Assessment of soil pollution (heavy metal) from small scale gold mining activities: A case of Nyarugusu gold mines, Geita – Tanzania
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Date
2017
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Open Science
Abstract
This research study investigated the concentrations of some heavy metals (Hg, Pb, Cu and Zn) in soil samples collected from
Nyarugusu Gold Mines (located in Geita Region, Tanzania) using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). The results
obtained showed that average concentration for Hg (25.45 mg/kg) was higher than the tolerable limits recommended by the
United States Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA). The average concentrations for Pb (10.14 mg/kg), Cu (19.75
mg/kg) and Zn (17.34 mg/kg) were found to be lower that tolerable limits, as prescribed by US-EPA. The high concentration of
Hg measured at Nyarugusu site indicated existence of high health risks to plants animals and (especially humans). pH values
for the soil samples were between 6.0 and 6.92 which is also dangerous for the availability of metallic minerals for plants
consumption.
Description
Full Text Article. Also available at: http://www.openscienceonline.com/journal/ijemp
Keywords
Small scale mining, Atomic absorption spectroscopy, Soil, Heavy metals, Gold mines, Soil samples, Heavy metals concentration
Citation
Lema, M. W., & Mseli, Z. H. (2017). Assessment of soil pollution (heavy metal) from small scale gold mining activities: A Case of Nyarugusu gold mines, Geita–Tanzania. International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Protection, 4(1), 1.