Heavy Metal Pollution in Soil and Water in Some Selected Towns in Dunkwa-on-Offin District in the Central Region of Ghana as a Result of Small Scale Gold Mining

Small scale gold mining, popularly called “galamsy” in Ghana and other developing countries, is seen as a source
of subsistence and a determinant of the environmental degradation [1]. In Ghana, small scale gold mining is set to
be responsible for about 5% of the annual gold production. However, this gold mining of late has become un-
popular as it is seen as the source of significant heavy metal contamination of the environment [2]. Some of the
impacts associated with this small scale gold mining include the destruction of vegetation, land degradation and
the pollution of water bodies. The rate at which mercury is discharged into the environment and water bodies is
very alarming [3]-[5]. In small scale gold mining, simple tools are used in the recovery of gold from the land. Pits
are dug haphazardly and these remain uncovered long after their operations
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