Abstract
Ghana's mining industry, especially Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM), is significant in driving economic growth and development, contributing substantially to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and export revenue. ASGM contributes over 40% of the country’s gold production. However, current ASGM practices have neglected responsible mining operations, resulting in environmental degradation and adverse health impacts. The presumed notion that specific trace elements, such as those originating from sulphide minerals, exert an influence on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) prompted the researchers to examine arsenic (As), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) in 449 soil samples from four designated regions where mining and agriculture serve as the primary sources of sustenance for the residents.
The samples were collected 30 cm below the humic layer to ascertain the trace elements within for subsequent chemical analysis. Results obtained from ICP-MS analysis were compared with the globally accepted baseline values. A pollution load index (PLI) and Geo-accumulation index (Igeo) were used to determine the pollution status across the four sampled areas. The calculated PLI for As, Pb, Cu and Zn was 1.01, indicating moderate pollution levels. In contrast, Igeo indicated moderate-to-heavy levels of pollution; 84.35% -95.79% of elements departed from the accepted baseline values, highlighting hidden dangers posed by these pollutants on population health within the study areas. Arsenic was consistently higher than other elements and is also known to cause NCDs like diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. The paper concludes that mineral imbalances, among others, lie clearly in the geochemical environment. Therefore, partnerships between Geoscientists and Medical healthcare workers can identify mitigation strategies towards reducing or eliminating NCDs.