Health risk assessment of surface water resources in the Nandom Municipality of Ghana

In Northern Ghana, reservoirs/dug-outs provide immeasurable services regardless of the season. A study was conducted in Kokoliguo and Nandom-Guo to evaluate health risks from exposure to surface waters. Samples were analyzed for pH, turbidity, conductivity, zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb). Kokoliguo revealed mean levels of 7.52 pH units, 124 NTU, 89.6 µS/cm, 0.004 mg/L (Zn), 0.210 mg/L (Fe), 0.219 mg/L (Mn), 0.007 mg/L (Cu), 0.007 mg/L (Cd) and 0.001 mg/L (Pb). Nandom-Guo recorded mean levels of 7.72 pH units, 11.6 NTU, 240 µS/cm, 0.0375 mg/L (Zn), 0.601 mg/L (Fe), 0.220 mg/L (Mn), 0.009 mg/L (Cu), 0.003 mg/L (Cd) and 0.182 mg/L (Pb). The chronic daily intake oral for Kokoliguo and Nandom-Guo users occurred in the order; Cu < Cd < Zn < Mn < Fe and Cu < Cd < Zn` < Mn < Fe, respectively. Dermal exposure for Kokoliguo and Nandom-Guo occurred in the order; Zn < Cu < Cd < Mn < Fe and Cd < Zn < Cu < Mn < Fe, respectively. Except for Kokoliguo, hazard index derm/oral fell below 1. Cancer risk oral level of Cd exceeded 10e−04 among users. On the contrary, cancer risk oral levels of Pb ranged from 10e−04 to 10e−07 whereas dermal exposure levels ranged from 10e−09—10e−07. The cancer risk oral values predict the risk of carcinogenesis due to Cd toxicity. This study recommends crop farmers desist from the use of synthetic fertilizers. Again, improved water sources should be developed for the communities for domestic uses.