Trace Metal Levels of Groundwater,Surface Water and Sediments in Kinsevere Industrial Zone and Its Surroundings,Southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo

Arsenic,barium,bismuth,cadmium,cesium,chromium,cobalt,copper,iron,lead,manganese,molybdenum,nickel,strontium,thallium,tungsten,uranium,vanadium,and zinc concentrations were investigated in forty-two groundwater samples,twenty-four surface water and six surface sediment samples in Kinsevere industrial zone and its surroundings in February and march 2017,January,February and March 2018 to evaluate the potential human health risk.Chemical analyses were carried out by using ICP-SF-MS(Inductively Coupled Plasma-Sector Field Mass Spectrometry,Thermo Scientific Element II).The trace metals were detected at various concentrations in all the analyzed samples.Pb,Mn and Fe concentrations exceeded the European Union acceptable maximum limits for water intended for human consumption in 4.76%,28.57%and 61.90%of the groundwater samples,respectively and in 0%,50%and 100%of the surface water samples,respectively.As,Cr,Cu and Ni concentrations exceeded the recommended lower sediment quality guideline values in 33.33%,50%,83.33%and 83.33%of the surface sediment samples,respectively.All those elevated trace metal concentrations in the groundwater,surface water and sediments represent a risk for the health of local population as well as for aquatic organisms.

Assessment of Trace Metal Levels of Groundwater in Lubumbashi,Kampemba and Kamalondo Communes of Lubumbashi City,Democratic Republic of Congo

Trace metal levels of groundwater in Lubumbashi,Kampemba and Kamalondo communes of Lubumbashi city were assessed from October 2016 to February 2017.Two hundred forty water samples collected from twenty-two spade-sunk wells and twelve drilled wells in these three communes of Lubumbashi city were analyzed for their metal contents using ICP-SF-MS(Inductively Coupled Plasma-Sector Field Mass Spectrometry).Twenty trace elements including strontium,molybdenum,cadmium,cesium,barium,tungsten,thallium,lead,bismuth,uranium,aluminum,vanadium,chromium,manganese,iron,cobalt,nickel,copper,zinc and arsenic were recorded at varying concentrations in all the water samples and were compared with the WHO(World Health Organization),US EPA(Environmental Protection Agency)and EU(European Union)drinking water MCLs(Maximum Concentration Limits)for cadmium,barium,thallium,lead,uranium,aluminum,chromium,manganese,iron,nickel,copper,zinc and arsenic.Mean cadmium,lead,aluminum,manganese,iron,nickel,zinc and arsenic levels respectively exceeded the WHO,US EPA and EU drinking water MCLs in 6.66%,3.38%,26.67%,5.02%,30.03%,3.38%,1.64% and 5.02% of the samples with the highest mean levels of 116.89μg/L for cadmium,38.162μg/L for lead,2,712.5μg/L for aluminum,1,242.68μg/L for manganese,17,325.98μg/L for iron,64.647μg/L for nickel,9,900.72μg/L for zinc and 65.458μg/L for arsenic.Mean water pH values ranged from 4.7 to 11.1 with 19.17% of the groundwater samples having mean pH values outside the WHO drinking water pH optimum range values of 6.5-8.5,including 5.02% of the water samples which were acidic(mean pH values ranging from 4.7 to 6.4)and 14.15% which were alkaline(mean pH values ranging from 8.6 to 11.1).With such physicochemical and trace metal contamination status of groundwater in the three communes of Lubumbashi city,there is a high risk to the health of people who use that water to meet their drinking water needs.

Socio-Cultural and Economic Role and Importance of Biodiversity and Forest in the Democratic Republic of Congo:Case of the Upper-Katanga Province

Biodiversity plays a fundamental role in the life of the Congolese population in general and in that of the population of Upper-Katanga province in particular.The current study deals with the socio-cultural and economic role and importance of biological diversity and forest in the life of the population of Upper-Katanga province.The utilized methodology was based on observation,field investigation and bibliographic research.Investigations were concerned more particularly with wood and animal species which are significantly utilized in the province.The results reflect the use of wood and animals which are part of the province biological diversity.They are compiled under two segments,namely the socio-cultural importance of biodiversity with some species forbidden to the queen,those that are utilized to split couples,to give strength to children,to provide the king with authority power,etc.The second segment deals with the results which emphasize the socio-economic importance of biodiversity concerned with hunting,fishing,cutting of some wood species for sale,building houses,cooking food,producing heat during cold weather,making furniture and other finished products,and for personal use.

Scenarios for Sustainable Management of a Solid Release from a Hydrometallurgical Zinc Treatment in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The treatment of zinc ores at the UZK(Kolwezi Zinc Factory),in the DRC(Democratic Republic of Congo),has generated a deposit of solid releases rich in recoverable metals,but presented an environmental risk given the conditions of its storage.The results of chemical analyses by X-ray fluorescence have shown the presence of base metals recoverable in significant proportions in these releases,which contain on average 17%zinc and 3.5%copper.In addition,X-ray diffraction analyses have identified the main minerals:franklinite,willemite and sphalerite.The environmental risks are real,because the results of the availability tests for leaching have revealed significant zinc and copper extraction rates for a liquid to solid ratio of 100 and those of landfill compliances show that although under European Directive 2003/33/EC,these discharges are dangerous and must be treated under conditions which respect the environment.Following an environmental risk assessment,two scenarios for reprocessing these discharges are envisaged and will be compared from a technical,economic and environmental point of view,including their feasibility in the context of the DRC.The two processes would be on the one hand a hot acid attack in two or three stages and on the other hand a mixed digestion-roasting treatment followed by leaching with water.

Assessment of Pollution from a Solid Release from Hydrometallurgical Treatment of Zinc Concentrate in the Democratic Republic of Congo

During the hydrometallurgical processing of a zinc concentrate,previously roasted,solid releases produced were stored over the years in the open air right next to the Kolwezi Zinc Plant.The purpose of the study is to ascertain whether these releasespose a real environmental management problem.Samples taken from the site were characterized chemically and mineralogically.These revealed the presence of mineral and metal pollutants in significant proportions.The content of basic metals(copper,zinc,lead,etc.)makes these releases a valuable potential.Results obtained after leaching availability tests show the presence of some base metals in leachate and those obtained after landfill compliance tests show a significant release of copper and zinc.This confirms the dangerousness of these releases.These releases cannot be accepted even in Class I landfills in accordance with the 2003/33/EC standard.