Environmental Pollution by Heavy Metals in the Gold Mining Region of East Cameroon

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

The main objective of this study is to assess the level of heavy metals pollution in soil samples collected around gold mines located in Betar Oya (BO) and Batouri (BA) in Eastern Cameroon. Elemental analysis of soil samples was carried out using QuantX EDXRF spectrometer. Its sensitivity and accuracy were increased by using the Fundamental Parameter approach for quantification of the results. Analysis results showed high content of iron (39300200 ppm), the presence of manganese (73070 ppm), arsenic (42 ppm), zirconium (3144 ppm) and lead (799 ppm) as compared to worldwide average upper continental crust (UCC). The mean Enrichment Factors (EF) decrease as Pb>As>Zr>Mn>Fe>Y>Ga>Zn>Cu>Ni> Rb>Sr>Sn>Ba in agreement with the Contamination Factors (CF). The values of pollution load index (PLI) were found to be low in all the studied samples and indicate that the studied sites in Btar Oya and Batouri are in low pollution status regarding the total of the studied metals. Results of this study pointed out that soils examined in the gold mining areas of Eastern Cameroon are polluted by heavy metals. It is therefore important that measures should be geared towards strengthening the monitoring of mining areas to stem down the level of contamination of soil. Phytoremediation of sites after closing open pits or the biogeosystem method would be a suitable way of regulation of the studies areas.