Assessment of heavy metals in soil and water from Bahi district, Tanzania.

This study presents analysis of heavy metals concentrations in soil and water samples collected from villages near Bahi Swamp found in Bahi district, Tanzania. The research involved quantitative analyses methods of heavy metals in the laboratory and the use of descriptive statistical methods to draw...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Dominic Parmena Sumary, Jofrey Raymond, Musa Chacha, Firmi Paul Banzi, Edwin Gomezulu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0325487
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849335486483529728
author Dominic Parmena Sumary
Jofrey Raymond
Musa Chacha
Firmi Paul Banzi
Edwin Gomezulu
author_facet Dominic Parmena Sumary
Jofrey Raymond
Musa Chacha
Firmi Paul Banzi
Edwin Gomezulu
author_sort Dominic Parmena Sumary
collection DOAJ
description This study presents analysis of heavy metals concentrations in soil and water samples collected from villages near Bahi Swamp found in Bahi district, Tanzania. The research involved quantitative analyses methods of heavy metals in the laboratory and the use of descriptive statistical methods to draw conclusion. A total of 45 soil samples and 21 water samples were collected from five locations near Bahi Swamp which was pre-selected from northern and the eastern part. Heavy metals from soil and water samples were analyzed by using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) spectrometry and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) technique, respectively. The concentrations of nine heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Mn, Zr, Cu, As, Zn, Sr, Cs) in soil samples and three in water samples (Mn, Zn, Cu) were determined. The mean concentrations of heavy metal from soil samples were Pb (29.60 ± 7.50 mg kg-1), Cd (403.20 ± 507.44 mg kg-1), Mn (478.27 ± 245.86 mg kg-1), Zr (206.00 ± 79.47 mg kg-1), Cu (52.00 ± 5.24 mg kg-1), As (5.27 ± 1.66 mg kg-1), Zn (48.47 ± 31.18 mg kg-1), Sr (21.93 ± 36.99 mg kg-1), and Cs (34.00 ± 10.95 mg kg-1). Soil samples exhibited diverse trace element patterns, with concentrations following the order As <Pb < Zn < Cu < Sr < Cs < Zr < Cd < Mn. Notably, Cd concentrations in Bahi Sokoni (BSS) and Bahi Matajila (BTS) exceeded other locations by over 20 times of the concentrations ranged from 38 to1157 mg kg-1. Manganese (Mn) concentrations varied significantly, but were still within the permissible limits set by regulatory authorities such as, FAO/WHO, US EPA and TBS. Also, the study of metal oxides found that the mean concentration of tellurium oxide (TeO2) in soil samples was significantly higher than typical natural abundance levels. Water samples displayed a wide range of Mn concentrations, while Zn was detected in specific sites. Thus, the findings pose a potential health and environmental concerns, serving as contribution for further research and highlighting environmental regulatory compliance with an emphasis that Bahi is known for its uranium deposits.
format Article
id doaj-art-582e22f68c0c46989ac1ae6ee5fef32d
institution Kabale University
issn 1932-6203
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS ONE
spelling doaj-art-582e22f68c0c46989ac1ae6ee5fef32d2025-08-20T03:45:15ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01206e032548710.1371/journal.pone.0325487Assessment of heavy metals in soil and water from Bahi district, Tanzania.Dominic Parmena SumaryJofrey RaymondMusa ChachaFirmi Paul BanziEdwin GomezuluThis study presents analysis of heavy metals concentrations in soil and water samples collected from villages near Bahi Swamp found in Bahi district, Tanzania. The research involved quantitative analyses methods of heavy metals in the laboratory and the use of descriptive statistical methods to draw conclusion. A total of 45 soil samples and 21 water samples were collected from five locations near Bahi Swamp which was pre-selected from northern and the eastern part. Heavy metals from soil and water samples were analyzed by using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) spectrometry and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) technique, respectively. The concentrations of nine heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Mn, Zr, Cu, As, Zn, Sr, Cs) in soil samples and three in water samples (Mn, Zn, Cu) were determined. The mean concentrations of heavy metal from soil samples were Pb (29.60 ± 7.50 mg kg-1), Cd (403.20 ± 507.44 mg kg-1), Mn (478.27 ± 245.86 mg kg-1), Zr (206.00 ± 79.47 mg kg-1), Cu (52.00 ± 5.24 mg kg-1), As (5.27 ± 1.66 mg kg-1), Zn (48.47 ± 31.18 mg kg-1), Sr (21.93 ± 36.99 mg kg-1), and Cs (34.00 ± 10.95 mg kg-1). Soil samples exhibited diverse trace element patterns, with concentrations following the order As <Pb < Zn < Cu < Sr < Cs < Zr < Cd < Mn. Notably, Cd concentrations in Bahi Sokoni (BSS) and Bahi Matajila (BTS) exceeded other locations by over 20 times of the concentrations ranged from 38 to1157 mg kg-1. Manganese (Mn) concentrations varied significantly, but were still within the permissible limits set by regulatory authorities such as, FAO/WHO, US EPA and TBS. Also, the study of metal oxides found that the mean concentration of tellurium oxide (TeO2) in soil samples was significantly higher than typical natural abundance levels. Water samples displayed a wide range of Mn concentrations, while Zn was detected in specific sites. Thus, the findings pose a potential health and environmental concerns, serving as contribution for further research and highlighting environmental regulatory compliance with an emphasis that Bahi is known for its uranium deposits.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0325487
spellingShingle Dominic Parmena Sumary
Jofrey Raymond
Musa Chacha
Firmi Paul Banzi
Edwin Gomezulu
Assessment of heavy metals in soil and water from Bahi district, Tanzania.
PLoS ONE
title Assessment of heavy metals in soil and water from Bahi district, Tanzania.
title_full Assessment of heavy metals in soil and water from Bahi district, Tanzania.
title_fullStr Assessment of heavy metals in soil and water from Bahi district, Tanzania.
title_full_unstemmed Assessment of heavy metals in soil and water from Bahi district, Tanzania.
title_short Assessment of heavy metals in soil and water from Bahi district, Tanzania.
title_sort assessment of heavy metals in soil and water from bahi district tanzania
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0325487
work_keys_str_mv AT dominicparmenasumary assessmentofheavymetalsinsoilandwaterfrombahidistricttanzania
AT jofreyraymond assessmentofheavymetalsinsoilandwaterfrombahidistricttanzania
AT musachacha assessmentofheavymetalsinsoilandwaterfrombahidistricttanzania
AT firmipaulbanzi assessmentofheavymetalsinsoilandwaterfrombahidistricttanzania
AT edwingomezulu assessmentofheavymetalsinsoilandwaterfrombahidistricttanzania