Journal Article

Artisanal Gold Mining and Heavy Metals Pollution Assessment of Drinking Water Sources in Nasarawa, Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

Widespread artisanal mining operations are currently increasing in Nigeria. The activities are causing serious damage to the environment and populations that live in the vicinity of these mine areas. The discharges of Potentially Harmful Elements (PHEs) from there mining operations/mineral processing sites and their subsequent remobilization into the natural water bodies constitute serious human health problems. This study was carried out in Nasarawa in Magama Local Government area of Niger State, Nigeria to assess the effect of artisanal gold mining on the quality of drinking water in the community. Water quality was based on physico-chemical analysis of samples collected from water sources in the community. Water samples were collected from borehole and surface river water sources in the study area. Generally, some of the parameters analysed were well within the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend limits for drinking water quality. pH ranged from 5.3 to 6.4 conductivity ranged from 78 to 84 µS/Cm. Zinc was the only trace metal that was below maximum admissible limit for drinking water quality. Other metals (Cu, Pb, Cu, Fe and Mn) levels were however higher than WHO recommended limits for drinking water quality. However, Cadmium was not detected Cd(0.00 mg/L) Fe (241.500 mg/L), Ni (0.300 mg/L), Mn (0.800 mg/L), Zn (0.900 mg/L), Cu (0.850 mg/L) and Pb (1.00 mg/L) for surface river water, whereas, Pb (0.00 mg/L), Cd (0.850 mg/L, Zn (0.900 mg/L), Cu (0.850 mg/L), Mn (0.800 mg/L), Cd (0.00 mg/L), Fe (19.00 mg/L) and Ni (0.100 mg/L) for borehole water.

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