Cadmium, Cu, Hg, Sb, Se and Ti contamination in abandoned and active mining sites in Ghana shows concerns for soil and human health risks

Abstract

The presence of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in soils of gold mining sites poses health concerns to residents in mining communities. A study was conducted to assess the potential hazards to human health associated with the presence of PTEs in active, abandoned, and profile gold mine sites. We collected 102 soil samples, determined their total element contents, and calculated their pollution load index (PLI), enrichment factor (EF), and contamination factor (CF). The risks to human health were calculated for adult males, adult females, and children who ingested contaminated soil particles orally using the hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI). The soils' total Cd concentrations were above the global average of 0.2 mg/kg: abandoned (2.86 mg/kg), active (3.93 mg/kg), and profile (4.04 mg/kg). High Hg levels were found in active mine soil (0.92 mg/kg), profile (0.89 mg/kg), and abandoned mine soils (0.87 mg/kg). The active, abandoned, and profile soils had Ti concentrations of 14.18, 6.74, and 4.82 mg/kg, respectively, above the global average of 0.57 mg/kg. All sites were contaminated with Cd, Cu, Hg, Sb, Se and Ti, according to the PLI values (active = 6.03, abandoned = 4.61, and profile = 6.24). Cd, Hg, and Ti in mine spoils were related to Al, Fe, Mn, pH, TC, clay, and P in multivariate analysis (correlation and PCA). The presence of metals in the environment can be attributed to both natural processes and human activities. The HI values in children exceeded the critical value of 1.0, indicating a significant likelihood of non-carcinogenic hazards. The use of green space technology is crucial for the restoration of ecological integrity and the preservation of public health.