Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Niger Delta soil: contamination sources and profiles

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The distribution and sources of PAHs in soil as well as PAHs profiles have been investigated in areas with anthropogenic pollution in the Niger Delta (Nigeria) such as Warri and Ughelli. PAHs were identified in 21 soil samples (0-10cm upper layer) collected in May, 2003. The typical total PAHs level in Niger Delta soil ranged from 182 ± 112 -to -433 ±256 ìg/kg dw. PAH concentrations in soil samples from Warri Refinery, Tanker Loading point and Ugboko via Rapele oil field were quite high ( the mean ÓPAH concentrations were 433, 402 and 384 ìg/kg dry weight respectively). The dominant PAHs in soil samples were pyrene, naphthalene and benzo[k]fluoranthene. The soil total PAHs (PAH tot. ) concentration, normalized to organic carbon content (OC), ranged from 11.4 to 47.2 mg PAH tot. /kg OC; and showed that organic matter of the soil samples from Quality Control Centre, Ugelli West is highly contaminated with PAHs and had a value of 47.2 ± 31.2 mg PAH tot. /kg OC. Two and three ring aromatic hydrocarbons predominated in soil samples from Ughelli West , Tanker Loading point and Delta Steel Company, which is indicative of petrogenic origin.

Distribution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Soil Samples from Regions Around Loda-Irele Bitumen Field, Nigeria

“…Their prevalence in the samples is because high molecular weight PAHs resists biodegradation and gathers in the environment [31]. Estimated PAH concentrations agree with values earlier reported [32,33]. Findings similarly point to carcinogenic PAHs previously reported [34] to exist in multiple times higher than standard permissive level.…”

Analytical Methods for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and their Global Trend of Distribution in Water and Sediment: A Review

“…fossil fuel combustion, electric power generation, refuse incineration, home heating and industrial emissions), while the petrogenic input is closely related to releases from petroleum products (e.g. oil spills, road construction materials such as production of coke, carbon black, coal tar, and asphalt) [7,9,10,[27][28][29][30].…”

Solvent–water extraction method for the evaluation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons bioavailability in coal–tar-contaminated soils

“…High molecular weight (HMW) PAHs are defined as compounds containing four or more fused benzene rings. In general, HMW PAHs have very low aqueous solubilities, low vapor pressures, and high partition coefficients as compared to low molecular weight (LMW) PAHs (Olajire Abbas and Brack 2005). Information on the biodegradation of PAHs is well documented in the literature (Haritash and Kaushik 2009;Loick et al 2009).…”