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Groundwater Quality Assessment Using Pollution Indices and Human Health Risks Through Exposure to Trace Elements in the City of Kara, Togo

Received: 18 September 2024     Accepted: 8 October 2024     Published: 31 October 2024
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Abstract

This study assesses the concentrations of trace elements in groundwater from Kara, focusing on their implications for water quality and health risks. Groundwater samples were collected and analyzed during the dry and post-monsoon seasons for pH, TDS, and trace metals using standard methods and for calculating pollution indices and noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks. Groundwater was found to be fresh but more acidic during the dry season. Only As, Pb, Sb, Fe, and Mn exceeded acceptable limits in some samples, highlighting potential health risks. Based on the heavy metal pollution index, groundwater is unsuitable for domestic purposes for 16.67% and 4.17% of samples in dry and post-monsoon seasons, respectively. According to the degree of contamination, 37.5% in the dry season and 20.8% in post-monsoon fell in high pollution classes. Most samples presented a hazard index above the unity for the resident children and adults. Carcinogenic risk assessment scores exceeded 10 to 100-fold higher than the safe point of 10-6. Adequate access to treated and safe drinking water and regular monitoring are essential to mitigate these risks in the Kara region.

Published in American Journal of Environmental Protection (Volume 13, Issue 5)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajep.20241305.15
Page(s) 163-174
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Arsenic, Health Risks, Lead, Pollution Indices, Togo, Urban Groundwater, Water Quality

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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Akpataku, K. V., Dougna, A. A., Sodomon, A. K., Ani, M., Mande, S. A., et al. (2024). Groundwater Quality Assessment Using Pollution Indices and Human Health Risks Through Exposure to Trace Elements in the City of Kara, Togo. American Journal of Environmental Protection, 13(5), 163-174. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20241305.15

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    ACS Style

    Akpataku, K. V.; Dougna, A. A.; Sodomon, A. K.; Ani, M.; Mande, S. A., et al. Groundwater Quality Assessment Using Pollution Indices and Human Health Risks Through Exposure to Trace Elements in the City of Kara, Togo. Am. J. Environ. Prot. 2024, 13(5), 163-174. doi: 10.11648/j.ajep.20241305.15

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    AMA Style

    Akpataku KV, Dougna AA, Sodomon AK, Ani M, Mande SA, et al. Groundwater Quality Assessment Using Pollution Indices and Human Health Risks Through Exposure to Trace Elements in the City of Kara, Togo. Am J Environ Prot. 2024;13(5):163-174. doi: 10.11648/j.ajep.20241305.15

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajep.20241305.15,
      author = {Kossitse Venyo Akpataku and Akpénè Amenuvevega Dougna and Agbessi Koffi Sodomon and Mozimwè Ani and Seyf-Laye Alfa-Sika Mande and Limam Moctar Bawa and Serigne Faye},
      title = {Groundwater Quality Assessment Using Pollution Indices and Human Health Risks Through Exposure to Trace Elements in the City of Kara, Togo
    },
      journal = {American Journal of Environmental Protection},
      volume = {13},
      number = {5},
      pages = {163-174},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajep.20241305.15},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20241305.15},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajep.20241305.15},
      abstract = {This study assesses the concentrations of trace elements in groundwater from Kara, focusing on their implications for water quality and health risks. Groundwater samples were collected and analyzed during the dry and post-monsoon seasons for pH, TDS, and trace metals using standard methods and for calculating pollution indices and noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks. Groundwater was found to be fresh but more acidic during the dry season. Only As, Pb, Sb, Fe, and Mn exceeded acceptable limits in some samples, highlighting potential health risks. Based on the heavy metal pollution index, groundwater is unsuitable for domestic purposes for 16.67% and 4.17% of samples in dry and post-monsoon seasons, respectively. According to the degree of contamination, 37.5% in the dry season and 20.8% in post-monsoon fell in high pollution classes. Most samples presented a hazard index above the unity for the resident children and adults. Carcinogenic risk assessment scores exceeded 10 to 100-fold higher than the safe point of 10-6. Adequate access to treated and safe drinking water and regular monitoring are essential to mitigate these risks in the Kara region.
    },
     year = {2024}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Groundwater Quality Assessment Using Pollution Indices and Human Health Risks Through Exposure to Trace Elements in the City of Kara, Togo
    
    AU  - Kossitse Venyo Akpataku
    AU  - Akpénè Amenuvevega Dougna
    AU  - Agbessi Koffi Sodomon
    AU  - Mozimwè Ani
    AU  - Seyf-Laye Alfa-Sika Mande
    AU  - Limam Moctar Bawa
    AU  - Serigne Faye
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    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajep.20241305.15
    T2  - American Journal of Environmental Protection
    JF  - American Journal of Environmental Protection
    JO  - American Journal of Environmental Protection
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    EP  - 174
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-5699
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20241305.15
    AB  - This study assesses the concentrations of trace elements in groundwater from Kara, focusing on their implications for water quality and health risks. Groundwater samples were collected and analyzed during the dry and post-monsoon seasons for pH, TDS, and trace metals using standard methods and for calculating pollution indices and noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks. Groundwater was found to be fresh but more acidic during the dry season. Only As, Pb, Sb, Fe, and Mn exceeded acceptable limits in some samples, highlighting potential health risks. Based on the heavy metal pollution index, groundwater is unsuitable for domestic purposes for 16.67% and 4.17% of samples in dry and post-monsoon seasons, respectively. According to the degree of contamination, 37.5% in the dry season and 20.8% in post-monsoon fell in high pollution classes. Most samples presented a hazard index above the unity for the resident children and adults. Carcinogenic risk assessment scores exceeded 10 to 100-fold higher than the safe point of 10-6. Adequate access to treated and safe drinking water and regular monitoring are essential to mitigate these risks in the Kara region.
    
    VL  - 13
    IS  - 5
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Laboratory of Organic Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, Department of Chemistry, University of Kara, Kara, Togo; Laboratory of Applied Hydrology and Environment, University of Lomé, Lome, Togo

  • Laboratory of Organic Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, Department of Chemistry, University of Kara, Kara, Togo; Laboratory of Applied Hydrology and Environment, University of Lomé, Lome, Togo

  • Laboratory of Organic Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, Department of Chemistry, University of Kara, Kara, Togo

  • Laboratory of Applied Hydrology and Environment, University of Lomé, Lome, Togo; Study Group on Geomaterials and Anthropized Environments, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Reims, France

  • Laboratory of Organic Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, Department of Chemistry, University of Kara, Kara, Togo; Laboratory of Applied Hydrology and Environment, University of Lomé, Lome, Togo

  • Laboratory of Applied Hydrology and Environment, University of Lomé, Lome, Togo

  • Department of Geology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar Fann, Senegal

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