Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water samples from a Nigerian bitumen seepage: Gas chromatography- mass spectrometry quantification

Abstract

Bitumen exploration was flagged off at Irele, a Nigerian field in 2003. The relationship between the seepage pollutants and receiving water bodies is the focus of this study. We hereby present the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) level in two categories of bitumen contaminated waters; source (RS) and delivery (RD) points. Results were compared with uncontaminated water (RC) as control experiment. The PAHs were extracted by Liquid-Liquid extraction using dichloromethane and analyzed by Gas chromatography with mass spectrometer detector (GC-MS). The mean concentration of PAHs was 8.39, 3.93 and 0.57 ppb for source, delivery point and control respectively. The Benzo[e]pyrene concentrations obtained were higher than 1-10 ppb in most samples, indicating anthropogenic and petrogenic sources of the pollutants. Most of the PAH concentrations obtained were within natural concentrations, However, Benzo (e) pyrene and Indenol (1, 2, 3 – cd) pyrene exceeded the expected limit. The predominance of 4-6 member ring showed that the PAHs were more of pyrolytic than mixed sources. Method validation gave the Limit of Detection (LOD) and Limit of Quantification values in the range of 0.03-0.12 and 0.10-0.61 respectively. The Pearson product moment correlation (PPMC) coefficient (r) was used to determine the interactions of the PAHs detected with parametric factors. All the physicochemical parameters studied except pH shows positive correlation. Statistical test at P <0.05 indicated that the difference in PAHs concentrations is not significant when compared with maximum acceptable PAHs concentration (MAC) for water, which is an indication that the water is safe.Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res.53(4), 319-326, 2018

Profile Composition and Risk Evaluation of Pahs in Borehole Water From Amassoma, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

“…Precipitation is a superb climatic pathway of PAH enter into the aquatic surroundings (Franz and Eisenreich, 1998;Obiakor et al, 2014). Comparison with previous studies, distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons Woji Creek, in the Niger Delta [46], and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water samples from a Nigerian bitumen seepage: gasoline chromatography-mass spectrometry quantification, are similar environments, the concentration measured in this study were lower (Itodo et al, 2018).…”

A review of the occurrence, distribution, and impact of bitumen seeps on soil and groundwater in parts of southwestern Nigeria

“…The reported concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) in some sediment samples from bitumen seep zones within the Nigerian bitumen belt was found to be above recommended environmental safety limit (Fagbote & Olanipekun, 2010 ), this is in tandem with reports of PAHs contamination in regions surrounding bitumen deposits and mining site in Canada (Timoney & Lee, 2009 ), the PAH observed in porewater samples obtained around the coastal region of the Nigerian sector of the Dahomey basin during dry and wet seasons were dominated by phenanthrene and anthracene (Ololade et al, 2012 ) which are toxic to plants and animals. Also, benzo (e) pyrene and indenol (1, 2, 3 – cd) pyrene, which are known carcinogens, have been reported in surface water found around bitumen seeps in Irele local government area of southwestern Nigeria, with concentrations of 14.68 ppb and 5.62 ppb respectively (Itodo et al, 2018 ). The reported concentration is above the maximum allowable concentrations (MACs) as established by United States Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, which places the safe threshold concentration for both benzo (e) pyrene and indenol (1, 2, 3 – cd) pyrene in the environment at 5.0 ppb (Itodo et al, 2018 ).…”

“…Also, benzo (e) pyrene and indenol (1, 2, 3 – cd) pyrene, which are known carcinogens, have been reported in surface water found around bitumen seeps in Irele local government area of southwestern Nigeria, with concentrations of 14.68 ppb and 5.62 ppb respectively (Itodo et al, 2018 ). The reported concentration is above the maximum allowable concentrations (MACs) as established by United States Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, which places the safe threshold concentration for both benzo (e) pyrene and indenol (1, 2, 3 – cd) pyrene in the environment at 5.0 ppb (Itodo et al, 2018 ). The PAHs identified as bitumen-sourced contaminants within the Nigerian sector of the Dahomey basin are listed among the environmental protection agency’s (EPA) 16 priority PAHs of environmental toxicity importance (National Academies of Sciences and Engineering, 2016 ).…”

Exposure and Public Health Effects of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Compounds in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review

“…Bitumen seepage could occur as a result of water runoff, surface runoff, direct deposition, and via discharges from boats. 51…”

“…Bitumen seepage could occur as a result of water runoff, surface runoff, direct deposition, and via discharges from boats. 51 Bioaccumulation of PAHs has been reported in fish and invertebrates gotten from the Lagos lagoon in Lagos, Nigeria. Typically, the high-molecular-weight PAHs bioaccumulated more with dibenzo(a, h)anthracene having a concentration of 564.103 ng/g dry weight while naphthalene presented with a concentration of 340.711 ng/g dw.…”