not metabolically degradable and have the tendency to bio-accumulate in tissues of living organisms over time which can cause death or serious health threats (Akoachere et al, 2019). The presence of trace metal species in groundwater can be of geogenic or anthropogenic origin.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the Trace Metal Content of Groundwater in the Bakassi Peninsular, Onshore Rio del Rey, Akwa-Mundemba, Cameroun

Akoachere¹,

Hosono²,

Eyong³

et al. 2019

GEP

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The present work assesses the trace metal content in groundwater from Akwa-Mundemba, Bakassi Peninsular in Cameroon. 12 groundwater samples were analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy ICP-MS. Field measurement of physicochemical parameters was determined. R-mode statistical analysis; Pearson's Correlation Analysis (PCA) together with Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) between the trace metals and the physico-chemical parameters was carried out. Ten indices were determined: Four trace metal hazard indices; the average daily dose ADD (2.5E−07 to 0.2)) carcinogenic risks CR (2.1E−06 to 9.9E−04) and the non-carcinogenic risk hazard quotient HQ (5.7E−04 to 0.78) which yields the hazard indices HI (0.1-0.78), and six trace metal pollution indices; Degree of contamination DC (−13.53 to −11.02), Enrichment factor EF (0.26-35.47), Ecological risk factor Er (−29.92-7.04), Potential ecological risk index RI (-61.2-43.43), Pollution load index PLI (−0.01-0.04) and Geo-accumulation index Igeo (4.8E-09-3.0). From health risk indices and pollution evaluation indices on trace metals, the groundwater in Akwa-Mundemba area is safe for drinking. The enrichment factors show that the sources of the trace metals are from geogenic and anthropogenic processes. Arsenic, Lead and Vanadium are enriched although they are below the hazard risk values; this shows they have pollution potential that could be attributed to weathering and agricultural wastes. The severity of metal toxicity is governed by several factors, such as dose, nutrition, age, and

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Trace Metals in Groundwater of the South Eastern Piedmont Region of Mount Cameroon: Quantification and Health Risk Assessment

Cited by 7 publications

References 15 publications

Evaluation of Trace Metals in Groundwater of Ekondo-Titi and Environs, Onshore Rio Del Rey, Cameroun

Evaluation of Trace Metals in Groundwater of Ekondo-Titi and Environs, Onshore Rio Del Rey, Cameroun

Trace Metals in Groundwater of Kumba and Environs in Cameroon

Assessing the Trace Metal Content of Groundwater in the Bakassi Peninsular, Onshore Rio del Rey, Akwa-Mundemba, Cameroun

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