Trace elements geochemistry in high-incidence areas of liver-related diseases, northwestern Ethiopia.
This paper reports the results of trace elements geochemistry from Tigray national state, northwestern Ethiopia. The area is part of the Arabian-Nubian Shield, where the dominant exposure is low-grade metamorphic rocks and has a long history of liver-related diseases. The increase in the number of liver-related disease patients of the area has been an environmental health issue of national concern. The aim of the study is to determine the level of trace element concentrations and distributions in water and stream sediments of the area and identify the possible sources in relation to human health. Water, stream sediment and rocks samples (20 water, 20 stream sediments, and 6 rock samples) were collected in March 2011 and analyzed for major and trace element contents using ICP-MS, ICP-OES, ion Chromatography, and XRF methods. Bromine, aluminum, fluorine, arsenic, and nitrate values exceed the WHO maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) for drinking purpose. Bromine ranges from 0.11 to 1.48 mg/l show higher values in all samples, and fluorine ranges from 0.21 to 16.49 mg/l show higher values in 20% of the samples. Other trace elements are aluminum-30%, arsenic-10%, and nitrate (NO3)-10%, and they are examples of elements which have above MAC for drinking water. Selenium deficiency may be the other problematic element in the area for which its deficiency is associated with liver damage and heart muscle disorder. The concentration of cobalt and chromium exceeded world geochemical background value in average shale at most sample stations indicated that these stations were in potential risk.
['Ahmed|Jemal|J|']
D001151:Arsenic D060766:Drinking Water D004784:Environmental Monitoring D005002:Ethiopia D005461:Fluorine D019015:Geologic Sediments D006801:Humans D015994:Incidence D008107:Liver Diseases D009566:Nitrates D045483:Rivers D012643:Selenium D014131:Trace Elements D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
Trace elements geochemistry Ethiopia Tigray Environmental health Maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) Liver disease