Health risk assessment and levels of toxic metals in fishes (Oreochromis noliticus and Clarias anguillaris) from Ankobrah and Pra basins: Impact of illegal mining activities on food safety
Date of Publication
1-1-2020 12:00 AM
End Date
25-2-2020 12:00 AM
Security Theme
Illegal Mining
Keywords
Heavy metals, illegal mining, metal pollution, environmetnal pollution, fish, water
Description
The increasing usage of heavy metals in the mining industry over the years has brought in its wake environmental pollution. Processing of ore and methods of disposing waste are the main sources of heavy metal pollution. Such pollution affects aquatic fauna and flora. Elements like arsenic, mercury, calcium, and lead, usually end up polluting the water systems and occasionally river streams. Ingestion of cuh heavy metals through food, by way of fish and water, may expose others to respiratory, neurologic and psychological diseases. Illegal mining activities have afffected fishing activities due to pollution from these chemicals used in their minng activities. Toxic metal analysis of river samples of Ankobra and Pra revealed relatively low values of calcium, lead, arsenic, and mercury. Analysis of the fish samples, oreochromis niloticus and clarias anguillaris, also revealed low concentrations of cadmium, arsenic, lead and mercury, yet mercury did exceed the limits set by WHO. Target Hazard Quotient values indicated exposure to cadmium and mercury could imply adverse health effects of children and adults in their lifetime.
Health risk assessment and levels of toxic metals in fishes (Oreochromis noliticus and Clarias anguillaris) from Ankobrah and Pra basins: Impact of illegal mining activities on food safety
The increasing usage of heavy metals in the mining industry over the years has brought in its wake environmental pollution. Processing of ore and methods of disposing waste are the main sources of heavy metal pollution. Such pollution affects aquatic fauna and flora. Elements like arsenic, mercury, calcium, and lead, usually end up polluting the water systems and occasionally river streams. Ingestion of cuh heavy metals through food, by way of fish and water, may expose others to respiratory, neurologic and psychological diseases. Illegal mining activities have afffected fishing activities due to pollution from these chemicals used in their minng activities. Toxic metal analysis of river samples of Ankobra and Pra revealed relatively low values of calcium, lead, arsenic, and mercury. Analysis of the fish samples, oreochromis niloticus and clarias anguillaris, also revealed low concentrations of cadmium, arsenic, lead and mercury, yet mercury did exceed the limits set by WHO. Target Hazard Quotient values indicated exposure to cadmium and mercury could imply adverse health effects of children and adults in their lifetime.
