Hydrogeochemical Characterization and Health Risk Assessment of Groundwater Around Dangote Cement Factory, Gboko LGA, Benue State, Nigeria
Abstract
Groundwater is a critical domestic water source in peri‑urban Nigeria, yet its quality is increasingly threatened by industrial activities such as cement production. Emissions, dust fall, and wastewater from cement plants can alter aquifer chemistry and introduce toxic constituents into shallow wells that many households rely on. Despite this, robust baseline data and systematic monitoring are often lacking, making it difficult to quantify hydrogeochemical changes and associated health risks in communities near large cement factories. This study assessed the hydrogeochemical characterization and health risk assessment of groundwater quality in four proximal communities (Amua, Hon, Yande, Mbaar) around Dangote cement factory in Gboko LGA, Benue State, Nigeria, evaluating physicochemical properties, heavy metal levels, and associated health/environmental risks against WHO and NESREA standards. Stratified random sampling targeted 12 wells (3 per community), analyzed via AAS for heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Hg, Fe, Ni, Zn) and UV spectrophotometry for physicochemical parameters (pH, EC, TDS, turbidity, DO, hardness, nitrate); ANOVA, Tukey HSD, Pearson correlations, and multiple regression were performed using SPSS. Physicochemical means showed spatial gradients with Hon highest (pH 8.15±0.11, EC 912.30±13.47 µS/cm, TDS 583.70±11.88 mg/L, nitrate 21.38±0.87 mg/L) and Yande lowest (pH 7.68±0.10, EC 768.40±9.66 µS/cm), all p<0.001; strong positive correlations (r>0.88, p<0.01) linked parameters except DO (negative r<-0.87), while regression explained 92.9% variance (R²=0.929, F=50.840, p<0.001). Heavy metals were below limits except Hon Pb (0.0176 mg/L > WHO 0.01) and near-threshold Cd/Ni; strong inter-metal correlations (r=0.926–0.996, p<0.001) and regression (R²=0.837, p<0.001) confirmed common industrial sources. The findings demonstrate proximity-driven contamination from cement effluent, with moderate mineralization, nutrient enrichment, and elevated chronic risks in communities like Hon. Routine monitoring, emission controls, and remediation are recommended to protect groundwater-dependent populations and ensure sustainable resource management in industrial vicinities.