title: Environmental impact of the gold mining industry in Ghana.
abstract: X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) Analysis and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) have been used in assessing heavy metal pollution from some gold mines in Ghana. The presence and levels of heavy metals in gold ore, gold tailings, inland waters, and river sediments have been determined. Using these techniques, the heavy metals: Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, As, Pb, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, and Nb were identified in some of the solid samples within a concentration range of 0.08 ppm--4.9%. However, the inland waters showed the presence of only Fe and Zn at levels of 0.08-2.4 micrograms/mL.
authors.affiliation: Physics Department, National Nuclear Research Institute, Kwabenya, Ghana.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Bamford
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Osae
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aboh
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Biney
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Antwi
mesh_terms: D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D005869:Ghana; D006046:Gold; D006801:Humans; D008670:Metals / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D008906:Mining; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D008670:Metals; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D006046:Gold