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This is a Quantitative Study study.

October 12, 2025Open Access

Quantification and Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Groundwater Around Mining Sites in Jema’a Local Government Area, Kaduna State, Nigeria

AIAKAWU HARUNA ISAIAHKaduna State University KGKrystina GabrielKaduna State University ATAtsushi TakaiNational Institute for Environmental Studies

Key Points

Groundwater in Jema'a LGA showed early signs of pollution, primarily due to mining activities.
Health risk assessment indicated low health risks despite the presence of heavy metals like lead and cadmium.
Physico-chemical parameters were measured, showing variability in many factors, while some remained stable.
Regular health risk assessments are needed to evaluate potential bioaccumulation of pollutants.

Abstract

Jema’a Local Government Area is notable for decades of mining activities in Kaduna State, Nigeria. This mining activity increases the potentials for groundwater contamination and health risk impact. This study quantifies and assessed health risk of physico-chemical parameters (with respect to heavy metals) in groundwater around mining sites in Jema’a LGA from April to September 2024. Water and sediment samples were collected bimonthly and analyzed for physico-chemical parameters namely temperatures, pH, salinity, conductivity, Total dissolve solids, dissolve oxygen, transparency, nitrate, phosphate, copper, cadmium, lead and zinc. Measurements were done using electronic meter and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA), Duncan multiple range test and Pearson correlation coefficient.All parameters measured were within WHO permissible limit. Results revealed that air temperature ranged from 23.7-31.9°C; surface water temperature, 25.5-31.9°C; pH, 6.60-8.22; salinity, 122-150.5 ppm; conductivity, 254.4-312.67 µmhoS/cm; total dissolve solids, 205.05-219.33 ppm; dissolve oxygen, 3.59-11.04 mg/L; transparency, 26.4-49.11 cm; nitrate, 0.06-8.12 mg/L; phosphate, 0.22-0.35 mg/L and copper, 0.002-0.04 mg/L showed significant (p0.05) temporal difference. Cadmium and lead were below detectable limit in groundwater during this study. There were high negative correlation between water transparencies and total dissolve solids content (r = -.76). The result suggest that groundwater around mining sites in Jema’a LGA showed early signs of pollution while health risk assessment showed low health risk, underscoring the need for frequent and comprehensive health risk assessment to evaluate potential bioaccumulation and biomagnification of this pollutants.

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