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<p>Unregulated small-scale artisanal gold mining (locally known as galamsey) has severely degraded groundwater quality in Ghana, yet long-term contamination trends and sustainable remediation solutions remain understudied. This study analyzed a unique 5-year dataset (2018–2022) from Prestea, Konongo, Bekwai, and Tarkwa, revealing that iron (5.50–5.95&#xa0;mg/L in Prestea) and manganese (1.45–1.52&#xa0;mg/L in Prestea) exceeded WHO limits, while lead and mercury remained below detection thresholds. The calculated water quality index (WQI) classified Prestea’s groundwater as “very poor” (WQI &gt; 100) and Konongo’s as “poor” (WQI 76–100), stressing health risks for dependent communities. Water treatment using chitosan nanofibrils (CSFs), a biodegradable, low-cost adsorbent, achieved remarkable removal efficiencies (96% for iron, 99% for manganese) using a real groundwater sample from Prestea, the most contaminated site, under optimized conditions (pH 6, 120&#xa0;min of contact time). The treatment successfully reduced all measured contaminants to below WHO standards, demonstrating practical effectiveness for addressing mining-related contamination. The adsorption behavior fit both the Langmuir and Freundlich models. This study provides the first multi-year groundwater assessment in these mining hotspots and introduces a scalable, eco-friendly remediation strategy. The findings demonstrate the versatility and potential of CSFs in addressing water pollution challenges associated with metal contamination from mining, showcasing its potential as an effective, sustainable treatment option.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>

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Assessment and Sustainable Remediation of Contaminated Groundwater in Ghanaian Mining Regions

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月2日

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  • Vincent Awuku,
  • Gaoyuan Lang,
  • Lu Zhang,
  • Dagang Liu,
  • Abraham Okrah,
  • Emmanuel Yeboah,
  • Augustine O. K. N. Mensah

摘要

Unregulated small-scale artisanal gold mining (locally known as galamsey) has severely degraded groundwater quality in Ghana, yet long-term contamination trends and sustainable remediation solutions remain understudied. This study analyzed a unique 5-year dataset (2018–2022) from Prestea, Konongo, Bekwai, and Tarkwa, revealing that iron (5.50–5.95 mg/L in Prestea) and manganese (1.45–1.52 mg/L in Prestea) exceeded WHO limits, while lead and mercury remained below detection thresholds. The calculated water quality index (WQI) classified Prestea’s groundwater as “very poor” (WQI > 100) and Konongo’s as “poor” (WQI 76–100), stressing health risks for dependent communities. Water treatment using chitosan nanofibrils (CSFs), a biodegradable, low-cost adsorbent, achieved remarkable removal efficiencies (96% for iron, 99% for manganese) using a real groundwater sample from Prestea, the most contaminated site, under optimized conditions (pH 6, 120 min of contact time). The treatment successfully reduced all measured contaminants to below WHO standards, demonstrating practical effectiveness for addressing mining-related contamination. The adsorption behavior fit both the Langmuir and Freundlich models. This study provides the first multi-year groundwater assessment in these mining hotspots and introduces a scalable, eco-friendly remediation strategy. The findings demonstrate the versatility and potential of CSFs in addressing water pollution challenges associated with metal contamination from mining, showcasing its potential as an effective, sustainable treatment option.

Graphical Abstract