Profile of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Soil Environment around Selected Auto-Technicians’ Workshop in ObioAkpor, Rivers State Nigeria

Daniel, Utibe Ita; Utuh, Isaac Azubuike; Nwaichi, E. O.

doi:10.4236/jep.2020.115023

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…This work is in accordance with the report by Inam et al ( 2016 ), which recorded 1.77 mg/kg PAHs in a mechanic shop at Uyo in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria. Other reports by Daniel et al ( 2020 ) found a range of PAH concentrations between 214.83 and 537.22 mg/kg in urban soil samples used for mechanic work, and Onyedikachi et al ( 2019 ) confirm the presence of PAHs above the WHO acceptable limit in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Separate studies on PAH concentrations in urban soils outside Nigeria showed that Greater London had values between 4 and 66 mg/kg (Vane et al, 2014 ), industrial areas of the Yangtze River Delta region in China had intermediate values of PAHs between 341.40 and 471.30 µg/kg and Moscow had < 1 to 1 mg/kg (Vane et al, 2014 ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 85%

Impact of COVID-19 lockdown and health risk modeling of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Onne, Nigeria

Lele

Oluba

Adeyemi

2022

Environ Monit Assess

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The people living in Onne are highly vulnerable to PAH exposure due to constant exposure to black soot through oral, dermal, and inhalation routes. This work aims to determine the PAHs profile of selected soils in Onne, to determine the health risks associated with PAHs exposure through the soil, and to determine the impact of reduced industrial and other activities on the PAHs profile and associated public health risks. This study evaluated 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) pollutants in soil samples from the four (4) major clans in Onne using a gas chromatography flame ionization detector (GC-FID) during and after the COVID-19 lockdown. The results showed a differential presence of PAHs during and after the lockdown. Of the 16 priority PAHs, 10 and 8 PAHs were respectively detected during and after the COVID-19 lockdown. High molecular weight PAHs such as benzo(k)fluoranthene and benzo(a)anthracene were major contributors during the lockdown, while low molecular weight PAHs such as naphthalene, acenaphthylene, and fluorene were present at higher levels after the lockdown. An assessment of health risk by incremental lifetime cancer risks revealed that the entire population of Onne might be at risk of cancer development across periods, though a higher risk was presented during the lockdown. In addition, children under the age of 18 may be at greater risk. To the best of our knowledge, there is no previous report on the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on soil PAH profile and health risks, with particular attention to the Onne industrial host community. Earlier work considered the ecological risks of heavy metals on dumpsites in Onne. Taken together, the PAH-contaminated soil in Onne poses an immediate health concern. Therefore, reduced anthropological activities, as evident during the COVID-19 lockdown, may play a role in exposure and cancer risk reduction. While there may not be another lockdown due to the challenging impacts associated with a physical lockdown, firmly controlled economic activity can be a solution if embraced by stakeholders. The COVID-19-lockdown was encumbered with restricted movements and security checks, which limited the number of samples collected. However, the Local Government Council (Department of the Environment) granted permission for the researchers to work with a minimal threat to their lives. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10661-022-10670-z.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 85%