Publisher: Elsevier Ltd.
Title: Gold mining impairs the biological water quality of a culturally important river and UNESCO World Heritage Site in Nigeria
Author: Emmanuel O. Akindele, Tolulope A. Oladeji, Esther D. Kowobari, Abiodun M. Adedapo, Ibrahim R. Fagbohun, Oluwaseun T. Akinpelu, Oyeshina G. Oyeku
Date of Publication: 24 March 2023
Type: Journal Article
Volume: Environmental Pollution 326
Citation style language: N/A
Pollution Type:

• Heavy metals (Cadmium, Lead, Arsenic, Gold, Iron, Copper, Zinc)

• Total suspended solids
  Impact Dimension:

• Biological water quality degradation

• Human health risk

• Freshwater biodiversity impairment

• Ecosystem services disruption (cultural, irrigation, aesthetic)
  Actor Type:

• Gold mining activities

• Artisanal miners
  Response Type:

• Re-channeling upstream effluents

• Periodic environmental audit

• Stopping mining

• Developing effluent treatment facility
  Evidence Type:

• Ecological community data

• Heavy metal bioaccumulation

• Water physiochemical parameters

• Benthic sediment analysis

• Macroinvertebrate composition

• Contamination factor (CF)

• Geo-accumulation index (Igeo)
  Policy Mention:

• UNESCO World Heritage Site regulations

• Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 6 and 15)

• WHO guidelines for drinking water quality

• Nigerian regulations for drinking water quality
  Key Finding:

• Extreme degradation of physiochemical water quality due to high total suspended solids, low water transparency, and low dissolved oxygen

• Cadmium, Lead, and Arsenic exceeded permissible drinking water limits by significant margins

• Benthic sediment contamination by Cadmium and Gold

• Severe impact on macroinvertebrate fauna with near-absence of stress-sensitive EPT taxa

• Bioaccumulation of heavy metals across three functional feeding guilds of macroinvertebrates

• Current heavy metal levels pose major risks to freshwater biodiversity and human health
  Health Risk Projection:

• Great risk to human health

• Potential damage to internal organs

• Cancer

• Physiological disorders

• Kidney damage

• Lung emphysema

• Adverse effects on neurological, digestive, and circulatory systems
  URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121470
  DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121470
  ISBN, ISSN, PMID: ISSN 0269-7491