Environmental and health risks of potentially toxic element concentrations in soil and foodstuffs from Abuakwa South Municipality, Ghana

Bioaccumulation of potentially toxic elements in soil and foodstuffs from mining areas contaminates foods and threatens public health. Understanding the distribution of Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) concentrations is necessary for monitoring environmental and human health risks. The present study assessed the concentrations of PTEs in soil and foodstuffs from small-scale artisanal mining (SAM) communities and their environmental and health risks in the Abuakwa South Municipality (ASM) of Ghana. Soil, plantain, and cocoyam leaves were sampled for PTEs analysis in 11 communities. Soil samples were collected using a 30 x 30-meter quadrant, with three samples taken at a depth of 0-20 cm within four quadrats per community. Environmental pollution indices of the PTEs, including contamination factor (CF), enrichment factor (EF), and geoaccumulation index (Igeo), as well as human health hazard index (HI), were calculated. The CF, EF and Igeo indices of the PTEs decreased in the order Hg> Mn> Cu> As> Ni> Co> Fe> Cr (34.94 to 0.09), Hg> Mn> Ni> Cu> As> Co (649.76 to 1.30) and Hg> Mn> As> Cu> Ni> Co> Fe (5.30 to 4.09), respectively with an overall pollution load index of 0.11 for the soil samples. The concentration of PTEs in plantain and cocoyam decreased in the order Ni> Fe> Co> Pb> Mn> Cu> Hg>As> Cr and Ni> Fe> Co> Pb> Mn> Cu> As> Hg> Cr, respectively, implying Ni, Fe and Co dominance in the foodstuffs. The HI recorded in plantain in all sampling locations exceeded the threshold value of >1 for both adults and children, indicating significant health risks.