Fluoride contamination of groundwater resources in Ghana: Country-wide hazard modeling and estimated population at risk

• DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118083
• Publication Date: 2022-01-17T02:23:47Z
• Authors: Dahyann Araya; Joel Podgorski; Michael Kumi; Patrick A. Mainoo; Michael Berg
• Keywords: Adult; Defluoridation; Population; Ghana; 01 natural sciences; Environmental science; Fluorides; Engineering; Contamination; Risk Factors; Geochemistry and Petrology; Computer security; 11. Sustainability; Humans; Fluoride Contamination in Drinking Water and Defluoridation Methods; Child; Fluoride; Groundwater; Biology; Water Science and Technology; Risk assessment; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences; Evapotranspiration; Geography; Ecology; Drinking Water; 1. No poverty; Computer science; Water resource management; 6. Clean water; 3. Good health; Earth and Planetary Sciences; Chemistry; Geotechnical engineering; Environmental health; 13. Climate action; FOS: Biological sciences; Environmental Science; Physical Sciences; Medicine; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Stable Isotope Analysis of Groundwater and Precipitation; Inorganic chemistry; Environmental Monitoring

Most people in Ghana have no or only basic access to safely managed water. Especially rural areas, much of the population relies on groundwater for drinking, which can be contaminated with fluoride and lead dental fluorosis. Children under age two are particularly susceptible adverse effects retain 80-90% a dose, compared 60% adults. Despite numerous local studies, spatially continuous picture exists contamination across Ghana, nor is there any estimate what proportion potentially exposed unsafe levels. Here, we model probability concentrations exceeding 1.0 mg/L identify risk areas number children adults levels drinking We use set geospatial predictor variables random forest modeling evaluate performance through spatial cross-validation. found that approximately 15% area mainly northeast, has high contamination. The total at-risk about 920,000 persons, 3% population, an estimated 240,000 (0-9 years) areas. In some districts, such as Karaga, Gushiegu, Tamale Mion, 4 out 10 poisoning. Geology evapotranspiration main drivers enrichment groundwater. Consequently, climate change might put even greater pressure area's water resources. Our hazard maps should raise awareness understanding geogenic advise decision making at avoid mitigate fluoride-related risks.