Chemistry of Hand-Pump Waters in Ghana, Mali, and Niger, West Africa: Potential Health Effects

The purpose of this study was to evaluate drinking water quality from hand-pumps in Ghana, Mali, and Niger, to provide an overview of potential health effects, and to evaluate evidence of health effects in the population. Concentrations of 22 parameters in 3,337 groundwater samples were analysed and compared to World Health Organization drinking water guidelines. In general, F, Mn, and Al had relatively larger and more common rates of occurrence, though there is some variation according to the country. For F, there were reports of skeletal fluorosis in Niger and dental fluorosis in Ghana. For Mn and Al it was difficult to assess health effects due to scarce information.