Health risk and pollution associated with trace metals in the waters of the Ebolowa municipal lake basin (Central Africa): evidence from hydrochemistry, quality indices, and statistical analyses.

The aim of this study was to investigate the status of trace metals (As, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Fe, and Zn) and health and carcinogenic risk associated then in the Ebolowa Municipal Lake (EML) basin. To this end, 21 water samples were collected from the EML and its two tributaries, Mfoumou and Bengo'o, and analyzed by Quantofix method (nanocolors and visiocolor ECO) by using the MACHEREY-NAGEL photometer. The data were processed using multivariate statistics. The results showed that all the physicochemical parameters (pH, EC, and TDS), with the exception of TDS, comply with were within WHO limits. The distribution of trace metals at the three sites investigated was as follows: Zn (80-400 ± 1.58 µg/L) > Cu (50-150 ± 9.38 µg/L) > Fe (10-40 ± 0.71 µg/L) > Pb (1-20 ± 3.02 µg/L) > As (1-9 ± 0.44 µg/L) > Ni (1-9 ± 1.48 µg/L). However, the highest values were observed in the EML and the Mfoumou River, where Pb pollution was noted. Statistical analysis showed that anthropogenic inputs increase the presence of Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn. Trace Metal Pollution Index values were below 15 at all sites, illustrating low levels of pollution. The trace metal evaluation index values for the Bengo'o stream are pure (mean = 0.6), slightly affected in the Mfoumou stream (mean = 2.0), and moderately affected in the EML (mean = 2.2). The toxicity load index values illustrate that the waters studied are toxic. The non-carcinogenic (HI) and carcinogenic (CR) health risk index values suggest a risk linked to oral ingestion in the LME and Mfoumou watercourses. The latter appears to be the main source of allochthonous pollutant input to the EML.

Organic vs inorganic contribution to the chemistry of cretaceous black shales in the Mamfe basin, SW Cameroon. Evidence from geochemistry and statistical analysis.

The present study focused on evaluating the contribution of both organic and inorganic component to the chemistry of Cretaceous black shales in the Mamfe basin, Sw Cameroon by performing inductively couple plasma spectrometry analyses with the data analysed using multivariate statistical analyses. The shales are classified as calcite enriched (Ca/Mg > 1) and calcite depleted (Ca/Mg < 1). Major elements such as K, Ti, and Al shows significant correlations (>0.71) among themselves and negative correlations with total organic carbon (TOC), total organic nitrogen (TON) and total organic sulphur (TOS) indicating that they were control mainly by inorganic factors. The positive correlation between phosphorus (P) and TOC, TOS, TON maybe due to absorption by organic fraction into the lattice of the shales. Selected both biophilic (Ba, Co, Ni, and Sc) and terrigenous (Zr) trace elements were correlated amongst themselves and with organic components. Zr show negative correlation (-0.36) with organic components and correlates negligibly with Co, and Ni (0.04, 0.16) indicating these elements were derived from organic matter with exception to Ba and Sc which shows positive correlation with Zr (0.77) and negatively correlated with TOS (-0.34, -0.13), carbon (-0.25, -0.17) and TON (-0.17, -0.06). The enrichment of light rare elements over heavy rare earth elements positive europium anomaly on PAAS normalise diagrams and an insignificant to negative correlation with TOC, TOS, and TON indicating their derivation from mainly an inorganic factor. Statistical analyses by hierarchical classification ascending (HCA) and principal component analyses (PCA) confirms solely an inorganic contribution to the chemistry of the studied black shales in the Basin. The positive correlations portray by some elements with organic components maybe due to their absorption by organic fractions into their lattice. Further indirect/direct methods such as sequential extraction and FTIR is required throw light on the origin of the chemistry of black shales in the Mamfe basin.

Geochemical balance of the mineral fraction and statistical analyzes of the Ebolowa municipal lake's sediments (central Africa): Implication for early diagenesis process.

The Ebolowa Municipal Lake (EML) (South Cameroon) in order to identify the early diagenesis processes taking place in the lake and the factors influencing them. To this end, 21 samples were collected. In situ, hydrogen potential, redox potential, conductivity, dissolved oxygen content, and turbidity were measured. In the laboratory, the samples were subjected to mineralogical analysis by X-ray diffraction, geochemical analysis by X-ray fluorescence and ICP-MS, and statistical analysis. The coefficient of variation (Qi) was calculated from the geochemical data. In the water column, OD > 2 mg/L, pH > 7 and Eh < 0 mV. In sediments: pH < 7, Eh values are lower. The contents of 2.08 ≤ TOC ≤ 12.65%. The mineralogical procession consists of quartz, kaolinite, gibbsite, goethite, and siderite. The latter is only present in the EML. The sediments are dominated by SiO2 (60.44-89.47%), Al2O3 (6.55-18.17%), and Fe2O3 (1.15-6.21%). The Qi values range from 0.73 to 2.31. The Mn/Fe ratio values are below 0.40. Qi > 1 for Al, Fe, Mn, Mg, K, Na, P, Ni, Co, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cu, Ba, and V, and Qi < 1 for Si; Qi = 1 for Ca. The hierarchical cluster analysis shows two groups: the first one includes the samples from the central and western parts, while the second one includes those from the eastern and southern parts of the lake. The water column is subject to oxic conditions, while the sediments are anoxic. The rapid consumption of oxygen is due to organic mineralization, which is the main diagenesis observed in the lake. This phenomenon is more accentuated in the western part of the lake.

Provenance, paleoclimate and diagenetic signatures of sandstones in the Mamfe Basin (West Africa).

Petrography, heavy mineral and trace element geochemistry have been used to unravel the tectonic setting, source area lithology, diagenesis and paleoclimate conditions of the Mamfe sandstones. Quartz exists as monocrystalline (79%), and polycrystalline grains (21%). Orthoclase and microcline are the most dominant feldspars in the rocks. Heavy minerals such as zircon, tourmaline, kyanite, augite, garnets, hornblende, epidotes, diopside, muscovites, biotites, and opaque minerals were disclosed by the samples after bromoform separation. These sandstones are mineralogically and texturally immature and have been classified as arkose on the basis of the QFR diagram. QtFL plot indicates derivation mainly from a transitional continental region of continental block provenance with trace elements geochemical data pointing to a felsic source. The felsic sources are related to the Precambrian granitic/gneissic rocks which formed the basement and margins of the basin. The bivariant log-log Qt/F+R and Qp/F+R plot and the nature of quartz grains of the studied sandstone specimens indicate a semi-humid climatic condition prevailed at the time of deposition in a fluvial environment. The sandstones display deformation of mica, cementation, replacement, and albitization with some having an imprinted reddish brown color indicating a redoxmorphic, locomorphic and phyllomorphic diagenetic stages associated to early, burial and uplift diagenetic processes.