A Systematic Review of Heavy Metals of Anthropogenic Origin in Environmental Media and Biota in the Context of Gold Mining in Ghana

摘要: Heavy metal accumulation in the food chain is an issue of global concern because it eventually leads to toxic effects on humans through water we drink, contaminated soils, crops, and animals. Reports toxicant levels environmental media (air, water, soil) biota Ghana were sought SCOPUS, PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE. Of 1004 bibliographic records identified, 54 studies included evidence synthesis. A disproportionately large number papers (about 80%) focused exclusively media. Papers focusing biomonitoring human health relatively few. Studies reported a high degree spatial variability for concentrations 8 metals groundwater. Generally, heavy soil by reviewed higher than riverine sediments. Urine hair most common biological markers exposure used unlike nails, which sparingly used. By large, published results goldmine non-mine workers yielded contradictory results. Mostly, nails hair. subjects likely due heterogeneity physiological states, excretion profiles, body burdens individuals. These, turn, may be product genetic polymorphisms influencing detoxification efficiency.