c



  

 
     
 
 
V






V V
V
 V
V V
V

V VV
 
V V!V
V"
V VV

# V!V
$%& '&(V V!V
#
)VV#V V!V
V 
 V*V


)V)
V V*V

)V+
V V,V
+V V,V
V

V V

V
V
 c


  

 
     
 
 
V

 c 

 !


The term ³heavy metals´ refers to any metallic element that has a relatively high density and
is toxic or poisonous even at low concentration Î


). ³Heavy metals´ is a general
collective term, which applies to the group of metals and metalloids with atomic density
greater than 4 g/cm3, or 5 times or more, greater than water Î  
However, being a heavy metal has little to do with density but concerns chemical properties.
Heavy metals include lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), silver
(Ag) chromium (Cr), copper (Cu) iron (Fe), and the platinum group elements Î


  

Some heavy metals have bio-importance as trace elements but, the biotoxic effects of many
of them in human biochemistry are of great concern. Hence, there is the need for proper
understanding of the conditions, such as the concentrations and oxidation states, which make
them harmful, and how biotoxicity occurs. It is also important to know their sources, leaching
processes, chemical conversions and their modes of deposition to pollute the environment,
which essentially supports lives. Literature sources point to the fact that these metals are
released into the environment by both natural and anthropogenic sources, especially mining
and industrial activities, and automobile exhausts (for lead). They leach into underground
waters, moving along water pathways and eventually depositing in the aquifer, or are washed
away by run-off into surface waters thereby resulting in water and subsequently soil
pollution. Poisoning and toxicity in animals occur frequently through exchange and co-
ordination mechanisms. When ingested, they combine with the body¶s biomolecules, like
proteins and enzymes to form stable biotoxic compounds, thereby mutilating their structures
and hindering them from the bioreactions of their functions Î

 

Among the inorganic contaminants of the river water, heavy metals are getting importance
for their non-degradable nature and often accumulate through tropic level causing a
deleterious biological effect Î. Anthropogenic activities like mining, ultimate
disposal of treated and untreated waste effluents containing toxic metals as well as metal
chelates Î 
 from different industries, e.g. tannery, steel plants, battery
industries, thermal power plants etc. and also the indiscriminate use of heavy metal
containing fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture resulted in deterioration of water quality
rendering serious environmental problems posing threat on human beings Î !

V

V
 c


  

 
     
 
 
V

a"
!
 and sustaining aquatic biodiversity Î# $%$$ Though some

of the metals like Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn are essential as micronutrients for life processes in
plants and microorganisms, while many other metals like Cd, Cr and Pb have no known
physiological activity, but they are proved detrimental beyond a certain limit (Bruins,
,
2000), which is very much narrow for some elements like Cd (0.01 mg/L), Pb (0.10 mg/L)
(ISI, 1982) and Cu (0.050 mg/L). The deadlier diseases like edema of eyelids, tumor,
congestion of nasal mucous membranes and pharynx, stuffiness of the head and
gastrointestinal, muscular, reproductive, neurological and genetic malfunctions caused by
some of these heavy metals have been documented Î $  Hence, for safety
assessment of the environment and human health in particular, monitoring these metals is of
great significance.
It is against this background that this studying is to be undertaken to monitor the heavy metal
concentration of the Ayensu River in the Central region of Ghana which may have resulted
from run ± off waters from the surroundings during the rainfall season, farming activities
along its banks and other possible sources.

Water from the Ayensu River serves as the main source of drinking water for the inhabitants
of Kwanyaku and Winneba and surrounding towns and villages. The river takes its source
from the Bunsu Hills, an extension of Atewa Range, North of Asamankese, from where it
flows generally southward to the sea near Winneba. It is bound on the east by the Densu
Basin, on the north by the Pra Basin, on the west by the Ochi ± Nkwanta Basin and on the
South by the Gulf of Guinea. The Ayensu River with its main tributaries, Abuchem and
Akora, drain a basin that extends some 25 km east to west at its widest section and about 57
km north to south, covering a total land area of about 1, 710 km2 (GCWL, 2010).
V

"# 
Heavy metals through natural and anthropogenic sources leach into underground waters and
subsequently pollute them. Some of these Heavy Metals are essential for life processes, but
when present above certain permissible levels (concentrations) pose threat to human health.
V

""$" 
The research questions here seek to answer the questions:

V
V
 c


  

 
     
 
 
V

i.V Does the surface water in the Ayensu River Basin contain the heavy metals Zn,
Cu, Pb and Mn?
ii.V What are the concentrations each of these metals if present in the River water?
iii.V Is the water from the Ayensu River portable, considering the concentrations of
these heavy metals?

%& "
The surface water in the Ayensu River is contaminated with heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Pb, Mn)
resulting from natural and anthropogenic source such as run ± off water during rainfall and
farming activities along its course.
V


To evaluate the level of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Mn, Pb) in the Ayensu River Basin
V

'( 
 
ƒV Selection of sampling sites in the Surface Waters in the Ayensu River Basin.
ƒV Determining the presence and concentration of each of these heavy metals in selected
water samples from the surface waters.
ƒV Comparing the results with World Health Organization (WHO) and Ghana Standard
Board (GSB) recommended levels.
V

")c" c
Samples of water from the Ayensu River Basin will be collected from ten (10) different sites
(S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, S8, S9 and S10) at depths of 1ft once each month from February to April
using Nansen type water sampler. Polythene containers (500ml) will be used to keep the
samples with 2mls of concentrated HNO3 added to ensure preservation and avoid
precipitation of metals. pH of the water sample would be measured electrochemically using a
combination electrode (glass plus reference electrode) and is calibrated against two or three
commercially available buffer solutions. Conductivity would be measured with conductivity
meter. For analysis of total heavy metals (both dissolved and suspended), 250ml of water
samples would be digested with 5ml concentrated nitric/hydrochloric acid on a hot plate and
sample filtered through 0.45ȝm pore diameter cellulose acetate (membrane) filter. Analysis

V
!V
 c


  

 
     
 
 
V

of the metals Pb, Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn would be done using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer
(AAS) (
&
 '(
 
V

c&"" 
Results would be presented in the form tables with table1 indicating Month, Metal,
Concentration per site and average metal concentration of various sites for each month.
Table2 will indicate pH, Conductivity month, site and average pH and Conductivity values.
Samples of table are shown below:

Table 1: Average concentrations of heavy metals in surface water of the Ayensu River Basin in the Central
region
V ›
V 
V

 V V V

 V
 V V V
 V  
V V V V  V  V   V
V FeV V V V V V V
! "# V CuV V V V V V V
PdV V V V V V V
Zn V V V V V V V
V FeV V V V V V V
V CuV V V V V V V


V PdV V V V V V V
Zn V V V V V V V
Table 2: Changes in pH and conductance of surface water of the Ayensu River in Central Region
V
$

  V   V V V V V  
 V
V Feb.V V V V V V
›V MarchV V V V V V
AprilV V V V V V
V Feb.V V V V V V
V MarchV V V V V V

V -.V V V V V V
V
Graphical representation of data would be in the form of bar chart with concentration on the y
± axis against metals on the x ± axis.
V

))%
Data obtained would be analysed statistically to test the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and
correlation among all parameters.

V
*V
 c


  

 
     
 
 
V

& )"""*
The study would help to determine the presence of various heavy metals in the Ayensu River
and to ascertain whether their concentrations are of acceptable limits for human consumption
and for agricultural purposes.
V

"*"""

1.V Lenntech Water Treatment and Air Purification (2004). Water Treatment,
Published by Lenntech, Rotterdamseweg, Netherlands
(www.excelwater.com/thp/filters/Water-Purification.htm).

2.V Hutton M, Symon C (1986). The Quantities of Cadmium, Lead, Mercury and
Arsenic Entering the U.K. Environment from Human Activities. Sci. Total
Environ. 57: 129-150

3.V Duruibe, J. O., Ogwuegbu, M. O. C., Egwurugwu, J. N. (2007). Heavy metal

pollution and human biotoxic effects., International Journal of Physical
Sciences Vol. 2 (5), pp. 112-118,

4.V Jain, V. K., (1978). Studies on effect of cadmium on the growth pattern of
phaseolus aurius varieties, Absi, I. Bot. Conf. JIBS., 57-84.

5.V Amman, A. A.; Michalke, B.; Schramel, P., (2002). Speciat ion of heavy
metals in environmental water by ion chromatography coupled to ICP-MS.
Anal. Biochem., 372, 448-452.

6.V Lantzy, R. J.; Mackenzie, F. T., (1979). Atmospheric trace metals: global
cycles and assessment of man¶s impact, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta.43, 511-
525.

7.V Ghosh, S.; Vass, K. K., (1997). Role of sewage treatment plant in
Environmental mitigation. K. K. Vass and M. Sinha (Eds.), Proceedings of the
national seminar on changing perspectives of inland fisheries, Inland Fisheries
Society of India, Barrackpore, 36-40.

8.V Bruins, M. R.; Kapil, S.; Oehme, F. W., (2000). Microbial resistance to metals
in the environment. Ecotox. Environ. Safe. 45, 198-207.
9.V Johnson, F. M., (1998). The genetic effects of environmental lead. Mutat.
Res410, 123-140.

10.V GCWL (2010). The Kwanyaku Water Project, Ghana Water Company
Limited. 3 ± 6

V
,V
 c


  

 
     
 
 
V

11.V Department of Water (2009). Surface water sampling methods and analysis ±
technical appendices, Standard operating procedures for water sampling
methods and analysis, Government of Western Australia, Australia. 7- 9, 30-
31

V
/V