Impact of gold mining on the water quality of the lom river, Gankombol, Cameroon
The aim of this paper is to assess the impact of gold mining on the water quality of the Lom River at Gankombol (Adamawa Cameroon). Forty-eight (48) water samples are systematically collected during the dry and the rainy season. These water samples are characterized to determine the physico-chemical...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Heliyon |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844022037409 |
| _version_ | 1797960797921476608 |
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| author | Mouhamed Ngounouno Ayiwouo Fadimatou Ngounouno Yamgouot Luc Leroy Ngueyep Mambou Sifeu Takougang Kingni Ismaila Ngounouno |
| author_facet | Mouhamed Ngounouno Ayiwouo Fadimatou Ngounouno Yamgouot Luc Leroy Ngueyep Mambou Sifeu Takougang Kingni Ismaila Ngounouno |
| author_sort | Mouhamed Ngounouno Ayiwouo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The aim of this paper is to assess the impact of gold mining on the water quality of the Lom River at Gankombol (Adamawa Cameroon). Forty-eight (48) water samples are systematically collected during the dry and the rainy season. These water samples are characterized to determine the physico-chemical parameters, major ions and metals. A local geological study is conducted to determine the relationship between the geological units encountered and water contamination. Hydrochemical assessment, multivariate statistical analysis (MSA) and geostatistical modeling (GM) are used to assess contamination. The results indicate that the waters of the Lom River draining the gold mining site are acidic to neutral (5.3–6.9), very turbid (117–510 NTU) with high concentrations of suspended solids (22.89–471 mg/L). The mean concentrations of Fe, Pb, and As exceed the limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Pb, As, Cd and Hg concentrations decrease in the rainy season mainly due to dilution by rainwater. The predominant water type is Ca–Mg–HCO3. This surface water is unsuitable for drinking purpose (997.5, Water Quality Index >300) with high level of metal pollution. MSA reveal strong linear correlations between EC-TDS, EC-Na+, TDS-Na+, Pb–As, Cl− –SO42- and TSS-Cd suggesting that the correlated parameters can have common origin. Finally, GM reveal that the lowest values of metals and pollution indices are found upstream of the gold mining site. The weathering of geological units encountered, mining activities and seasons have a major influence on the water quality. Therefore, it appears that decision-makers must take immediate action to decrease pollution and adopt suitable and sustainable remedial solutions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T00:49:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-367252d758564276af79189bb2c5ab79 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T00:49:51Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj.art-367252d758564276af79189bb2c5ab792023-01-05T08:40:32ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402022-12-01812e12452Impact of gold mining on the water quality of the lom river, Gankombol, CameroonMouhamed Ngounouno Ayiwouo0Fadimatou Ngounouno Yamgouot1Luc Leroy Ngueyep Mambou2Sifeu Takougang Kingni3Ismaila Ngounouno4Department of Mining Engineering, School of Geology and Mining Engineering, University of Ngaoundere, P.O. Box 115, Meiganga, Cameroon; Corresponding author.Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Ngaoundere, P.O. Box 454, Ngaoundere, CameroonDepartment of Mining Engineering, School of Geology and Mining Engineering, University of Ngaoundere, P.O. Box 115, Meiganga, Cameroon; Laboratory of Material Sciences, Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, CameroonDepartment of Mechanical, Petroleum and Gas Engineering, National Advanced School of Mines and Petroleum Industries, University of Maroua, P.O. Box 46, Maroua, CameroonDepartment of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Ngaoundere, P.O. Box 454, Ngaoundere, CameroonThe aim of this paper is to assess the impact of gold mining on the water quality of the Lom River at Gankombol (Adamawa Cameroon). Forty-eight (48) water samples are systematically collected during the dry and the rainy season. These water samples are characterized to determine the physico-chemical parameters, major ions and metals. A local geological study is conducted to determine the relationship between the geological units encountered and water contamination. Hydrochemical assessment, multivariate statistical analysis (MSA) and geostatistical modeling (GM) are used to assess contamination. The results indicate that the waters of the Lom River draining the gold mining site are acidic to neutral (5.3–6.9), very turbid (117–510 NTU) with high concentrations of suspended solids (22.89–471 mg/L). The mean concentrations of Fe, Pb, and As exceed the limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Pb, As, Cd and Hg concentrations decrease in the rainy season mainly due to dilution by rainwater. The predominant water type is Ca–Mg–HCO3. This surface water is unsuitable for drinking purpose (997.5, Water Quality Index >300) with high level of metal pollution. MSA reveal strong linear correlations between EC-TDS, EC-Na+, TDS-Na+, Pb–As, Cl− –SO42- and TSS-Cd suggesting that the correlated parameters can have common origin. Finally, GM reveal that the lowest values of metals and pollution indices are found upstream of the gold mining site. The weathering of geological units encountered, mining activities and seasons have a major influence on the water quality. Therefore, it appears that decision-makers must take immediate action to decrease pollution and adopt suitable and sustainable remedial solutions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844022037409Gold miningLom riverHydrochemical assessmentMultivariate analysisMetal pollutionGeostatistical modeling |
| spellingShingle | Mouhamed Ngounouno Ayiwouo Fadimatou Ngounouno Yamgouot Luc Leroy Ngueyep Mambou Sifeu Takougang Kingni Ismaila Ngounouno Impact of gold mining on the water quality of the lom river, Gankombol, Cameroon Heliyon Gold mining Lom river Hydrochemical assessment Multivariate analysis Metal pollution Geostatistical modeling |
| title | Impact of gold mining on the water quality of the lom river, Gankombol, Cameroon |
| title_full | Impact of gold mining on the water quality of the lom river, Gankombol, Cameroon |
| title_fullStr | Impact of gold mining on the water quality of the lom river, Gankombol, Cameroon |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of gold mining on the water quality of the lom river, Gankombol, Cameroon |
| title_short | Impact of gold mining on the water quality of the lom river, Gankombol, Cameroon |
| title_sort | impact of gold mining on the water quality of the lom river gankombol cameroon |
| topic | Gold mining Lom river Hydrochemical assessment Multivariate analysis Metal pollution Geostatistical modeling |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844022037409 |
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