US EPA

1026670 

Journal Article 

Contamination status of arsenic and other trace elements in drinking water and residents from Tarkwa, a historic mining township in Ghana 

Asante, KA; Agusa, T; Subramanian, A; Ansa-Asare, OD; Biney, CA; Tanabe, S 

2007 

Yes 

Chemosphere
ISSN: 0045-6535
EISSN: 1879-1298 

66 

8 

1513-1522 

English 

17084882 

10.1016/j.chemosphere.2006.08.022 

WOS:000244166500016 

This study was conducted to assess the contamination status of 22 trace elements, especially As in water and residents in Tarkwa, a historic mining town in Ghana. Drinking water and human urine samples were collected from Tarkwa in addition to control samples taken from Accra, the capital of Ghana in March, 2004. Concentrations of As and Mn in some drinking water samples from Tarkwa were found above the WHO drinking water guidelines posing a potential health risk for the people. A potential health risk of As and Mn is a concern for the people consuming the contaminated water in this area. No significant difference of As concentrations in human urine between mining town (Tarkwa) and control site (Accra) was observed. Although As concentrations in drinking water in Tarkwa were low, urinary As levels were comparable to those reported in highly As-affected areas in the world. These results suggest the presence of other sources of As contamination in Ghana. This is the first study on multi-elemental contamination in drinking water and human from a mining town in Ghana. 

arsenic; manganese; trace elements; water; human urine; Ghana