Potential Health Risks Associated the Release of Trace Elements in the Luku Gold Mining Area, Minna, North-Central Nigeria

Abstract

Mining of solid minerals is one of the World's most valuable resources. Mining activities such as Gold mining are usually associated with dangers which serves as threat to man, animals, water and land. This work aims at evaluation the health risks associated with release of trace elements as a result of mining gold in Luku, Minna , North central Nigeria. Soil samples collected from the study area were analyzed for trace elements using X-ray Flourescence (XRF) methods at the National Geoscience Research Laboratory (NGRL), of Nigeria Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), Kaduna, Field observations reveals that mining activities has destroyed the quality and availability of surface and groundwater in the area due to panning for gold and the use of chemicals to extraction of gold from its ores. Result of chemical analyses show that the mean concentration of Pb (85.73ppm), As (0.27ppm), Cu (56.46ppm) ,Ni (58.55ppm), Cd (1.73ppm), and Ag (0.73ppm) in the soil were more than the comparable crustal values while those of Zn (31ppm), and Mn (283.73ppm) were below these values. The order of average concentration of these elements is as follows: Mn>Pb>Ni>Cu> Zn>Co>As>Cd>Mo>Hg. Consumption of water and plants with high concentration of these elements by man can lead to possible health implications such as stomach aches, dizziness, nose, mouth and eye irritations, liver and kidney damage, cardiovascular diseases, liver cancer and even death. It is recommended that environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the area be carried out at the commencement of mining operations.