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Physicochemical Studies for Risk Identification, Assessment, and Characterization of Artisanal Barite Mining in Nigeria

Author

Listed:
  • David Oluwasegun Afolayan

    (Department of Material Science and Engineering, African University of Science and Technology, PMB 681, Abuja 900109, Nigeria
    Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA 01609, USA)

  • Carrick McAfee Eggleston

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA 01609, USA)

  • Azikiwe Peter Onwualu

    (Department of Material Science and Engineering, African University of Science and Technology, PMB 681, Abuja 900109, Nigeria)

  • Adelana Rasak Adetunji

    (Department of Material Science and Engineering, African University of Science and Technology, PMB 681, Abuja 900109, Nigeria
    Department of Material Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife 220282, Nigeria)

  • Mingjiang Tao

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA 01609, USA)

  • Richard Kwasi Amankwah

    (Department of Material Science and Engineering, African University of Science and Technology, PMB 681, Abuja 900109, Nigeria
    Department of Mineral Engineering, University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa P.O. Box 237, Ghana)

Abstract

Over 90% of barite mining activities in Nigeria are carried out by artisanal and small-scale miners (ASMs), and up to 75% of these miners operate informally, without mining license and rights. Such mining activities endanger human lives through the uncontrolled release of toxic heavy metals and other pollutants which are major causes and consequences of severe health hazards in children and adults living close to the mining sites. This paper is in two parts. The first section assesses the extent of heavy metal contamination of Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, Ba, and Zn in drinking water by the mine water and tailing effluents. The second section estimates heavy metals’ toxicity and exposure level and analyzes and characterizes other human health risks in tailing effluents selected from three barite mining sites in Nigeria. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) results show that the concentrations of Ba and Pb among other heavy metals are above the allowable limits for drinking water. Index of geo-accumulation (Igeo) and contamination factor (CF) for Ba, Fe, and Pb were classified as moderately to extremely polluted (based on the Igeo) and highly contaminated (based on the CF). The calculated non-carcinogenic risk for Ba is 0.87 and 0.99 for Pb. HQ/HI (health quotient/health index) for Zn, Cu, and Fe is ≤0.005. The results indicate that some precautionary measures should be taken to avert the non-carcinogenic risk of Ba and Pb. It is important that barite mining is carried out in a responsible manner, respecting local and national mining laws and global environmental standards.

Suggested Citation

  • David Oluwasegun Afolayan & Carrick McAfee Eggleston & Azikiwe Peter Onwualu & Adelana Rasak Adetunji & Mingjiang Tao & Richard Kwasi Amankwah, 2021. "Physicochemical Studies for Risk Identification, Assessment, and Characterization of Artisanal Barite Mining in Nigeria," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-21, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:23:p:12982-:d:686324
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    References listed on IDEAS

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