将来自Barekese水处理厂(WTP)的聚合物后处理污泥(PTS)作为有机肥料和水产饲料进行处置是加纳的常见做法,有必要对其生态和人类健康风险进行彻底评估。这项研究旨在评估PTS样品对土壤改良剂和鱼饲料的适用性,仔细检查对消费者健康和土壤的潜在危害。PTS样品从三个絮凝剂罐的五个不同侧面收集。潜在的有毒金属,如Cd,Zn,Pb,Cu,Ni,使用火焰原子吸收分光光度计测定Cr。Mn的平均浓度为7.82±2.43、0.31±0.021和0.78±0.042mg/kg,Zn,分别为Pb。镍的浓度,Cr,在所有PTS样品中,Cd和Cd均低于其检测限(BDL)。经过详细的暴露评估,摄入成为成人和儿童的主要暴露途径,两个年龄组的非癌症风险(NCR)均低于1。此外,对PTS样本中与重金属暴露相关的潜在癌症风险(CR)的研究显示,成人和儿童的摄入量均低于10-4~10-6的耐受水平(分别为10-8和10-9).这项研究还采用了各种生态指数,如内梅罗的综合污染指数(PN),单因子污染指数(PI),地质积累指数(Igeo),污染因子(CF),潜在生态风险指数(PERI),污染负荷指数(PLI),多金属污染物指数(IPD),和生态风险指数(ERI)。这些指数始终突出了低污染状况和生态敏感性。因此,研究表明,PTS样品中金属的存在不会对周围环境和人类健康构成重大威胁。此外,这项研究强调了在评估废物的健康风险时仅仅依靠监管限值的不足。这种全面评估对于保护水生和人类至关重要。
The disposal of polymer post-treatment sludge (PTS) from Barekese Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) as organic fertilizer and aquatic feed is a common practice in Ghana, necessitating a thorough evaluation of its ecological and human health risks. This study aims to assess the suitability of PTS samples for soil amendment and fish feed, scrutinizing potential hazards to consumer health and soil. PTS samples were collected from five distinct lateral sections of three clariflocculator tanks. Potentially toxic metals such as Cd, Zn, Pb, Cu, Ni, and Cr were determined using a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The mean concentration of 7.82 ± 2.43, 0.31 ± 0.021, and 0.78 ± 0.042 mg/kg for Mn, Zn, and Pb respectively. The concentrations of Ni, Cr, and Cd were below their detection limits (BDL) in all PTS samples. Upon detailed exposure assessment, ingestion emerged as the primary exposure route for both adults and children, with non-cancer risks (NCR) determined to be below 1 for both age groups. Additionally, an exploration of potential cancer risks (CR) associated with heavy metal exposure in the PTS samples revealed values below the tolerable intake levels ranging from 10-4 to 10-6 for both adults and children (10-8 and 10-9, respectively). This study also employs various ecological indices, such as Nemerow\'s synthetic pollution index (PN), single factor pollution index (PI), geo-accumulation index (Igeo), contamination factor (CF), potential ecological risk index (PERI), pollution load index (PLI), polymetallic contaminant index (IPD), and ecological risk index (ERI). These indices consistently highlight a low contamination status and ecological sensitivity. Consequently, the study indicates that the presence of metals in the PTS samples does not pose a significant threat to the surrounding environment and human health. Furthermore, this research underscores the inadequacy of relying solely on regulatory limit values in assessing the health risks of waste materials. Such comprehensive assessments are crucial for safeguarding aquatic and human populations.