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Hydrochemistry of groundwater in the Tamale Metropolis, Ghana

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Abstract

This study was on the hydrochemical and human health risk assessment of groundwater within the Tamale Metropolis. Forty samples were collected from ten functional underground water facilities. Physicochemical parameters and heavy metals were analysed using standard methods. Piper diagram showed that majority of samples analysed belonged to the mixed Ca–Mg–Cl hydrochemical facies. Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) for all groundwater samples ranged from 0.4 to 4.3 with a mean of 3.1 ± 0.4, implying that groundwater water in the Metropolis is potable and could also be used for irrigation. Total hardness levels ranged from 28.0 to 418.0 mg/l with majority of samples falling within the moderately hard to hard water category. Hazard quotient of Cd, Cr and Zn ranged from 1.52 to 5.64 indicating an unacceptable non-carcinogenic health risk at all sampling sites. Consequently, Cd, Cr and partly Pb levels showed a potential adverse effect of groundwater consumption for residents in the Tamale Metropolis. The cancer risk calculated for Cd and Pb was less than 1 × 10–6 indicating a low potential for lifetime occurence of cancer.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the staff of the Water Quality Laboratory of the CSIR- Water Research Institute (WRI), Tamale, for analysing water samples for the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environment and Sustainability Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, University for Development Studies, Nyankpala, Ghana

    Samuel Jerry Cobbina & Rufai Yakubu

  2. Environmental Chemistry Division, CSIR-Water Research Institute, Tamale, Ghana

    Felix Jerry Akpabey & Zita Naangmenyele Abuntori

  3. Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University for Development Studies, Nyankpala, Ghana

    Abudu Ballu Duwiejuah

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  1. Samuel Jerry Cobbina
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  2. Rufai Yakubu
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  3. Felix Jerry Akpabey
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  5. Zita Naangmenyele Abuntori
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Contributions

SJC and RY developed the study conception and design and data acquisition. and analysis and interpretation of data. FJA, ZNA and ABD contributed to the laboratory analysis and interpretation of data. ABD, RY and SJC participated in drafting of manuscript and preparation of final version. All Authors have read the manuscript and have agreed to submit it in its current form for consideration for publication. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Samuel Jerry Cobbina.

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Cobbina, S.J., Yakubu, R., Akpabey, F.J. et al. Hydrochemistry of groundwater in the Tamale Metropolis, Ghana. Environ Earth Sci 80, 534 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-021-09882-2

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