Evaluation of trace elements contents in staple foodstuffs from the gold mining areas in southwestern part of Ghana using neutron activation analysis

摘要

Most studies in gold mining areas in Ghana have been concentrated on soil, sediment and atmospheric pollution, very limited work has been conducted on consumed crops. This work therefore aims at shedding more light on the effects of gold mining activities on selected consumed food crops ("Xanthosoma sagittifolium", "Colocasia esculenta", "Musa paradisiacal" and "Manihot Esculentus" in Ghana using Neutron Activation Analysis. Arsenic (As) recorded very alarming concentrations averaging about 6.37 mg/kg, which is twice WHO recommended levels for "Manihot esculentus", "Xanthosoma sagittifolium" and "Musa Paradisiacal" from Iduapriem Town. The distributions of the concentration of Mercury were more concentrated in the gold mining towns recording values exceeding WHO recommended values. This calls for a concerted effort to minimize the negative impacts of gold mining in the study area. The distribution of the various elemental concentration in various foodstuffs were accomplished by employing statistical methods like Cluster, Principal Component Analysis and Pearson correlation matrix. Statistically, two separate clusters was observed for foodstuffs from mining and non- mining towns.