Spatial distribution of potentially toxic elements in e-waste contaminated site at Akwatia-Line, Kumasi, Ghana
E-waste processing sites abound with potentially toxic elements (PTE) that negatively affect the environment and human health. The study determined the presence of selected PTE (Cu, Zn, Pb, Hg, and Al) and their spatial distribution in an e-waste processing site in a developing country setting. pH,...
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Elsevier
2024-01-01
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Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023105895 |
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author | Alhassan Sulemana Matilda Koduah Stephen Owiredu Charles L. Tengan Ebenezer A. Agyare Kofi S. Boateng Emma K. Nsafoah Jonas B. Beogkina |
author_facet | Alhassan Sulemana Matilda Koduah Stephen Owiredu Charles L. Tengan Ebenezer A. Agyare Kofi S. Boateng Emma K. Nsafoah Jonas B. Beogkina |
author_sort | Alhassan Sulemana |
collection | DOAJ |
description | E-waste processing sites abound with potentially toxic elements (PTE) that negatively affect the environment and human health. The study determined the presence of selected PTE (Cu, Zn, Pb, Hg, and Al) and their spatial distribution in an e-waste processing site in a developing country setting. pH, moisture, organic matter/carbon, and particle size were determined in 30 soil samples. The spatial position of each sampling point was picked with a GPS device, and the area was mapped in a GIS environment. The concentrations of PTE were determined with an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Findings from the study indicate that the soil is polluted with PTE, rich in organic carbon/matter but has low pH. The Geoaccumulation Indices ranged from unpolluted (Al) to strongly/extremely polluted (Cu). Pollution Load Index showed about 77 % of the samples as extremely/heavily polluted, 10 % as heavily polluted, and 13 % as moderately polluted. Contamination Factors of Zn, Pb, and Cu were very high but considerably low for Hg and Al. Regular monitoring and remediation are required for the soil to be restored and put into productive use. |
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format | Article |
id | doaj.art-03c97b104a3f4580b7ac1d3e76351db0 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2405-8440 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-08T09:03:05Z |
publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
publisher | Elsevier |
record_format | Article |
series | Heliyon |
spelling | doaj.art-03c97b104a3f4580b7ac1d3e76351db02024-02-01T06:31:39ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402024-01-01101e23381Spatial distribution of potentially toxic elements in e-waste contaminated site at Akwatia-Line, Kumasi, GhanaAlhassan Sulemana0Matilda Koduah1Stephen Owiredu2Charles L. Tengan3Ebenezer A. Agyare4Kofi S. Boateng5Emma K. Nsafoah6Jonas B. Beogkina7Department of Environmental Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Corresponding author.Department of Environmental Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaDepartment of Environmental Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaDepartment of Environmental Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaDepartment of Environmental Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaDepartment of Public Health Education, Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Mampong, GhanaDepartment of Environmental Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Akrokerri College of Education, Akrokerri, GhanaDepartment of Environmental Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaE-waste processing sites abound with potentially toxic elements (PTE) that negatively affect the environment and human health. The study determined the presence of selected PTE (Cu, Zn, Pb, Hg, and Al) and their spatial distribution in an e-waste processing site in a developing country setting. pH, moisture, organic matter/carbon, and particle size were determined in 30 soil samples. The spatial position of each sampling point was picked with a GPS device, and the area was mapped in a GIS environment. The concentrations of PTE were determined with an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Findings from the study indicate that the soil is polluted with PTE, rich in organic carbon/matter but has low pH. The Geoaccumulation Indices ranged from unpolluted (Al) to strongly/extremely polluted (Cu). Pollution Load Index showed about 77 % of the samples as extremely/heavily polluted, 10 % as heavily polluted, and 13 % as moderately polluted. Contamination Factors of Zn, Pb, and Cu were very high but considerably low for Hg and Al. Regular monitoring and remediation are required for the soil to be restored and put into productive use.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023105895E-waste pollutionSpatial distributionPotentially toxic elementsPollution indicesGeographic information system |
spellingShingle | Alhassan Sulemana Matilda Koduah Stephen Owiredu Charles L. Tengan Ebenezer A. Agyare Kofi S. Boateng Emma K. Nsafoah Jonas B. Beogkina Spatial distribution of potentially toxic elements in e-waste contaminated site at Akwatia-Line, Kumasi, Ghana Heliyon E-waste pollution Spatial distribution Potentially toxic elements Pollution indices Geographic information system |
title | Spatial distribution of potentially toxic elements in e-waste contaminated site at Akwatia-Line, Kumasi, Ghana |
title_full | Spatial distribution of potentially toxic elements in e-waste contaminated site at Akwatia-Line, Kumasi, Ghana |
title_fullStr | Spatial distribution of potentially toxic elements in e-waste contaminated site at Akwatia-Line, Kumasi, Ghana |
title_full_unstemmed | Spatial distribution of potentially toxic elements in e-waste contaminated site at Akwatia-Line, Kumasi, Ghana |
title_short | Spatial distribution of potentially toxic elements in e-waste contaminated site at Akwatia-Line, Kumasi, Ghana |
title_sort | spatial distribution of potentially toxic elements in e waste contaminated site at akwatia line kumasi ghana |
topic | E-waste pollution Spatial distribution Potentially toxic elements Pollution indices Geographic information system |
url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023105895 |
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