Main Article Content
Abstract
Soil serves as a great geochemical reservoir for contaminants as well as a natural buffer for transportation of chemical materials and elements in the atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere. This study aimed at evaluating the physical and chemical parameters of soil and understanding the features of the pollution in Gifurwe mining area, Burera District of Rwanda. The soil samples were randomly collected in seven locations of the study area. The soil samples were analyzed for selected physico-chemical parameters: pH values, Arsenic (As), Chromium (Cr) and Lead (Pb) concentrations using standard analytical techniques. The contamination factors and pollution load indices were calculated. The pH values of soil ranged between 4.2 and 8.2. The results showed that the As concentrations increase up to 531 mgkg-1 downstream of the tailings dam (farm fields) which is extremely high above the maximum concentration levels allowed by Canadian Standards (12 mgkg-1) for industrial zones. The results also revealed that the mean concentrations of Cr and Pb in soil samples exceed the recommended level by Germany Soil Regulation (50 mgkg-1 and 25 mgkg-1 respectively). The analysis concluded that the soil at Gifurwe mining site is strongly polluted by Arsenic and moderately polluted by Chromium and Lead. Hence, the downstream farmland of Gifurwe is declared as a contaminated site and prevented from other land use. Therefore, sustainable environmental management and contamination control strategies in Gifurwe mining areas are highly recommended.