Abstract
The main objective of this study is to assess the level of heavy metals pollution in soil samples collected around gold mines located in Betaré Oya (BO) and Batouri (BA) in Eastern Cameroon. Elemental analysis of soil samples was carried out using Quant´X EDXRF spectrometer. Its sensitivity and accuracy were increased by using the Fundamental Parameter approach for quantification of the results. Analysis results showed high content of iron (39300±200 ppm), the presence of manganese (730±70 ppm), arsenic (4±2 ppm), zirconium (314±4 ppm) and lead (79±9 ppm) as compared to worldwide average upper continental crust (UCC). The mean Enrichment Factors (EF) decrease as Pb>As>Zr>Mn>Fe>Y>Ga>Zn>Cu>Ni> Rb>Sr>Sn>Ba in agreement with the Contamination Factors (CF). The values of pollution load index (PLI) were found to be low in all the studied samples and indicate that the studied sites in Bétaré Oya and Batouri are in low pollution status regarding the total of the studied metals. Results of this study pointed out that soils examined in the gold mining areas of Eastern Cameroon are polluted by heavy metals. It is therefore important that measures should be geared towards strengthening the monitoring of mining areas to stem down the level of contamination of soil. Phytoremediation of sites after closing open pits or the biogeosystem method would be a suitable way of regulation of the studies areas.
Highlights
Incorrect outdated industrialization is one of the main causes of worldwide environmental pollution
Toxic effects related to iron can appear if concentrations in the human body are higher that the critical value (50000 ppm) indicated by the World Health Organization (WHO)
In comparison with other similar studies, the mean concentration of Pb in soil of study area was significantly higher than the concentrations reported in Sudan, Ghana and South Africa, respectively by Mushtaha et al (2017), Crentsil and Anthony (2016) and Caspah et al (2016), in addition, this concentration was higher than obtained in the studies carried out by Feifei et al (2015) and Sijin et al (2015), respectively around a gold mine and Zinc-Lead mining area in China (Table 4)
Summary
Incorrect outdated industrialization is one of the main causes of worldwide environmental pollution. Heavy metals are the more serious in our natural environment (Caeiro et al, 2015; Emmanuel et al, 2014; Pawan, 2012). Soils are usually regarded as the ultimate sink for heavy metals discharged into the environment (Banat et al, 2005; Nazari and Razmara, 2014; Ezekiel and Ayinde, 2015; Adedeji et al, 2014). In addition to the geochemical background, the amount of metals in soil may be increased by human activities and atmospheric deposition. The problem of soil pollution by heavy metals has received increasing attention in the last few decades in both developing and developed countries throughout the world
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