Affiliation(s)
1. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Lubumbashi University, Lubumbashi 1825, D.R. Congo
2. Department of Geography, Faculty of Science, Lubumbashi University, Lubumbashi 1825, D.R. Congo
3. Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Lubumbashi University, Lubumbashi 1825, D.R. Congo
4. Department of Material Engineering, Higher School of Industrial Engineers, Lubumbashi University, Lubumbashi 1825, D.R. Congo
5. Department of Management, Faculty of Economics and Management, Lubumbashi University, Lubumbashi 1825, D.R. Congo
ABSTRACT
Concentrations of fifteen trace metals including Aluminum (Al), Vanadium (V), Chromium (Cr),
Manganese (Mn), Iron (Fe), Strontium (Sr), Molybdenum (Mo), Silver (Ag),
Cadmium (Cd), Tin (Sn), Caesium (Cs), Barium (Ba), Lead (Pb), Bismuth (Bi) and
Uranium (U) were investigated in water samples collected from sixteen sampling
locations in the Lubumbashi river basin and five
locations in Kafubu, Kimilolo and Kinkalabwamba rivers during February, March and April 2016. Chemical analyses of the
samples were carried out using ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometer). Water pH was
determined using a pH-meter and pH values ranged from 4.2 to 7.8. The highest
mean trace metal levels of water were 5,515.816 µgL-1,
166.925 µgL-1, 3.898
µgL-1 and
1.879 µgL-1 for
Al, Ba, Cr and U, respectively in Kashobwe river, 2,419.522 µgL-1 and 17.994 µgL-1 for Fe and Cd, respectively in
Kafubu river at its confluence with Lubumbashi rivers, 1,408.136 µgL-1 for Mn
in Kafubu river 1.36 kilometer downward its confluence with Naviundu river, 222.406 µgL-1 and 0.092 µgL-1 for Sr and Cs, respectively in
Kamalondo river 60 meters from
the GCM-Lubumbashi (General of Quarries
and Mines-Lubumbashi) smelter, 140.294 µgL-1,
12.063 µgL-1 and 0.008 µgL-1 for Pb, V and Bi, respectively in
Munua river, 3.544 µgL-1 for Ag in Kabulameshi river, 1.49
µgL-1 for Mo
in Kafubu river and 0.081 µgL-1 for Sn
in Tshondo river. The mean
concentrations of Al, Cd, Fe, Mn and Pb in water of many rivers and the channel
exceeded the maximum admissible limits of the WHO (World Health Organization), USEPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) and EU (European Union) drinking-water standards.
Trace metal contamination of water of the studied rivers, channel and springs
might be partially attributed to natural processes, unplanned urbanization, poor waste management
and mostly to abandoned and ongoing mining and ore processing activities in
Lubumbashi city.
KEYWORDS
Trace metal
contamination, channel, river, spring, water, pH, Lubumbashi city.
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