Toxicity evaluation of effluent from the de-oiling works of a decommissioned Nigerian crude oil pipeline usingPalaemonetes africanus

Abstract

Oil industry activities often involve the cleaning and replacement of pipelines, usually resulting in the discharge of effluents into waterbodies. The toxicity of de-oiling effluent from a decommissioned crude oil pipeline in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria was assessed using the brackish water shrimp Palaemonetes africanus in a 96 h laboratory bioassay. On the basis of the computed 96 h LC 50 , the effluent showed a significant dose-dependent relationship in its toxicity between 24 and 96 h of exposure. The 96 h LC 50 was 4.6 times more toxic than the 24 h LC 50 , indicating that the toxicity of the effluent increased over the study period. Besides crude oil and refined petroleum products, which are often the major concern for regulators, there is a need for the proper enforcement of standards and safe limits for effluents prior to discharge so as to protect sensitive marine species.

Acute toxicity of crude oil from NNPC and artisanal refineries in Niger Delta on selected aquatic biota

“…The same trend have been reported by (15,21,22). The concentration of the Crude oil able to kill fifty percent (50%) of the Paleamonetes africanus within 96 hrs (96hrs LC50), NOEC, LOEC, and TUa was calculated using methods stipulated in (13).…”

Oil facility operations: A multivariate analyses of water pollution parameters

“…For example, Agbalagba et al (2013) evaluated the concentrations of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) substances such as 226 Ra, 228 Ra and 40 K in drinking water samples from three oil and gas producing communities, and found that concentrations are well above the WHO permissible limits. In a 96-hour lab bioassay conducted on brackish water shrimps, Amaeze et al (2015) assessed the toxicity of de-oiling effluents from a decommissioned oil pipeline facility in the Niger Delta while Asagbra et al (2015) found polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water, sediment and tissue of tilapia fish in the Warri River at Ubeji. Interestingly, surface and groundwater pollution from oil pipelines and other facilities including leaks from aging, dilapidated and abandoned infrastructure; and those from transport and localised refining of stolen oil in Ogoniland was the focus of Linden and Palsson (2013).…”