Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Levels in Soil around Automobile Repair Workshops within Eket Metropolis, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
- February 9, 2019
- Posted by: RSIS
- Category: Chemistry
International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VI, Issue I, January 2019 | ISSN 2321–2705
Akanimo Ekanem#, Edidiong Ikpe* and Ifiok Ekwere*
#, *Department of Chemistry, Akwa Ibom State University, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
Abstract -The paper is aimed at investigating the levels of PAHs in the soil collected at various depths (0-10cm, 10-20cm and 20-30cm) from vicinity of automobile repair workshops within Eket metropolis, Nigeria. The soils were prepared using standard procedure in the laboratory and analysed for 16 US EPA priority PAHs using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS). The concentration of total PAHs in the contaminated soil ranged from 0.83 to 12.98mg/kg and did not follow regular pattern with depth. These levels according to European Commission is said to be moderately to heavily contaminated. The soils were relatively enriched with Low Molecular Weight PAHs. The soil in these sampling sites had low carcinogenic burden, hence moderate adverse health effect. Diagnostic ratio used in determining PAHs source reveals that they PAHs originated from mixed sources (Phytogenic, Petrogenic and Pyrogenic sources). It can be concluded that automobile repair activities contributed to the soil contamination with PAHs, hence it should be properly sited.
Keywords -PAHs, automobile, contamination, soil, underground water
I. INTRODUCTION
In Nigeria, as in many other countries, petroleum hydrocarbon contamination is widespread. Pollution arising from the disposal of used engine oil is one of the environmental problems in Nigeria and is more widespread than crude oil pollution [1]. The indiscriminate disposal of these spent engine oils in the environment requires urgent attention. Contamination could be from mishandling, deliberate disposal, spilling and leakage of petroleum products such as gasoline, lubricating oils, diesel fuel, heating oils, used and spent engine oil.
