Owusu Sekyere Augustine, Essandoh Helen, Wemegah David Dotse, Otoo Amponsah Lydia
Regional water and Environmental Sanitation Centre, Department of Civil Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, PMB, UPO, KNUST, Kumasi, Ashanti, Ghana.
Department of Physics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, PMB, UPO, KNUST, Kumasi, Ashanti, Ghana.
Environ Health Insights. 2023 Jul 31;17:11786302231188270. doi: 10.1177/11786302231188270. eCollection 2023.
Groundwater is the primary water supply source for many people living on the surface of the earth. They depend on this valuable resource for their daily needs. But this natural resource is continuously being threatened by both natural and anthropogenic activities. Therefore, continuous monitoring and assessment of the water quality of this resource is important to keep check of the effects of water contaminants especially on human health. This study assessed the levels of Fe, Cd, Mn, and Hg in hand-dug wells at 4 communities (Ahyiayem, Odumasi Zongo, Apeboaso, and Kwaakyewaso) in the Asante Akyem Central District of Ghana and evaluated its sources and potential health risk associated with their exposure. These communities are known for illegal small-scale mining. The analysis also included other water quality parameters such as pH, nitrate, potassium, sodium, total hardness, calcium hardness, Phosphate, chloride, and total dissolved solids. From the research, there was no carcinogenic health risk to the communities concerning Fe, Mn, and Hg through ingestion and dermal contact because the hazard quotients and health hazard indices recorded in both adults and children were below one (<1). However, from the research, Cd exhibited carcinogenic health risk because its Cancer risk (CR) index exceeded 10 for both adults and children. This implies that there is a risk of cancer infection from ingesting water from the hand-dug wells in the study areas. According to the analysis of the Water Quality Index (WQI), the wells at Ahyiayem, Apeboaso, and Kwaakyewaso recorded indexes that were between 15 and 50, signifying that the hand-dug wells in these communities are safe for human consumption. However, about 90% of the wells at Odumasi Zongo recorded WQI values that were between 80 and 320. This means the hand-dug wells at Odumasi Zongo are highly polluted and not safe for human consumption.
地下水是地球上许多地表居民的主要供水来源。他们依靠这一宝贵资源满足日常需求。但这种自然资源正不断受到自然和人为活动的威胁。因此，持续监测和评估该资源的水质对于控制水污染物的影响，尤其是对人类健康的影响至关重要。本研究评估了加纳阿散蒂阿肯中央区4个社区（阿希亚耶姆、奥杜马西宗戈、阿佩博阿索和夸基耶瓦索）手挖井中Fe、Cd、Mn和Hg的含量，并评估了其来源以及与接触这些物质相关的潜在健康风险。这些社区以非法小规模采矿而闻名。分析还包括其他水质参数，如pH值、硝酸盐、钾、钠、总硬度、钙硬度、磷酸盐、氯化物和总溶解固体。研究发现，通过摄入和皮肤接触，Fe、Mn和Hg对这些社区不存在致癌健康风险，因为成人和儿童的危害商数和健康危害指数均低于1（<1）。然而，研究发现Cd存在致癌健康风险，因为其癌症风险（CR）指数在成人和儿童中均超过了10。这意味着从研究区域的手挖井中取水饮用存在癌症感染风险。根据水质指数（WQI）分析，阿希亚耶姆、阿佩博阿索和夸基耶瓦索的水井记录的指数在15至50之间，这表明这些社区的手挖井对人类消费是安全的。然而，奥杜马西宗戈约90%的水井记录的WQI值在80至320之间。这意味着奥杜马西宗戈的手挖井受到高度污染，对人类消费不安全。
