黄金加工过程中提取的矿石中释放出的潜在有毒元素会对社区、普通大众和环境造成职业和无意的健康危害。这项研究调查了奥布阿西市表土中金属含量的浓度和潜在的健康影响，该市在过去一个世纪里一直在开采黄金。首先使用 X 射线荧光技术扫描筛分至 250 µm 的表层土壤样品中的金属，然后通过 ICP-MS 进行确认。使用标准方法进行体外生物可及性测定。地累积指数（Igeo）表明土壤中砷（Igeo = 6.28）和镉（Igeo = 3.80）的富集度很高，特别是在非法手工采矿盛行的该市东部地区。此外，位于金矿附近的南部走廊也含有大量砷和锰。总金属浓度和污染指数的结果证实了奥布阿西社区所研究的潜在有毒元素的升高。儿童和成人的危险指数值分别为 4.42 和 3.30，表明土著人，尤其是儿童，容易受到非癌症健康影响。© 2024。作者获得 Springer Nature B.V. 的独家许可。

Potential toxic elements emanating from extracted ores during gold processing present occupational and unintentional health hazards in communities, the general populace, and the environment. This study investigated the concentrations and potential health effects of metal content in the topsoils of Obuasi municipality, which has been mined for gold over the past century. Surface topsoil samples, sieved to 250 µm, were initially scanned for metals using x-ray fluorescence techniques, followed by confirmation via ICP-MS. In vitro bioaccessibility assays were conducted using standard methods. The geoaccumulation indices (Igeo) indicate high enrichment of As (Igeo = 6.28) and Cd (Igeo = 3.80) in the soils, especially in the eastern part of the municipality where illegal artisanal mining is prevalent. Additionally, the southern corridor, situated near a gold mine, exhibited significant levels of As and Mn. Results obtained for the total metal concentrations and contamination indices confirmed the elevation of the studied potential toxic elements in the Obuasi community. A hazard index value of 4.42 and 3.30 among children and adults, respectively, indicates that indigens, especially children, are susceptible to non-cancer health effects.© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.