RESUMO
Studies were conducted to describe a method for the characterisation of natural and waste waters using plant seed germination as a technique for toxicity testing. Maize seeds were found to be more sensitive to differences in water quality than cowpea seeds and also showed more consistency in results. Trials conducted using natural waters and effluents from gold mining and textile manufacturing operations are also reported.
RESUMO
X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) Analysis and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) have been used in assessing heavy metal pollution from some gold mines in Ghana. The presence and levels of heavy metals in gold ore, gold tailings, inland waters, and river sediments have been determined. Using these techniques, the heavy metals: Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, As, Pb, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, and Nb were identified in some of the solid samples within a concentration range of 0.08 ppm--4.9%. However, the inland waters showed the presence of only Fe and Zn at levels of 0.08-2.4 micrograms/mL.
