Heavy Metals Accumulation In Roadside Soil And Vegetation Along A Major Highway In Libya

Levels of some heavy metals in soil and vegetation along a major highway in Libya were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. The concentrations of Pb, Cd, Ni, Zn, Cu, Cr and Mn in soil and vegetation all decreased with distance from the road, indicating their relation to traffic. The concentrations of the metals also decreased with depth in the soil profile indicating that the source of the metals was aerial deposition from motor vehicles. Inter-relationships between metals in the soil were highly significant (p < 0.05) suggesting a common source for these metals. Pb and Zn were found to be deposited more than the other metals. Average values for citrus limon leaves were generally 30 - 65 % of those for Olea europaea leaves. In most cases, between 20-40% of the metals was removable by simple washing with water, indicating that a significant, but not predominant fraction of the metals is in the form of easily-removed particulate matter. Discussion of the results of this study is based on statistical treatment of the data.Journal of Science & Technology (Ghana) Vol. 27 (2) 2007: pp. 86-9

Effects of surface gold mining on surface and groundwater bodies in Bibiani, Ghana

A study of the water sources from Bibiani and its environs was conducted between November, 2009 and April, 2010 to determine whether contamination (of water sources) from (these parameters) physical, chemical and trace metal in Bibiani is as a result of mining or geochemicaland biochemical processes within the environment. This was done by collecting water samples from two streams, two rivers, three boreholes (BHs) and three hand dug wells (HDWs). These were analysed in the laboratory. Levels of Arsenic (As), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), pH, TotalDissolved Solids (TDS), Electrical Conductivity (EC), Temperature, Alkalinity, Hardness, Phosphate (P) and Cyanide (CN) in water sources were determined. Mining related contaminants detected in water samples were As, CN, Mn and Fe. It was observed that surface water pH values were generally higher than that of groundwater samples. As concentrations in surface water samples were higher compared to that of groundwater samples. Also, CN concentration in ground water samples was higher than that of surface water. Ground water contained higher concentration of Mn than surface water; the opposite can be said of Fe concentration in surfacewater which was higher than that of ground water. The study also observed that pH, TDS, EC, total alkalinity, total hardness , Arsenic and total cyanide levels in the HDW and BH samples showed 100% compliance with the WHO and EPA limits while Mn and Fe levels indicated traces of non – compliance. Compared to WHO / EPA guidelines, few water sources had one or moretrace metal (Fe, As and Mn) levels outside acceptable limits for drinking. However, most of the levels were safe for human consumption.Keywords: Surface, gold mining, quality, degradation, Bibian

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL LEAD, COPPER, ZINC AND CADMIUM IN SOILS ALONG THE HIGHWAY FROM TAFO TO ABOASO IN KUMASI IN THE ASHANTI REGION OF GHANA

Levels of some heavy metals in soils along the highway from Tafo to Aboaso in Kumasi in the Ashanti region of Ghana were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Soil samples were collected at distances of 5 m, 20 m and 50 m from the roadside and at depths of 0-5 cm, 5-10 cm and 10-15 cm. Lead concentrations varied from 152.5 to 878.0 mg kg-1,zinc from 65.8 to 712 mg kg-1, copper from 18.8 to 114.8 mg kg-1 and cadmium from 0.80 to 4.5 mg kg-1. The concentrations of Lead, Zinc, Copper and Cadmium all decreased with increasing distance from the road and with decreasing vehicular traffic density indicating their relation to traffic. The concentrations of the metals also decreased with depth in the soil profile indicating that the source of the metals was aerial deposition from motor vehicles. The heavy metal content of the soils for every distance from the roadside was found in the order Lead&gt;Zinc&gt;Copper&gt;Cadmium.Keywords: Roadside soil; vehicular traffic; lead, copper; zinc; cadmiu

Bioaccumulation of Heavy Metals in Some Tissues of Fish in Lake Geriyo, Adamawa State, Nigeria

Bioaccumulation of heavy metals (Zn, Pb, Cd, and Cu) was determined in the liver, gills, and flesh from benthic and pelagic fish species collected from Lake Geriyo covering two seasons. The levels of the heavy metals varied significantly among fish species and organs. Flesh possessed the lowest concentration of all the metals. Liver was the target organ for Zn, Cu, and Pb accumulations. Cd however exhibited higher concentration in the gills. Fish species showed interspecific variation of metals. These differences were discussed for the contribution of potential factors that affected metals uptake like age, geographical distribution, and species-specific factors. The concentration of metals in fish flesh was accepted by the international legislation limits for Cu, Zn, and Cd; however, Pb transcend in Clarias and Tilapia during wet season and Heterotis in both seasons, hence unsafe for human consumption and a threat to public health. These levels might be due to anthropogenic inputs as there is no industrial activity around the lake