An Assessment of Potential Toxic Elements in Soils of Some Selected Farming Communities in the Eastern Region of Ghana

Abstract

The study investigated the concentration of seven potential toxic elements (PTEs) (As, Cd, Cu, Pb, As Cr and Co) in the farm soil of some selected farming communities (Kwabia, Kwabia Asasehene, Agbom, Aworworso and Asasehene) in the Eastern Region of Ghana using acid digestion and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer methods. The mean concentrations of the PTEs recorded from the farms ranged from 3.5mg/kg-0.7mg/kg for Cd, 19.08mg/kg-3.94mg/kg for Cr, 19.24mg/kg11.42mg/kg for Co, 27.28mg/kg-3.26mg/kg for Pb, 29.62mg/kg-12.42mg/kg for Ni, 30.76mg/kg-14.52mg/kg for Cu and 36.6mg/kg-22.02 mg/kg for As. The mean concentrations of the PTEs in the studied area decreased in the order As>Cu>Ni>Pb>Co>Cr>Cd for all the five farming communities. The mean concentration for As for all the farmsstudied exceeded the WHO/FAO limits whiles that of Cd exceeded the WHO/FAO limits for Aworworso farms. However, the hazard index for children and adult were < 1 which showed that the PTEs posed no Health risk on individual health. The Total Carcinogenic Risk (TCR) was within or below acceptable risk. The study revealed that there was high degree of contamination of the PTEs; Cu, Cr, Pb, As, Co, Ni and Cd shown by the degree of contamination and the pollution load index, PLI. However, enrichment factor, EF showed that the soils of the studied area were much enriched in Cd and As and the PTEs had impact on soil microbial population and vice versa.