Distribution and ecological risks of toxic metals in the topsoils in the Kumasi metropolis, Ghana
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Authors
Darko, Godfred
Dodd, Matt
Nkansah, Marian Asantewah
Aduse-Poku, Yaw
Ansah, Eugene
Wemegah, David Dotse
Borquaye, Lawrence Sheringham
Issue Date
2017
Type
Article
Language
en
Subject
Topsoil , Heavy metals
Alternative Title
Abstract
The distribution, and ecological risks due to toxic metals in topsoils of an
urban commercial centre of Kumasi metropolis were determined. Concentrations
of heavy metals in the samples were initially screened using field portable X-ray
fluorescence spectrometer prior to confirmation on an inductively coupled plasmamass
spectrometer. The results from the two instruments correlated well with high
linearity (R2 > 0.70). Concentrations of metals were in the order: Fe (45246.15 mg/
kg) > Mn (347.86 mg/kg) > Zn (176.40 mg/kg) > V (173.10 mg/kg) > Cr (125.12 mg/
kg) > Pb (53.47 mg/kg) > Ni (43.16 mg/kg) > Cu (39.85 mg/kg) > As (4.59 mg/
kg) > Sn (3.69 mg/kg) > Cd (0.46 mg/kg) > Hg (0.28 mg/kg). Multivariate and geostatistical
analyses exploring various hazard indices such as geo-accumulation,
contamination, pollution load and ecological risks all suggest contamination of
the topsoils with toxic metals and that the contamination due to Pb, Cu, Ni, Cr and
Zn is mainly derived from anthropogenic origins whereas, As, Hg, Mn, V, Sn and Cd
contaminations are attributable mainly to geological and atmospheric depositions.
Description
This open access article is distributed under a Creative Commons
Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 license.
Citation
Darko, G., Dodd, M., Nkansah, M. A., Aduse-Poku, Y., Ansah, E., Wemegah, D. D., & Borquaye, L. S. (2017). Distribution and ecological risks of toxic metals in the topsoils in the Kumasi metropolis, Ghana. Cogent Environmental Science, 3(1), 1354965.
Publisher
Cogent Environmental Science
License
Journal
Volume
Issue
PubMed ID
ISSN
2331-1843