Entropy-Based Analysis of the Impact of Environmentally Sensitive Elements on Groundwater Quality of the Ameka Region of Southeast Nigeria: Medical Geology Implications

Understanding the impact of natural and modified environment on human health is a subject within the scope of medical geology. Ameka and its environs in southeastern Nigeria is known for intensive mining and agricultural activities that frequently predispose water resources to pollution by environmentally sensitive elements (ESEs). The present study analyzed the groundwater quality and associated probabilistic human health risks due to ESEs in Ameka area, using multiple indices and a novel health risk assessment framework, HHRISK. Entropy-weighted water quality index and other geochemical evaluation indices (including pollution index, enrichment factor, index of geoaccumulation, pollution index of groundwater, and quantification of contamination) revealed that all the groundwater samples from hand-dug wells and boreholes were extremely polluted and hence unsuitable for drinking. The HHRISK model was utilized for ingestion and dermal exposure routes assessments. Results showed that all the samples pose very high carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks. With respect to aggregated non-carcinogenic HHRISK, the order of health threat impact of the ESEs for children and adult populations is predicted as Cd > As > Se > Co > Ni > Pb > Mn > Zn > Cu > Fe. However, aggregated cancer risk for both populations followed the trend Ni > Cd > As > Pb. Furthermore, cumulative non-carcinogenic risk (HRQcum) and carcinogenic risk (CRcum) scores (for children and adults) exceeded standard limits in all the samples. However, the scores obtained for the adults were generally lower, implying that the children population is more vulnerable to both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks. Thus, there is urgent need to adopt environmentally-friendly pollution mitigation measures in the Ameka area.

Tags
Data and Resources
To access the resources you must log in

This item has no data

Identity

Description: The Identity category includes attributes that support the identification of the resource.

Field Value
PID https://www.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.12852093.v1
PID https://www.doi.org/10.1080/00032719.2020.1797076
PID https://www.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.12852093
URL https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00032719.2020.1797076
URL https://academic.microsoft.com/#/detail/3044539761
URL http://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.12852093
URL http://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.12852093.v1
URL https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/00032719.2020.1797076
URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00032719.2020.1797076
Access Modality

Description: The Access Modality category includes attributes that report the modality of exploitation of the resource.

Field Value
Access Right Restricted
Attribution

Description: Authorships and contributors

Field Value
Author Johnbosco C. Egbueri, 0000-0003-0281-1213
Author Peter D. Ameh, 0000-0002-1135-8126
Author Monday T. Enyigwe
Author Chinanu O. Unigwe, 0000-0002-5952-1551
Publishing

Description: Attributes about the publishing venue (e.g. journal) and deposit location (e.g. repository)

Field Value
Collected From Datacite; figshare; Crossref; Microsoft Academic Graph
Hosted By figshare; Analytical Letters
Publication Date 2020-01-01
Publisher Taylor & Francis
Additional Info
Field Value
Language UNKNOWN
Resource Type Other literature type; Article
keyword FOS: Chemical sciences
keyword FOS: Biological sciences
keyword FOS: Earth and related environmental sciences
keyword keywords.Biochemistry, medical
system:type publication
Management Info
Field Value
Source https://science-innovation-policy.openaire.eu/search/publication?articleId=dedup_wf_001::cc2ebeda843044faad6c54ebbdb32f30
Author jsonws_user
Last Updated 26 December 2020, 19:45 (CET)
Created 26 December 2020, 19:45 (CET)