Hazard Indices of Heavy Metals in Bore Hole as Water Quality and their Probabilistic Risk Assessment

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Date
October, 2016
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Abstract
Water is known to be the most valuable natural resources present in our planet and without it, life on Earth will be no more. Most inhabitants of Kyebi and its environs in the Eastern Region, Ghana, largely consume groundwater from boreholes due the pollution of the Birim River which is main source of potable water by small scale or illegal mining and agricultural activities in the municipality. This study aimed to assess and evaluate the health risk of heavy metals of underground water consumption in small scale and illegal mining communities within the Kyebi catchment area. Twenty four boreholes were randomly selected and analyzed for lead, mercury, iron and arsenic levels using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) technique. Exposure questionnaires were completed by interviews with 200 local individuals who consume groundwater from boreholes and were used to estimate the hazard quotients, hazard index and the carcinogenic risk. The hazard quotients of lead, mercury, iron and arsenic were 0.33, 0.14, 0.005 and 0.63 respectively and a hazard index of 1.38. The carcinogenic risk of arsenic was found to be 3 × 10-5 and those at the 95th percentile recorded a risk of 2 × 10-4. The occurrence of mercury and lead in the groundwater bodies is largely due to contamination from surface sources, perhaps, as result of the indiscriminate use of mercury for gold processing and farming activities in the study area. This heavy intake can be attributed to their occupation (farmers, artisans, traders) which demand water and also the high temperature and humid environment. The East Akin Municipal Assembly should put in place a strict rules and regulations to stop or minimize the activities of the small scale or illegal mining in the Municipality.
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A thesis submitted to the Department of Food Science and Technology, College of Science, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Food Quality Management,
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