ABSTRACT
Environmental contamination with trace metals has become an issue of concern to most developing or emerging countries such as Ghana. The study examined the concentrations of arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), and lead (Pb) in 40 reclaimed soil samples for their ecological risks assessment and spatial distribution after mining operations in the Abuakwa South Municipal area in Ghana. The mean concentrations of arsenic (0.08 mg/kg), chromium (0.44 mg/kg), nickel (0.27 mg/kg), and lead (1.74 mg/kg) measured were all below the stipulated limit provided by WHO. Using the mean concentrations of these trace metals, pollution indices such as geo-accumulation index (Igeo), contamination factor (CF), ecological risk factor (Er), degree of contamination (Cd), pollution load index (PLI), and potential ecological risk index (PER) were calculated and the results obtained categorized the site as uncontaminated. Spatial distribution maps showed that Cr and Pb were more visible in the study area. This suggests that the study area is well reclaimed and does not pose an ecological risk. The findings presented in this work give data support for trace metal contamination and risk assessment in Abuakwa South. This can have some theoretical implications for the prevention of trace metal pollution and future monitoring studies.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).