Human and ecotoxicological risk assessment of heavy metals in polymer post treatment sludge from Barekese Drinking Water Treatment Plant, Kumasi
The disposal of polymer post-treatment sludge (PTS) from Barekese Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) as organic fertilizer and aquatic feed is a common practice in Ghana, necessitating a thorough evaluation of its ecological and human health risks. This study aims to assess the suitability of PTS samples...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-06-01
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| Series: | Toxicology Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214750024000349 |
| _version_ | 1797226660819369984 |
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| author | Gerheart Winfred Ashong Boansi Adu Ababio Edward Ebow Kwaansa-Ansah Enock Gyabeng Samuel Owusu Nti |
| author_facet | Gerheart Winfred Ashong Boansi Adu Ababio Edward Ebow Kwaansa-Ansah Enock Gyabeng Samuel Owusu Nti |
| author_sort | Gerheart Winfred Ashong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The disposal of polymer post-treatment sludge (PTS) from Barekese Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) as organic fertilizer and aquatic feed is a common practice in Ghana, necessitating a thorough evaluation of its ecological and human health risks. This study aims to assess the suitability of PTS samples for soil amendment and fish feed, scrutinizing potential hazards to consumer health and soil. PTS samples were collected from five distinct lateral sections of three clariflocculator tanks. Potentially toxic metals such as Cd, Zn, Pb, Cu, Ni, and Cr were determined using a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The mean concentration of 7.82 ± 2.43, 0.31 ± 0.021, and 0.78 ± 0.042 mg/kg for Mn, Zn, and Pb respectively. The concentrations of Ni, Cr, and Cd were below their detection limits (BDL) in all PTS samples. Upon detailed exposure assessment, ingestion emerged as the primary exposure route for both adults and children, with non-cancer risks (NCR) determined to be below 1 for both age groups. Additionally, an exploration of potential cancer risks (CR) associated with heavy metal exposure in the PTS samples revealed values below the tolerable intake levels ranging from 10−4 to 10−6 for both adults and children (10−8 and 10−9, respectively). This study also employs various ecological indices, such as Nemerow's synthetic pollution index (PN), single factor pollution index (PI), geo-accumulation index (Igeo), contamination factor (CF), potential ecological risk index (PERI), pollution load index (PLI), polymetallic contaminant index (IPD), and ecological risk index (ERI). These indices consistently highlight a low contamination status and ecological sensitivity. Consequently, the study indicates that the presence of metals in the PTS samples does not pose a significant threat to the surrounding environment and human health. Furthermore, this research underscores the inadequacy of relying solely on regulatory limit values in assessing the health risks of waste materials. Such comprehensive assessments are crucial for safeguarding aquatic and human populations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T14:28:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e9303eb370e342b9997d4904c59a5971 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2214-7500 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T14:28:27Z |
| publishDate | 2024-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxicology Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-e9303eb370e342b9997d4904c59a59712024-04-03T04:26:40ZengElsevierToxicology Reports2214-75002024-06-0112404413Human and ecotoxicological risk assessment of heavy metals in polymer post treatment sludge from Barekese Drinking Water Treatment Plant, KumasiGerheart Winfred Ashong0Boansi Adu Ababio1Edward Ebow Kwaansa-Ansah2Enock Gyabeng3Samuel Owusu Nti4Corresponding author.; Department of Chemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaDepartment of Chemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaDepartment of Chemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaDepartment of Chemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaDepartment of Chemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaThe disposal of polymer post-treatment sludge (PTS) from Barekese Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) as organic fertilizer and aquatic feed is a common practice in Ghana, necessitating a thorough evaluation of its ecological and human health risks. This study aims to assess the suitability of PTS samples for soil amendment and fish feed, scrutinizing potential hazards to consumer health and soil. PTS samples were collected from five distinct lateral sections of three clariflocculator tanks. Potentially toxic metals such as Cd, Zn, Pb, Cu, Ni, and Cr were determined using a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The mean concentration of 7.82 ± 2.43, 0.31 ± 0.021, and 0.78 ± 0.042 mg/kg for Mn, Zn, and Pb respectively. The concentrations of Ni, Cr, and Cd were below their detection limits (BDL) in all PTS samples. Upon detailed exposure assessment, ingestion emerged as the primary exposure route for both adults and children, with non-cancer risks (NCR) determined to be below 1 for both age groups. Additionally, an exploration of potential cancer risks (CR) associated with heavy metal exposure in the PTS samples revealed values below the tolerable intake levels ranging from 10−4 to 10−6 for both adults and children (10−8 and 10−9, respectively). This study also employs various ecological indices, such as Nemerow's synthetic pollution index (PN), single factor pollution index (PI), geo-accumulation index (Igeo), contamination factor (CF), potential ecological risk index (PERI), pollution load index (PLI), polymetallic contaminant index (IPD), and ecological risk index (ERI). These indices consistently highlight a low contamination status and ecological sensitivity. Consequently, the study indicates that the presence of metals in the PTS samples does not pose a significant threat to the surrounding environment and human health. Furthermore, this research underscores the inadequacy of relying solely on regulatory limit values in assessing the health risks of waste materials. Such comprehensive assessments are crucial for safeguarding aquatic and human populations.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214750024000349Polymer post-treatment sludgeHealth risk assessmentEcological indicesToxic metalsContamination |
| spellingShingle | Gerheart Winfred Ashong Boansi Adu Ababio Edward Ebow Kwaansa-Ansah Enock Gyabeng Samuel Owusu Nti Human and ecotoxicological risk assessment of heavy metals in polymer post treatment sludge from Barekese Drinking Water Treatment Plant, Kumasi Toxicology Reports Polymer post-treatment sludge Health risk assessment Ecological indices Toxic metals Contamination |
| title | Human and ecotoxicological risk assessment of heavy metals in polymer post treatment sludge from Barekese Drinking Water Treatment Plant, Kumasi |
| title_full | Human and ecotoxicological risk assessment of heavy metals in polymer post treatment sludge from Barekese Drinking Water Treatment Plant, Kumasi |
| title_fullStr | Human and ecotoxicological risk assessment of heavy metals in polymer post treatment sludge from Barekese Drinking Water Treatment Plant, Kumasi |
| title_full_unstemmed | Human and ecotoxicological risk assessment of heavy metals in polymer post treatment sludge from Barekese Drinking Water Treatment Plant, Kumasi |
| title_short | Human and ecotoxicological risk assessment of heavy metals in polymer post treatment sludge from Barekese Drinking Water Treatment Plant, Kumasi |
| title_sort | human and ecotoxicological risk assessment of heavy metals in polymer post treatment sludge from barekese drinking water treatment plant kumasi |
| topic | Polymer post-treatment sludge Health risk assessment Ecological indices Toxic metals Contamination |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214750024000349 |
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