Appraisal of pollution, ecological and health risks assessment of trace metals in soils of Logbadjeck quarrying area, Nyong Series, Cameroon

Background: Assessing toxic metals in agricultural soils or farmlands is a worldwide concern for maintaining ecosystem health, especially in developing countries such as Cameroon. Therefore, this study examines the contamination levels and the ecological and health risks of trace metals in the soils...

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Main Authors: Anicet Feudjio Tiabou, Guy Amie Atabe Atabe, Cyrille Sigue, Lemnyuy Prosper Yiika, Fatemeh Kachoueiyan, Nkeng Enstein Forchenallah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:Journal of Trace Elements and Minerals
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773050624000892
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author Anicet Feudjio Tiabou
Guy Amie Atabe Atabe
Cyrille Sigue
Lemnyuy Prosper Yiika
Fatemeh Kachoueiyan
Nkeng Enstein Forchenallah
author_facet Anicet Feudjio Tiabou
Guy Amie Atabe Atabe
Cyrille Sigue
Lemnyuy Prosper Yiika
Fatemeh Kachoueiyan
Nkeng Enstein Forchenallah
author_sort Anicet Feudjio Tiabou
collection DOAJ
description Background: Assessing toxic metals in agricultural soils or farmlands is a worldwide concern for maintaining ecosystem health, especially in developing countries such as Cameroon. Therefore, this study examines the contamination levels and the ecological and health risks of trace metals in the soils of the Logbadjeck quarrying area. Methods: Soil samples from the Logbadjeck quarrying area were examined using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results and discussion: The findings of this research show that trace metals in soils examined significantly exceeded the permissible limit. Correlation matrix and principal component analysis suggest similar provenance of trace metals. A low to moderate level of contamination was found using the geo-accumulation index, ecological risk index, and contamination factor. Logbadjeck soils had minimal pollution levels, as indicated by most stations with pollution load index values < 1 and Nemerow integrated pollution index values of 1–2. The ecological and toxic risk index shows negligible ecological risk and no toxic risk levels of trace metals. The health risk assessment's findings showed that while accidental ingestion and skin contact with trace metals in soils exposed recreational receptors to carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks, it was necessary to implement policies and undertake remediation to control the elevated carcinogenic risks of Cr, Ni, and Pb in soil. This study's data offers profound insights into our knowledge of environmental contaminants and their potentially harmful impacts in the study area. Conclusion: The soils of the Logbadjeck quarrying area are in the low to moderate contamination category due to geogenic influences and anthropogenic practices. It is recommended that ongoing soil and agricultural products be monitored to avoid trace metal concentrations from anthropogenic practices in the food chain rising above permissible bounds and safeguard the health of humans and animals in the research region.
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spelling doaj-art-5d3f32ebf125472c8c6939c1dea4db9a2024-12-09T04:28:39ZengElsevierJournal of Trace Elements and Minerals2773-05062024-12-0110100204Appraisal of pollution, ecological and health risks assessment of trace metals in soils of Logbadjeck quarrying area, Nyong Series, CameroonAnicet Feudjio Tiabou0Guy Amie Atabe Atabe1Cyrille Sigue2Lemnyuy Prosper Yiika3Fatemeh Kachoueiyan4Nkeng Enstein Forchenallah5Environmental Geosciences and Volcanology Research Group, Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63 Buea, Buea, South West Region, Cameroon; Corresponding author.Environmental Geosciences and Volcanology Research Group, Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63 Buea, Buea, South West Region, CameroonEconomic Geology and Mineral Exploration Research Group, Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63 Buea, South West Region, CameroonDepartment of Geology, Mining and Environmental Science, The University of Bamenda, P.O. Box 39, Bamenda, North West Region, CameroonGraduate Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, Tehran, IranMinistry of Mines, Industry and Technological Development, P.O. Box 120 Limbe, South West Region, CameroonBackground: Assessing toxic metals in agricultural soils or farmlands is a worldwide concern for maintaining ecosystem health, especially in developing countries such as Cameroon. Therefore, this study examines the contamination levels and the ecological and health risks of trace metals in the soils of the Logbadjeck quarrying area. Methods: Soil samples from the Logbadjeck quarrying area were examined using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results and discussion: The findings of this research show that trace metals in soils examined significantly exceeded the permissible limit. Correlation matrix and principal component analysis suggest similar provenance of trace metals. A low to moderate level of contamination was found using the geo-accumulation index, ecological risk index, and contamination factor. Logbadjeck soils had minimal pollution levels, as indicated by most stations with pollution load index values < 1 and Nemerow integrated pollution index values of 1–2. The ecological and toxic risk index shows negligible ecological risk and no toxic risk levels of trace metals. The health risk assessment's findings showed that while accidental ingestion and skin contact with trace metals in soils exposed recreational receptors to carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks, it was necessary to implement policies and undertake remediation to control the elevated carcinogenic risks of Cr, Ni, and Pb in soil. This study's data offers profound insights into our knowledge of environmental contaminants and their potentially harmful impacts in the study area. Conclusion: The soils of the Logbadjeck quarrying area are in the low to moderate contamination category due to geogenic influences and anthropogenic practices. It is recommended that ongoing soil and agricultural products be monitored to avoid trace metal concentrations from anthropogenic practices in the food chain rising above permissible bounds and safeguard the health of humans and animals in the research region.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773050624000892Ecological riskHealth riskSoil pollutionSource identificationTrace metals
spellingShingle Anicet Feudjio Tiabou
Guy Amie Atabe Atabe
Cyrille Sigue
Lemnyuy Prosper Yiika
Fatemeh Kachoueiyan
Nkeng Enstein Forchenallah
Appraisal of pollution, ecological and health risks assessment of trace metals in soils of Logbadjeck quarrying area, Nyong Series, Cameroon
Journal of Trace Elements and Minerals
Ecological risk
Health risk
Soil pollution
Source identification
Trace metals
title Appraisal of pollution, ecological and health risks assessment of trace metals in soils of Logbadjeck quarrying area, Nyong Series, Cameroon
title_full Appraisal of pollution, ecological and health risks assessment of trace metals in soils of Logbadjeck quarrying area, Nyong Series, Cameroon
title_fullStr Appraisal of pollution, ecological and health risks assessment of trace metals in soils of Logbadjeck quarrying area, Nyong Series, Cameroon
title_full_unstemmed Appraisal of pollution, ecological and health risks assessment of trace metals in soils of Logbadjeck quarrying area, Nyong Series, Cameroon
title_short Appraisal of pollution, ecological and health risks assessment of trace metals in soils of Logbadjeck quarrying area, Nyong Series, Cameroon
title_sort appraisal of pollution ecological and health risks assessment of trace metals in soils of logbadjeck quarrying area nyong series cameroon
topic Ecological risk
Health risk
Soil pollution
Source identification
Trace metals
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773050624000892
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