Browsing by Author "Antwi-Onyina, Patricia"

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    Artisanal Activities at the “Suame Magazine” Industrial Area and Its Effect of Heavy Metal Levels on the Area’s Water Resources
    (2012-06-18) Antwi-Onyina, Patricia
    Industrial discharges from artisanal activities are known to adversely affect natural resources and human health. Water samples collected from an area with a high artisanal population in the Kumasi municipality were monitored for temperature, pH, turbidity, conductivity and heavy metals (Lead, Iron, Cadmium, Chromium) from hand-dug wells, hand-pump wells, pipe- borne water and surface waters. Physicochemical parameters were determined using standard procedures whilst heavy metals were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry method. From the results temperature ranged between 26.33 ± 0.31 and 29.22 ± 0.51˚C. Mean pH ranged between 4.24 and 6.40 which were below the WHO acceptable limit of 6.5 in all the water sources. Turbidity values were within the WHO limit of <5NTU with the exception of surface waters which recorded turbidity values of 50.89NTU. Conductivity was within the acceptable limit in all the water sources. Mean levels of heavy metals were 0.18-1.06 for Pb and 0.23-11.49 for Fe in all the different water sources. Cd levels were below detection limits in all the water samples from the study area. However, Cd level in surface water from the study site exceeded levels from the control site. Cr levels in all the water sources, with the exception of surface waters, were below detection limit in both the study and control sites. Sanitation survey of the study site indicated that most hand-dug and hand-pump wells were shallow and sited close to metallurgical shops with no proper drainage and sewerage systems. Data from this study could help advice the Community Water and Sanitation Agency on the need to adopt an integrated approach in minimizing heavy metal pollution of water sources within the “Suame Magazine” and its environs.