Assessment of pollution levels, potential ecological risk and human health risk of heavy metals/metalloids in dust around fuel filling stations from the Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana
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Issue Date
2017
Editor
Authors
Nkansah, Marian Asantewah
Darko, Godfred
Dodd, Matt
Opoku, Francis
Essuman, Thomas Bentum
Antwi-Boasiako, Joshua
License
Subject
Dust
Pollution
Pollution
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of selected heavy metals/
metalloids in filling station dust from the Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana. A total of forty
(40) dust samples were analysed for Fe, Ti, Zn, Zr, Mn, Sr, Ba, Cr, Pd, Ni, Cu, As and
Mo using X-ray Fluorescence technique. Mean concentrations of Ba, As, Cr, Cu, Fe,
Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sr, Ti, Zn and Zr were 92.26, 6.20, 70.41, 50.18, 466.22, 163.68, 4.63,
44.05, 46.93, 106.69, 327.51, 280.32 and 182.05 mg/kg, respectively. The pollution
index (PI) and geo-accumulation (Igeo) index values were in the order of Ba < Mn < Sr
< Zr < Cu < Cr < Ni < Mo < As < Zn < Pb < Fe < Ti. The pollution load index had a mean
of 2.20, signifying moderate pollution. Higher PI and Igeo value for Pb, Fe and Ti indicated
high pollution. The PCA analysis identified anthropogenic inputs and natural
origin as the main sources of pollution in filling station dust. The potential ecological
risk index decreased as follows: As > Pb > Ni > Cu > Cr > Zn > Mn > Ba. The contribution
of hazard quotient via ingestion for most of the heavy metals/metalloids were
high with 11.83% for adults and 88.17% for children. For health risk assessment,
non-carcinogenic values were below the threshold values, except hazard index via
ingestion. The main exposure pathway for both children and adults was ingestion,
followed by dermal contact and inhalation.
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