Ecological and human health risk assessments of metals in soil and tailing from Ife-Ijesha gold mining area, Southwest Nigeria

Mining and disposal of mining wastes are notable human activities that have resulted in substantial environmental and human health deterioration. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the level of pollution, potential ecological and human health risks associated with gold mining activities in Ife-Ijesha land, Osun State, Southwestern Nigeria. For this purpose, soil and tailing samples were collected and analyzed for six metals using the atomic absorption spectroscopic technique. The contamination status, potential ecological and human health risks were evaluated using different pollution indices. The mean concentrations (in μg/g) of Fe, Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb, Ni, and Zn in soil and tailing were 196.78, 0.36, 3.78, 65.74, 6.12, 19.56, 10.78 and 241.30, 0.53, 4.30, 76.63, 11.07, 23.50, 24.6, respectively. The geo-accumulation index ( I geo ) and contamination factor ( C f ) suggested that Cr and Cd may pose an ecological risk. The potential ecological risk index (PERI) indicated a moderate risk level for both soil, and tailings with Cd contributing considerably. The hazard index (HI) indicated no significant non-carcinogenic risks (HI