JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND PRACTICE
Integrity Research Journals

ISSN: 2536-7072
Model: Open Access/Peer Reviewed
DOI: 10.31248/JASP
Start Year: 2016
Email: jasp@integrityresjournals.org


Agro-economic damages assessment of artisanal gold mining in Ijesa land, Osun State

https://doi.org/10.31248/JASP2022.394   |   Article Number: CC4E29AD2   |   Vol.8 (1) - February 2023

Received Date: 22 December 2022   |   Accepted Date: 09 February 2023  |   Published Date: 28 February 2023

Authors:  Adegbite, B. A.* , Osuolale, T. O. , Arowolo, A. D. and Akinloye, K. F.

Keywords: pollution., livelihood., ecosystem, Biodiversity, Artisanal, degradation, epidemic

To feed the expanding population, agriculture must be practiced in a more sustainable manner that improves productivity and the natural ecosystem. The main components of sustainable production systems that support the health of agro-ecosystems are people and the environment. The extractive nature of gold miners' practices has significant negative effects on the environment, which lower agricultural productivity due to the harm caused to the environment. The study aimed to determine the extent of ecosystem damage induced by bio-geochemical components of soil contaminated with heavy metals, which has an impact on agriculture and public health. Soil samples were collected from eight communities due to noticeable degradation levels, and characterized for heavy metals and other toxicants in the soil adopting standard procedures. The results revealed wider variations in the concentration of heavy metals and other toxicants between the degraded and non-degraded forestland as control. The mean heavy metals (mg/kg) in the soil at Ido Ijesa/Campus area was recorded as Hg (1.07), Cd (8.52), Ar (42.77), and Pb (118.71); At Isua, Hg (0.64), Cd (8.33), Ar (32.74), and Pb (295.72); while Iperindo/Imogara/Odo Ijesa recorded Hg (1.33), Cd (10.47), Ar (21.78), and Pb (115.64) and OOra/Iregun community had Hg (2.06), Cd (6.74), Ar (35.75), and Pb (85.74) respectively.  The mean Cyanide contents in degraded site against non-degraded site were recorded as 89.64 mg/kg against 25.50 mg/kg (3.5:1) at Ido Ijesa/Campus area; 102.51mg/kg against 22.68 mg/kg (4.5:1) at Isua, and 92.68 mg/kg against 21.65 mg/kg (4.3:1) at Iperindo/Imogbara/Odo Ijesa. The geo-accumulation index (Igeo) of heavy metal in the soil is significantly higher in degraded forestland. The high level of toxicants and contaminants present in the soil water is detrimental to crop yield and human food safety. The cyanidation that occurs in severely degraded areas for gold mining is characterized by low crop growth, yield, and the outcome being a high sensitivity to health challenges. However, if the threat continues unabated, many residents of Osun state would not be protected from a persistent outbreak of water-borne diseases.

Adejuwon, A. (2022). Presence of heavy metal in Osun River leading to pandemics. Paper presented at the stakeholder, the Urban Alert, American spaces and Rave FM Foundation on the state of Osun River. Held on 21st March, University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo.
 
Adeoye, N. O. (2016). Land degradation in gold mining communities of Ijesaland, Osun state, Nigeria. GeoJournal, 81, 535-554.
Crossref
 
Bing, H., Wu, Y., Liu, E., & Yang, X. (2013). Assessment of heavy metal enrichment and its human impact in lacustrine sediments from four lakes in the mid-low reaches of the Yangtze River, China. Journal of Environmental Sciences, 25(7), 1300-1309.
Crossref
 
Bwede, D. D., Wuana, R. A., Egah, G. O., Itodo, A. U., Ogah, E., Yerima, E. A., & Ibrahim, A. I. (2021). Characterization and evaluation of human health risk of heavy metals in tin mine tailings in selected area of Plateau State, Nigeria. Journal of the Nigerian Society of Physical Sciences, 3(4), 406-413.
Crossref
 
Daily Trust Newspaper (2022). News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on State Government advises to tourists, devotees and visitors at the annual Osun Osogbo festival, 12th August.
 
Emunze, O. (2021). Effects of environmental degradation on home security in Yobe state, Nigeria. An unpublished dissertation, Institution of Governance and Development Studies, Nasarawa State University, Keffi.
 
Emurotu, J. E., & Onianwa, P. C. (2017). Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in soil and selected food crops cultivated in Kogi State, north central Nigeria. Environmental Systems Research, 6, Article number 21.
Crossref
 
General Multilingual Environmental Thesaurus (GMET) (2021). Environmental Degradation United Nations Annual Climate Summit, Geneva.
 
Ghani, A. (2010). Toxic effects of heavy metals on plant growth and metal accumulation in maize (Zea mays L.). Iranian Journal of Toxicology, 3(3), 325-334.
 
Majekodunmi, D. (2014). How environmental degradation induces insecurity, insurgency. Enviro News Nigeria.
Link
 
Mohammed, A. O. (2022). Environmental degradation in Nigeria: An indictment to all. Paper presented at the national summit on Ecological Fund: Sustainable human ecology management. Held on 18th - 19th May, 2022.
 
Mondal, T., & Tripathy, B. (2020). River Bank erosion and environmental degradation. International Journal of Research, 7(7), 302-313.
 
Moustakes, M., Lanaras, T., Symeonnidis, L., & Karataglis, S. (1994) Growthand some photosynthetic characteristics of field grown Avena sativa under copper and lead stress. Journal of Photosynthetica. 30(3), 389-396.
 
Nwokoro, O., Ogbonna, J. C., & Okpala, G. N. (2009). Simple picrate method for the determination of cyanide in cassava flour. Bio-Research, 7(2), 502-504.
Crossref
 
Olasunkanmi, A. (2022). Pollution: A continuing health threat in Nigeria. Paper presented at the national summit on Ecological Fund: Sustainable human ecology management. Held on 18th - 19th May, 2022.
 
Ozah, B. N., Shittu, S. A., Ajayi, J. A., Alabi, O. O., & Akoja, A. S. Determination of Liberation Size of Iperindo-Ilesha (Nigeria) Lode Gold Ore and Amenability to Froth Flotation. International Journal of Engineering and Techniques, 5(6), 1-8.
 
Smah, A. C., Garba, B. S., Salam, S. B., & Josephine, S. (2020). The effects of cyanide concentration on the environment and the consumption of varieties of cassava. Journal of Pollution Effect and Control, 8(3), Article number 244.
 
Thompson, L. M., & Troeh, F. R. (1973). Physical properties of soils. In: Soil and Soil Fertility (3rd edition). McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, Pp. 45-79.
 
Uwah, E. I., Gimba, M. S., & Gwaski, P. A. (2012). Determination of Zn, Mn, Fe and Cu in spinach and lettuce cultivated in Potiskum, Yobe State, Nigeria. Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development, 1(4), 69-74.