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Environmental Health Impact of Potentially Harmful Element Discharges from Mining Operations in Nigeria

Received: 29 September 2014     Accepted: 5 October 2014     Published: 25 December 2014
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Abstract

Widespread artisanal, alongside small-scale mining operations are currently increasing in intensity in Nigeria. These activities are causing immeasurable damage to the environment and populations that live in the vicinity of these mine fields. The discharges of Potentially Harmful Elements (PHEs) from the exposed mine-out /mineral processing sites and their subsequent remobilization into the soils, and natural water bodies constitute serious human health problems. A study aiming at understanding the extent by which these elements contaminate the soils at the vicinity of the mining operations was conducted. This study also sought to identify the possible effects on human health and how it can be best mitigated. Geochemical results suggest that the discharges of PHEs from the mining/mineral ore processing operations have contributed significantly to the enrichment of these elements in the surrounding environment, thereby contaminating drinking water sources, food crops, and are disposed to subsequent entry into the human body through the food chain. Many of the mining communities make their living from subsistence farming, growing food from the surroundings, and obtaining drinking water from nearby surface and sub-surface water resources. The direct or indirect exposure of the human population to PHEs constitutes a potential risk to human health if not monitored and abated. Reports of in-vitro bio-accessibility tests show that less than 50% of bio available heavy metal contaminants in ingested soil are bio accessible during digestion process. Thus, there is need for the reduction of bio-available PHE in the soil by ensuring that mining operations generally are done in a manner that will secure a quality of environment adequate for good health and well-being of the communities around.

Published in American Journal of Environmental Protection (Volume 3, Issue 6-2)

This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrating Earth Materials, Diet, Water and Human Health

DOI 10.11648/j.ajep.s.2014030602.12
Page(s) 14-18
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), 2014. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Potentially Harmful Elements (PHEs), Mill/Mine Tailings, Contamination, Environment, Human Health, Artisanal Mining, Nigeria

References
[1] Abraham, P.W., Davies, T.C., Solomon, A.O., Trow, A.J., and Wragg, J. 2013. Human Geophagis, Calabash Chalk and Undongo: Mineral Element Nutritional Implications. PLOS ONE, 8 (1), 1-11.
[2] Adriano, D.C. (2001): Trace elements in terrestrial environments. Biogeochemistry, bioavalability and risk of metals. Springer-verteg, New York, P 879.
[3] Alloway, B.J., 1995. The origins of heavy metals in soils. In: Alloway, B.J. (Ed.), Heavy Metals in Soils, second ed. Blackie Academic & Professional.
[4] Baral, S. S.., S. N. Dasa, P. Rath, G. Roy Chaudhury and Y. V. Swamy,( 2007). “Removal of Cr(VI) from Aqueous Solution Using Waste Weed, Salvinia Cucullata,” Chemistry and Ecology, 23 ( 2), 105-117.
[5] Cave, M.R., Wragg, J., Denys, S., Jondreville, C., and Feidt, C. 2011. Oral bioavailability. In: Swartjes, F. A., Editor. Dealing with contaminated sites (from theory towards practical application). Dordrecdt: Springer, 287-384.
[6] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) 2012. Advisory Committee on childhood lead poisoning prevention (ACCLPP).
[7] http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/ACCLPP/acclpp_main.htm.
[8] Lar, U.A., Ngozi-Chika, C.S. and Ashano, E.C. 2013. Human exposure to lead and other potentially harmful elements associated with galena mining at New Zurak, central Nigeria. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 84, 13-19.
[9] Lar, U.A., Tsuwang, K. D. Gusikit, R.B. and Mangs, A. D. 2013. Lead and mercury contamination associated with artisanal gold mining in Anka Zamfara state, north western Nigeria: the continued unabated Zamfara lead poisoning. Journal of Earth Science and Engineering (in press)
[10] Duggan, M. J., Inskip, M. J., Rundle, S. A., & Moorcroft, J. S. (1985). Lead in playground dust and on hands of school children. Science of the Total Environment, 44, 65–79.
[11] Mataka, L. M.., E. M. Henry, W. R. L. Masamba and S. M. Sajida, 2006. Lead Remediation of Contaminated Water Using Moringa Stenopetala and Moring Oleifera Seed Powder. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 3 (2) 131-139.
[12] Medina, V, S. L. Larson, L. Agwaramgbo, W. Perez and L. Escalon, 2004. Treatment of Trinitrotoluene by Crude Plant Extracts. Chemosphere, 55(5), 725- 732.
[13] Nemr, A. El., A. El Sikaily, A. Khaled and O. Abdelwahab, 2007. Removal of Toxic Chromium (VI) from Aqueous Solution by Activated Carbon Using Casuarina Equisetifolia,” Chemistry and Ecology. 23 (2) 119- 129.
[14] Oomen A. G., Hack, A., Minekus, M., Zeijdner, E., Cornelis, C., Schoeters, G., Verstraete, W., Van De Wiele, T., Wragg, J., Rompelberg, C.J. M., Sips, A.J.A.M. and Van Wijnen, J.H. 2002. Comparison of five In Vitro Digestion Models to Study the BioAccessibility of Soil Contaminants. Environ. Sci. Technol. 36, 3326-3334.
[15] Rate, A. W. 2010. “Sorption of Cadmium (II) and Copper (II) by Soil Humic Acids: Temperature Affects and Sorption Heterogeneity. Chemistry and Ecology, 26 (5) 371-383.
[16] Saleh, J. 2011. Lead poisoning in Zamfara state, Nigeria: a review (a publication of environment and health).
[17] UNICEF Programme Cooperation Agreement 2011. Environmental Remediation-Lead Poisoning in Zamfara. Final Report Sept. 2010 – March 2011.
[18] WHO 2006. World Health Organization’s drinking water standard. Retrieved from www.lenntech.com
[19] WHO/FAO 2001. Maximum permissive levels for vegetables/crops for trace elements and macro-nutrients.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Lar Uriah, Ngozi-Chika Chiazor Stephen, Tsuwang Kenneth. (2014). Environmental Health Impact of Potentially Harmful Element Discharges from Mining Operations in Nigeria. American Journal of Environmental Protection, 3(6-2), 14-18. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.s.2014030602.12

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    ACS Style

    Lar Uriah; Ngozi-Chika Chiazor Stephen; Tsuwang Kenneth. Environmental Health Impact of Potentially Harmful Element Discharges from Mining Operations in Nigeria. Am. J. Environ. Prot. 2014, 3(6-2), 14-18. doi: 10.11648/j.ajep.s.2014030602.12

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    AMA Style

    Lar Uriah, Ngozi-Chika Chiazor Stephen, Tsuwang Kenneth. Environmental Health Impact of Potentially Harmful Element Discharges from Mining Operations in Nigeria. Am J Environ Prot. 2014;3(6-2):14-18. doi: 10.11648/j.ajep.s.2014030602.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajep.s.2014030602.12,
      author = {Lar Uriah and Ngozi-Chika Chiazor Stephen and Tsuwang Kenneth},
      title = {Environmental Health Impact of Potentially Harmful Element Discharges from Mining Operations in Nigeria},
      journal = {American Journal of Environmental Protection},
      volume = {3},
      number = {6-2},
      pages = {14-18},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajep.s.2014030602.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.s.2014030602.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajep.s.2014030602.12},
      abstract = {Widespread artisanal, alongside small-scale mining operations are currently increasing in intensity in Nigeria. These activities are causing immeasurable damage to the environment and populations that live in the vicinity of these mine fields. The discharges of Potentially Harmful Elements (PHEs) from the exposed mine-out /mineral processing sites and their subsequent remobilization into the soils, and natural water bodies constitute serious human health problems. A study aiming at understanding the extent by which these elements contaminate the soils at the vicinity of the mining operations was conducted. This study also sought to identify the possible effects on human health and how it can be best mitigated. Geochemical results suggest that the discharges of PHEs from the mining/mineral ore processing operations have contributed significantly to the enrichment of these elements in the surrounding environment, thereby contaminating drinking water sources, food crops, and are disposed to subsequent entry into the human body through the food chain. Many of the mining communities make their living from subsistence farming, growing food from the surroundings, and obtaining drinking water from nearby surface and sub-surface water resources. The direct or indirect exposure of the human population to PHEs constitutes a potential risk to human health if not monitored and abated. Reports of in-vitro bio-accessibility tests show that less than 50% of bio available heavy metal contaminants in ingested soil are bio accessible during digestion process. Thus, there is need for the reduction of bio-available PHE in the soil by ensuring that mining operations generally are done in a manner that will secure a quality of environment adequate for good health and well-being of the communities around.},
     year = {2014}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Environmental Health Impact of Potentially Harmful Element Discharges from Mining Operations in Nigeria
    AU  - Lar Uriah
    AU  - Ngozi-Chika Chiazor Stephen
    AU  - Tsuwang Kenneth
    Y1  - 2014/12/25
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    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.s.2014030602.12
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajep.s.2014030602.12
    T2  - American Journal of Environmental Protection
    JF  - American Journal of Environmental Protection
    JO  - American Journal of Environmental Protection
    SP  - 14
    EP  - 18
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-5699
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.s.2014030602.12
    AB  - Widespread artisanal, alongside small-scale mining operations are currently increasing in intensity in Nigeria. These activities are causing immeasurable damage to the environment and populations that live in the vicinity of these mine fields. The discharges of Potentially Harmful Elements (PHEs) from the exposed mine-out /mineral processing sites and their subsequent remobilization into the soils, and natural water bodies constitute serious human health problems. A study aiming at understanding the extent by which these elements contaminate the soils at the vicinity of the mining operations was conducted. This study also sought to identify the possible effects on human health and how it can be best mitigated. Geochemical results suggest that the discharges of PHEs from the mining/mineral ore processing operations have contributed significantly to the enrichment of these elements in the surrounding environment, thereby contaminating drinking water sources, food crops, and are disposed to subsequent entry into the human body through the food chain. Many of the mining communities make their living from subsistence farming, growing food from the surroundings, and obtaining drinking water from nearby surface and sub-surface water resources. The direct or indirect exposure of the human population to PHEs constitutes a potential risk to human health if not monitored and abated. Reports of in-vitro bio-accessibility tests show that less than 50% of bio available heavy metal contaminants in ingested soil are bio accessible during digestion process. Thus, there is need for the reduction of bio-available PHE in the soil by ensuring that mining operations generally are done in a manner that will secure a quality of environment adequate for good health and well-being of the communities around.
    VL  - 3
    IS  - 6-2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Geology and Mining, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria

  • Freelance Geoscientist and Independent Researcher, Abuja, FCT, Nigeria

  • Ministry of Environment, Kaduna State Government of Nigeria, Kaduna, Nigeria

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