Potential health risk associated with the release of trace elements in the Luku gold min-ing area, Minna, North Central Nigeria

Abstract

Mining of solid minerals is one of the world’s most valuable resources. Mining activities such as gold mining are usually associated with dangers which serve as threat to man, animals, water and land. This work aims at evaluating the health risk associated with re-lease of trace elements as a result of mining of gold in Luku, Minna, North Central Nige-ria. Soil samples collected from the study area were analysed for trace elements using X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) method at the National Geoscience Research Laboratory (NGRL), of Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), Kaduna. Field observations reveal that min-ing activities have destroyed the quality and availability of surface and ground water in the area due to panning for gold and the use of chemicals for extraction of gold from its ores. Results of chemical analyses show that the mean concentrations of Pb (85.73 ppm), As (9.27 ppm), Cu (56.46 ppm), Ni (58.55 ppm), Cd (1.73 ppm) and Ag (0.73 ppm) in the soil were more than the comparable crustal values of the elements. Also, Co (10.91 ppm) and Mo (0.1 ppm) had concentrations slightly above the crustal values while those of Zn (31 ppm) and Mn (283.73 ppm) were below these values. The order of average concentra-tions of these elements is as follows: Mn > Pb > Ni > Cu > Zn > Co > As > Cd > Mo > Hg. Consumption of water and plants with high concentration of these elements by man can lead to possible health implications such as stomach aches, dizziness, nose, mouth and eye irritations, liver and kidney damage, cardiovascular diseases, liver cancer and even death. It is recommended that environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the area be car-ried out at the commencement of mining operations.