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An Appraisal of Heavy Metal Distribution in Surface Water and Groundwater in the Vicinity of a Salt Mine

Received: 20 October 2022    Accepted: 16 November 2022    Published: 20 March 2023
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Abstract

Water quality is a big concern for the humankind as it is the most important natural resource. The quality of water is affected by anthropogenic activities carried which could render it unsuitable for human consumption. The present study assessed heavy metal distribution and toxicity in surface and groundwater resources of an area characterized by salt mining from brine ponds. Samples were analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC) elemental compositions of: Ba, Mn, Fe, Cu, Sr, and Zn to assess their spatial distribution, sources, variability, toxicity and possible health risks. Median concentrations of Ba, Mn, Fe, Cu, Sr, and Zn in surface water was: 0.28, 3.63, 2.23, 0.03, 0.14 and 0.05 respectively while for groundwater, median concentration was: 0.65, 0.20, 1.16, 0.03, 0.83 and 0.11 respectively. In terms of suitability, concentrations of Mn, Fe and Sr in surface water, and that of Sr, in groundwater raises some quality concerns since they are all present in concentrations above the permissible limits for drinking water. Results of Corelation and Principal Component Analyses showed that source and mobility of these metals is linked to both geogenic (host rock weathering) and anthropogenic activities mainly associated with salt mining and processing in the region of a saline pond. Spatial distribution of concentration of these metals also shows higher concentrations in the immediate region of the salt mine especially in groundwater.

Published in American Journal of Water Science and Engineering (Volume 9, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajwse.20230901.13
Page(s) 17-25
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Heavy Metals, Salt Mining, Water Quality, Correlation Analysis, Principal Component Analysis

References
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[13] Proshad, R., Islam, S., Tusher, R. T., Zhang, D., Khadka, S., Gao, J., and Kundu, S. (2020). Appraisal of heavy metal toxicity in surface water with human health risk by a novel approach: a study on an urban river in vicinity to industrial areas of Bangladesh. Toxin Reviews, DOI: 10.1080/15569543.20.1780615
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Kana Aisha Abubakar, Isah Muhammad Awwal, Kana r Ahmad Abubaka. (2023). An Appraisal of Heavy Metal Distribution in Surface Water and Groundwater in the Vicinity of a Salt Mine. American Journal of Water Science and Engineering, 9(1), 17-25. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajwse.20230901.13

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    ACS Style

    Kana Aisha Abubakar; Isah Muhammad Awwal; Kana r Ahmad Abubaka. An Appraisal of Heavy Metal Distribution in Surface Water and Groundwater in the Vicinity of a Salt Mine. Am. J. Water Sci. Eng. 2023, 9(1), 17-25. doi: 10.11648/j.ajwse.20230901.13

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    AMA Style

    Kana Aisha Abubakar, Isah Muhammad Awwal, Kana r Ahmad Abubaka. An Appraisal of Heavy Metal Distribution in Surface Water and Groundwater in the Vicinity of a Salt Mine. Am J Water Sci Eng. 2023;9(1):17-25. doi: 10.11648/j.ajwse.20230901.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajwse.20230901.13,
      author = {Kana Aisha Abubakar and Isah Muhammad Awwal and Kana r Ahmad Abubaka},
      title = {An Appraisal of Heavy Metal Distribution in Surface Water and Groundwater in the Vicinity of a Salt Mine},
      journal = {American Journal of Water Science and Engineering},
      volume = {9},
      number = {1},
      pages = {17-25},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajwse.20230901.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajwse.20230901.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajwse.20230901.13},
      abstract = {Water quality is a big concern for the humankind as it is the most important natural resource. The quality of water is affected by anthropogenic activities carried which could render it unsuitable for human consumption. The present study assessed heavy metal distribution and toxicity in surface and groundwater resources of an area characterized by salt mining from brine ponds. Samples were analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC) elemental compositions of: Ba, Mn, Fe, Cu, Sr, and Zn to assess their spatial distribution, sources, variability, toxicity and possible health risks. Median concentrations of Ba, Mn, Fe, Cu, Sr, and Zn in surface water was: 0.28, 3.63, 2.23, 0.03, 0.14 and 0.05 respectively while for groundwater, median concentration was: 0.65, 0.20, 1.16, 0.03, 0.83 and 0.11 respectively. In terms of suitability, concentrations of Mn, Fe and Sr in surface water, and that of Sr, in groundwater raises some quality concerns since they are all present in concentrations above the permissible limits for drinking water. Results of Corelation and Principal Component Analyses showed that source and mobility of these metals is linked to both geogenic (host rock weathering) and anthropogenic activities mainly associated with salt mining and processing in the region of a saline pond. Spatial distribution of concentration of these metals also shows higher concentrations in the immediate region of the salt mine especially in groundwater.},
     year = {2023}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - An Appraisal of Heavy Metal Distribution in Surface Water and Groundwater in the Vicinity of a Salt Mine
    AU  - Kana Aisha Abubakar
    AU  - Isah Muhammad Awwal
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    Y1  - 2023/03/20
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    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajwse.20230901.13
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajwse.20230901.13
    T2  - American Journal of Water Science and Engineering
    JF  - American Journal of Water Science and Engineering
    JO  - American Journal of Water Science and Engineering
    SP  - 17
    EP  - 25
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2575-1875
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajwse.20230901.13
    AB  - Water quality is a big concern for the humankind as it is the most important natural resource. The quality of water is affected by anthropogenic activities carried which could render it unsuitable for human consumption. The present study assessed heavy metal distribution and toxicity in surface and groundwater resources of an area characterized by salt mining from brine ponds. Samples were analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC) elemental compositions of: Ba, Mn, Fe, Cu, Sr, and Zn to assess their spatial distribution, sources, variability, toxicity and possible health risks. Median concentrations of Ba, Mn, Fe, Cu, Sr, and Zn in surface water was: 0.28, 3.63, 2.23, 0.03, 0.14 and 0.05 respectively while for groundwater, median concentration was: 0.65, 0.20, 1.16, 0.03, 0.83 and 0.11 respectively. In terms of suitability, concentrations of Mn, Fe and Sr in surface water, and that of Sr, in groundwater raises some quality concerns since they are all present in concentrations above the permissible limits for drinking water. Results of Corelation and Principal Component Analyses showed that source and mobility of these metals is linked to both geogenic (host rock weathering) and anthropogenic activities mainly associated with salt mining and processing in the region of a saline pond. Spatial distribution of concentration of these metals also shows higher concentrations in the immediate region of the salt mine especially in groundwater.
    VL  - 9
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Geology and Mining, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria

  • Department of Geology and Mining, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria

  • Nasarawa State Water Board Headquarters, Lafia, Nigeria

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