The impact of small-scale mining activities on the levels of mercury in the environment: The case of Prestea and its environs
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- 作者：Y. Serfor-Armah ; B. J. B. Nyarko ; D. K. Adotey ; D. Adomako and E. H. K. Akaho
- 刊名：Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
- 出版时间：2005
- 出版年：2005
- 期刊代码：48_02365731
- 类别：ch
- 卷：262
- 期：3
- 页码：685-690
- 数据来源：sp
摘要
To obtain the baseline information of mercury pollution due to gold mining activities in Prestea and its environs total mercury (T-Hg) concentrations were measured in water and stream sediment. The samples were analyzed by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). They were irradiated and counted without any preconcentration. Higher levels of T-Hg concentration were found in samples at the sites with extensive small-scale ‘galamsey’ gold mining activities than at the sites with low small-scale ‘galamsey’ activities. Concentrations varied between 6.80-19.82 mg/l for water and 28.90-84.30 mg/kg in sediment at sites with extensive small-scale mining activities. At low small-scale mining sites concentration levels for T-Hg varied between 0.50-9.10 mg/l and 1.20-22.75 mg/kg in water and sediment, respectively. The concentration levels of T-Hg in water from all the sampling sites are in excess of the WHO tolerable limit of 0.001 mg/l for drinking water.