Phytoremediation, Vermiremediation and Efficiency Assessments of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Contaminated Surface Water from Okpoka Creek, Niger-Delta Nigeria using Cyperus odoratus, Colocasia esculenta, Phoenix roebelenii and Eisenia fetida

Abstract

The liquid-liquid extraction of Petroleum contaminated surface water samples were conducted in accordance with standard procedure of US EPA. Identification and quantification of TPHs was performed by Gas chromatograph with Mass spectrometric detection (GC/MSD) in accordance with standard analytical method of US EPA 8270;625. The TPHs raw sample showed an elevated value of 104762.42 mg/L above the DPR/EGASPIN maximum contamination limit (MCL). At week 5, TPHs phytoremediations in the monoculture reactors removal efficiency was (31.28 mg/L) 99.97% and mixedculture indicated (19.72 mg/L) 99.98%; their concentrations were above DPR/EGASPIN MCL while polyculture indicated (8.91 mg/L) 99.99% value was below DPR/EGASPIN MCL. The combination of phytoremediation and vermiremediation techniques in polyculture reactors showed better and spectacular results as the biotas demonstrated good potentiality of hyperbioaccumulation to serve as hydrocarbon sinks from the ecotoxics of TPHs.

An Analytical Investigation Study of Potential Human Health Risks Caused by Petroleum-contaminated Surface Water Containing Various Toxic Heavy Metals at the Okpoka Creek, Niger-Delta, Nigeria

“…Long time exposure to elevated concentration of TPHs can affect the human central nervous system even death can occur [25] and [26]. Breathing the TPHs compound at concentrations greater than 100 parts per million (100 ppm) for more than several hours can cause fatigue, headache, nausea, and drowsiness [30]. However, the domestic usage of the study surface water by the communities further expose them to chronic health risks like breakdown of immune system, liver, spleen, kidneys, developing fetus, and lungs; difficulty in breathing, pneumonia, depression and among others.…”

“…The liquid-liquid extraction of surface water sample for total petroleum hydrocarbons was carried out following standard procedures [30]. The filtered surface water samples were subjected to different separatory funnels extraction using U.S EPA 3510; 1664 method.…”