Heavy metals are potential health risk, especially in mining sites where they deteriorate from sulfide-rich ore bodies. Lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury are very carcinogenic, while others are toxic. The assessment of the levels of these metals in water resources of the lead–zinc mining communities of Enyigba, Mkpuma Akpatakpa, Ameka, Amorie, Amanchara and Alibaruhu was carried out, and the potential health risk has been investigated. These areas make up the main mining communities of Abakaliki, where active and abandoned mines are located. One hundred and six water samples were analyzed in two seasons using atomic absorption spectrophotometric and ultra-violet/visible spectroscopy. Result indicates levels of Pb²⁺ > Hg²⁺ > As²⁺ > Cd²⁺ > Mn²⁺ > Ag²⁺ > Se²⁺ > Ni²⁺ > Cr²⁺ > Cu²⁺ in water sources. High levels of Mn²⁺(63.45 mg/L), Pb²⁺(11.42 mg/L), Cr³⁺(14.60 mg/L), Ni²⁺(1.260), Cd²⁺(15.67 mg/L), Ag⁺(6.06 mg/L), Hg²⁺(2.60 mg/L), As(4.13 mg/L), Se²⁺(2.68 mg/L), Zn²⁺(10.53 mg/L) and Co²⁺(0.9 mg/L) above the WHO recommended standard for drinking water were observed. Only Cu²⁺ recorded safe concentrations in 100% samples analyzed. Levels of associated metals including Pb²⁺, As, Hg²⁺, Se²⁺ and Cd²⁺ are higher in groundwater especially in areas close to the active mines; this is due to mineralization in the area. Seasonal analysis shows a decreased concentration of chemical constituents in the rainy season relative to the dry season. Potential health risk is associated with accumulation of toxic heavy metals in tissues including Parkinson disease, arsenicosis, acrodynia, selenoises, Alzheimer’s disease, hair loss, mental imbalance and abortion in women abound in the areas. Alternative water supply sources and sensitization on the potential health risk are highly advocated in these communities.

中文翻译：

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尼日利亚东南部Abakaliki铅锌矿社区的潜在健康风险和重金属含量

重金属具有潜在的健康风险，尤其是在采矿场所，这些场所会因富含硫化物的矿体而变质。铅，镉，砷和汞极易致癌，而其他则有毒。对Enyigba，Mkpuma Akpatakpa，Ameka，Amorie，Amanchara和Alibaruhu铅锌矿社区的水资源中这些金属的水平进行了评估，并调查了其潜在的健康风险。这些地区构成了Abakaliki的主要采矿社区，活跃矿山和废弃矿山都位于那里。在两个季节中使用原子吸收分光光度法和紫外/可见光谱法分析了166个水样品。结果表明Pb ²⁺  > Hg ²⁺  > As ²⁺  > Cd ^2+的水平 >水中的Mn ²⁺  > Ag ²⁺  > Se ²⁺  > Ni ²⁺  > Cr ²⁺  > Cu ²⁺。高含量的Mn ²⁺（63.45 mg / L），Pb ²⁺（11.42 mg / L），Cr ³⁺（14.60 mg / L），Ni ²⁺（1.260），Cd ²⁺（15.67 mg / L）， Ag ⁺（6.06 mg / L），Hg ²⁺（2.60 mg / L），As（4.13 mg / L），Se ²⁺（2.68 mg / L），Zn ²⁺（10.53 mg / L）和Co ²⁺观察到高于WHO推荐的饮用水标准（0.9 mg / L）。仅铜²⁺记录100％分析样品中的安全浓度。地下水中特别是在靠近活跃矿山的地区，地下水中的相关金属（包括Pb 2 ⁺，As，Hg 2 ⁺，Se ²⁺和Cd ^2+）的含量较高；这是由于该地区的矿化。季节性分析显示，雨季的化学成分浓度相对于旱季有所降低。潜在的健康风险与有毒的重金属在组织中的积累有关，包括帕金森氏病，砷中毒，肩痛，硒病，阿尔茨海默氏病，脱发，精神失衡和流产的妇女遍布该地区。这些社区高度提倡替代性水源和对潜在健康风险的认识。