A Systematic Review of Heavy Metals of Anthropogenic Origin in Environmental Media and Biota in the Context of Gold Mining in Ghana

Table 5

Metals in food, sediment, and fish by region in Ghana.

(a)

Reference

Region/community

Source of pollutants studied

As (mgkg^−1)

Hg (mgkg^−1)

As (mgkg^−1)

Hg (mgkg^−1)

As (mgkg^−1)

Hg (mgkg^−1)

Ashanti region

Amasa 1975 [31]

Obuasi and its environ

Soil

19.30 (11.75–2875.0)

cassava

1.09 (0.83–2.65)

Cocoyam

2.16 (1.89–4.80)

Plantain

0.62 (0.60–0.63)

Orange

2.29

Sugar cane

14.75 (14.54–14.96)

Palm tree

2875 (2850–2900)

Fern

2729 (1100–4700)

Bananas

13.46 (11.6–20.9)

Amonoo-Neizer et al. 1996 [19]

Obuasi and its environ:

Villages up to about 2 km from Pompora Treatment Plant (PTP)

Villages up to about 5 km from Pompora Treatment Plant (PTP)

Villages up to about 9 km from Pompora Treatment Plant (PTP)

Soil

24.76 (23.6–48.9)

0.56 (0.4–0.7)

3.09 (2.7–3.7)

0.66 (0.66–1.2)

2.61 (2.4–3.3)

0.6

Plantain

3.40 (3.1–4.3)

0.78 (0.70–1.5)

1.49 (1.4–1.7)

0.6 (0.38–0.9)

1.02 (1.0–1.4)

0.11 (0.1–0.4)

Cassava

2.6 (1.9–3.3)

1.1 (0.9–1.3)

1.21 (1.0–1.3)

0.40 (0.3–0.5)

1.04 (0.8–1.5)

0.2

Mud fish

0.42 (0.3–0.9)

0.32 (0.2–0.8)

0.56 (0.5–0.7)

0.24 (0.1–0.4)

Fern

23.9 (22.8–78.7)

2.57 (2.4–2.6)

3.79 (3.2–30.4)

3.33 (1.8–4.4)

3.83 (2.8–27.8)

1.39 (1.2–4.1)

Elephant grass

15.2 (14.3–15.6)

3.20 (3.0–3.4)

1.5 (0.9–2.1)

1.1 (0.7–1.5)

Villages up to about 4 km from Pompora Treatment Plant (PTP)

Villages up to about 7 km from Pompora Treatment Plant (PTP)

Villages > 9 km from Pompora Treatment Plant (PTP)

Soil

3.66 (2.9–30.7)

0.74 (0.3–1.4)

2.79 (2.4–3.6)

1.34 (1.3–2.5)

2.52 (2.1–2.79)

0.56 (0.4–1.2)

Plantain

1.53 (1.4–3.6)

0.13 (0.1–1.4)

1.35 (1.1–1.6)

0.25 (0.2–0.7)

0.9 (0.5–1.32)

0.41 (0.3–2.1)

Cassava

1.26 (1.1–2.5)

0.22 (0.2–1.8)

0.91 (0.8–1.1)

0.59 (0.5–0.8)

0.89 (0.7–1.0)

0.34 (0.2–2.5)

Mud fish

0.45 (0.3–2.7)

0.47 (0.2–2.0)

0.48 (0.4–1.2)

0.22 (0.2–0.6)

0.57 (0.5–0.6)

0.42 (0.4–0.9)

Fern

5.35 (3.2–50.2)

3.61 (2.1–9.7)

3.53 (2.7–4.5)

1.7 (1.3–2.1)

2.33 (2.1–24.5)

2.6 (2.0–8.0)

Elephant grass

3.02 (2.0–27.4)

0.38 (0.2–1.8)

1.43 (1.41–1.57)

1.28 (1.0–1.9)

6.5 (6.0–8.0)

5.3 (4.7–5.9)

(b)

Reference

Region/community

Source of pollutants studied

(mgkg^−1)

As

Hg

Fe

Mn

Cd

Zn

Cr

Cu

Ni

Pb

Ashanti region

Akabzaa et al. 2007 [24]

Obuasi and its environ:

Sediments

Communities within the operating area of AGC

1332.26 (0.25–7591.58)

0.83 (0.28–3.02)

34406 (6220–50,180)

47.15 (2.76–167.24)

29.73 (8.87–80.35) mgkg^−1

25.25 (3.65–80.46)

10.33 (3.28–23.11)

0.65

Communities immediately downstream

2984.27 (190.38–5778.15)

2.02 (1.44–2.6)

19810 (13910–25710)

15.22 (12.72–24.55)

0.24

102.13 (61.74–142.55)

45.86 (41.44–50.27)

10.22 (8.36–12.08)

60.04 (4.71–115.37)

Fruits

4.94

0.023

1.71

0.379

0.083

16.55

0.55

0.072

Communities within the operating area of AGC

4.94 (0.02–12.26)

0.023 (0.02–0.026)

1.71 (0.21–4.11)

0.38 (0.27–0.56)

0.09 (0.04–0.13)

16.55 (7.4–24.30)

0.55 (0.40–0.84)

0.072

Adomako et al. 2008 [74]

Sediment in Subin River in Kumasi/Ashanti region

Sediments

3.43 (2.34–7.65)

1.06 (0.28–1.42)

18.50 (14.40–98.30)

30.57 (18.50–136.40)

3.32 (3.11–12.63)

Golow et al. 1996 [71]

Obuasi mining area

Top soil

33.3 (25–45)

Golow et al. 1996 [71]

Obuasi mining area

Fish

0.45 ± 0.12

0.47 ± 0.05

Nyarko et al. 2006 [34]

Obuasi gold mining area

Lichens

60.95 (6.80–196.0)

6.60 (1.80–14.0)

(c)

Reference	Region/community	Source of pollutants studied	Sb (mgkg^−1)	V (mgkg^−1)	Th (mgkg^−1)
	Ashanti region
Amonoo-Neizer and Amekor 1993 [14]	Obuasi area	Uncooked food
		cassava	2.55 (1.85–3.25)
		Cocoyam	2.26 (1.36–3.18)
		Plantain	3.43 (2.36–4.5)
		Pepper	2.96 (2.05–3.87)
		Orange	3.46 (3.10–3.91)
		Beans	0.99 (1.21–0.77)
		Pear	1.59 (0.97–2.21)
		Cooked food
		Cassava	2.67
		Plantain	3.39
		Fufu	2.37
		Oil Palm fruit	3.03
		Star grass	6.67
		Elephant grass	4.85
Amonoo-Neizer and Amekor 1993 [14]	Kumasi area	Uncooked food
		cassava	1.03 (0.84–1.87)
		Cocoyam	0.97 (0.81–1.13)
		Plantain	1.10 (0.85–1.35)
		Pepper	0.58 (0.5–0.66)
		Orange	0.85 (0.45–1.25)
		Beans	0.52 (0.42–0.62)
		Pear	0.76 (0.9–0.62)
		Cooked food
		Cassava	1.91
		Plantain	3.03
		Fufu	1.4
		Oil Palm fruit	3.5
		Tobacco	2.14
		Cocoa	2.44
		Star grass	6.67
		Elephant grass	4.85
Nyarko et al. 2006 [34]	Obuasi gold mining area	Lichen		27.63 (2.90–74.80)	1.08 (0.13–4.44)
Serfor-Armah et al. 2006 [28]	Prestea and its environ	Sediment	12.46 (8.50–90.40)
Hayford et al. 2009 [30]	Tarkwa and its environs	Soil	2.98	188.40
		Cassava	0.03	0.8
		Plantain	0.02	0.42
Boamponsem et al. 2010 [29]	Angonabeng	Sediment	38.9	133	1.64
	Bediabewu	Sediment	309	417	15.72

(d)

Reference

Region/; community

Source of pollutants studied

As

Hg

Fe

Mn

Cd

Zn

Cr

Cu

Ni

Pb

Western region

Donkor et al. 2006 [33]

Lower Pra river basin

River sediments

25.89 (6.52–57.32) mgkg^−1

Soil

75.61 (3.40–202.32) mgkg^−1

Serfor-Armah; et al. 2006 [28]

Prestea and its environ

Sediments

2261.8 (942–10,200) mgkg^−1

Essumang et al. 2007 [16]

Food crops from Efuantah, Nsuta and Tamso in Tarkwa district

Cocoyam; Water cocoyam

146 mgkg^−1; 383.5 mgkg^−1

3 mgkg^−1; 3.5 mgkg^−1

43 mgkg^−1; 181.5 mgkg^−1

Hayford et al. 2009 [30]

Tarkwa and its environs

Soil

0.7 mgkg^−1

0.25 mgkg^−1

38.42 mgkg^−1

0.72 mgkg^−1

66.39 mgkg^−1

Cassava

0.43 mgkg^−1

0.41 mgkg^−1

26.62 mgkg^−1

0.44 mgkg^−1

33.61 mgkg^−1

Plantain

0.34 mgkg^−1

0.36 mgkg^−1

18.87 mgkg^−1

2.2 mgkg^−1

5.44 mgkg^−1

Boamponsem  et al. 2010 [29]

Sediments in 5 streams in Tarkwa gold mining district

Sediments

Angonabeng

5.41 mgkg^−1

0.212 mgkg^−1

36468 mgkg^−1

0.658 mgkg^−1

13 mgkg^−1

Bediabewa

“

13.4 mgkg^−1

0.054 mgkg^−1

365 mgkg^−1

0.312 mgkg^−1

20.1 mgkg^−1

Mile 7 spring

1.65 (1.15–2.22) mgkg^−1

55.9 (42.1–69.7) mgkg^−1

2.92 mgkg^−1

Teberebie spring 2

1.94 (0.94–2.94) mgkg^−1

0.06 mgkg^−1

189.2 (134.3–244.1) mgkg^−1

0.20 mgkg^−1

230.2 mgkg^−1

Teberebie spring 3

1.06 (0.79–1.33) mgkg^−1

0.01 mgkg^−1

117770 mgkg^−1

0.43 mgkg^−1

1201 mgkg^−1

Oppong et al. 2010 [32]

Soil, sediments and fish from the River Pra Basin at Daboaso, Beposo, Twifo Praso and Twifo Mampong

Daboase

Sediment

0.707 mgkg^−1

Soil

0.075 mgkg^−1

Fish

0.166 mgkg^−1

Beposo

Sediment

0.575 mgkg^−1

Soil

0.145 mgkg^−1

Fish

0.153 mgkg^−1

Adokoh et al. 2011 [70]

Sediments in Pra Estuary at Shama

Sediment

0.016 mgkg^−1

0.017 mgkg^−1

Koranteng Addo et al. 2011 [84]

Abandoned open pit in the Tarkwa mining district

Sand

53151.28 (145–119,166) mgkg^−1

34.45 (26.67–1595) mgkg^−1

21.06 (4.17–43.17) mgkg^−1

12 (6.5–56.17) mgkg^−1

Clay

71013.08 (67,000–134,833.3) mgkg^−1

56.76 (36.16–147.3) mgkg^−1

20.35 (15–27.67) mgkg^−1

13.56 (9.17–21.83) mgkg^−1

(e)

Reference	Region/; community	Source of pollutants studied	As	Hg	Fe	Mn	Cd	Zn	Cu	Al	Pb
	Central region
Golow et al. 1996 [71]	Dunkwa-on-Offin
		Top soil (0–5 cm deep)		153.75 mgkg^−1
		Cassava leaves		15.63 mgkg^−1
		Cassava flesh		6.5 mgkg^−1
Golow and Adzei 2002 [75]	Dunkwa-on-Offin
		Top soil (0–5 cm deep)						41.75 mgkg^−1
		Cassava leaves						13.75 mgkg^−1
		Cassava flesh						100 mgkg^−1
Dankwa and Biney 2005 [46]	Five sites in Offn river basin: Kaniago, Buabuasin, Kubi, Baadoa, Twifo-Praso	Bottom sediment	<500 mgkg^−1	<200 mgkg^−1	15.75 × 10^6 mgkg^−1	1800 mgkg^−1	<200 mgkg^−1	12900 mgkg^−1	<200 mgkg^−1
		Fish fauna
		Brycinus nurse R	<300 mgkg^−1	320 mgkg^−1	3760 mgkg^−1	500 mgkg^−1	<100 mgkg^−1	2560 mgkg^−1	300 mgkg^−1		250 mgkg^−1
		Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus L	<300 mgkg^−1	230 mgkg^−1	3310 mgkg^−1	570 mgkg^−1	<100 mgkg^−1	570 mgkg^−1	2500 mgkg^−1		440 mgkg^−1
		Tilapia zillii G	<300 mgkg^−1	60 mgkg^−1	2660 mgkg^−1	1350 mgkg^−1	<100 mgkg^−1	1820 mgkg^−1			70 mgkg^−1
Donkor et al. 2006 [33]	Offin river basin	River sediments		23 (2.73–49.86) mgkg^−1
		Soil		263.79 (1.56–2146.96) mgkg^−1
Boamponsem et al. 2010 [29]	Kakum	Sediments	1.31 mgkg^−1			777 mgkg^−1			3.21 mgkg^−1	15836 mgkg^−1
Adokoh et; al. 2011 [70]	Benya Lagoon-Elimina; Fosu Lagoon-Cape Coast; Narkwa Lagoon-near Saltpong Beach	Fosu Lagoon
		Sediments	0.529 mgkg^−1	0.014 mgkg^−1			0.526 mgkg^−1			56.453 mgkg^−1
		Narkwa Lagoon
		Sediments	0.603 mgkg^−1	0.008 mgkg^−1			0.041 mgkg^−1			17.925 mgkg^−1
		Benya Lagoon
		sediment								60.407 μgg^−1
Bentum et al. 2011 [86]	Fosu Lagoon	Sediments			1150 mgkg^−1			20.9 mgkg^−1	26.4 mgkg^−1	2230 mgkg^−1	28.1 mgkg^−1

(f)

Reference

Region/community

Source of pollutants studied

As

Hg

Fe

Mn

Cd

Zn

Cr

Cu

Ni

Pb

Greater Accra region

Tay and Kortatsi 2008 [47]

Shell fish

20.92 (9.68–35.04) mgkg^−1

22.08 (7.27–22.16) mgkg^−1

0.26 (0.11–0.34) mgkg^−1

13.52 (6.55–16.09) mgkg^−1

1.36 (0.87–7.73) mgkg^−1

0.084 (0.08–0.44) mgkg^−1

Fin fish

14.95 (0.75–23.18) mgkg^−1

0.036 (0.03–19.37) mgkg^−1

0.081 (0.08–0.14) mgkg^−1

11.13 (6.2–19.19) mgkg^−1

0.244 (0.1–14.18) mgkg^−1

0.754 (0.9–1.09) mgkg^−1

Tay et al. 2010 [80]

Sakumo II and Muni lagoons

Sediment

3208.6 (563.2–7486.9) mgkg^−1

298.21 (63.7–668.2) mgkg^−1

0.70 (<0.25–0.88) mgkg^−1

155.2 (10.4–155.2) mgkg^−1

37.4 (3.79–37.4) mgkg^−1