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Concentrations, sources, and exposure risk of polychlorinated biphenyls in soil profiles of the floodplain of the lower reaches of the River Niger, Nigeria

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Abstract

The concentrations of 28 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were determined in soils collected at three depths from thirteen different sites along the floodplain of the lower reaches of the River Niger (LRRN) in Nigeria. The aim of the study was to provide data on the levels of contamination, sources of the contaminants, and risks to the ecosystem and humans. Soil samples were Soxhlet extracted with a solvent mixture of dichloromethane (DCM)/n-hexane and cleaned up on a column packed with Florisil and silica gel. The PCBs in the samples were quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The Ʃ28 PCB concentrations in the floodplain soils varied between not detected (nd) and 11,151 ng g−1 for different sampling sites and depths. The PCB concentrations and homologue distribution patterns in soil profiles of the floodplain of the LRRN showed remarkable differences with respect to sites and depths. The results obtained were used to evaluate the ecological and human health risks, which indicated that there is a potential risk to organisms and humans from exposure to PCBs in these soil profiles. The source evaluation as determined by principal component analysis suggested that PCBs in these soil profiles came from burnt circuit boards, cable wires, use of paints, discharges from transformers, long-range migration, and deposition.

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Funding

CMAI and GEN are grateful to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Tetfund) of Nigeria for providing them with a research grant. BSM is grateful to the National Research Foundation of South Africa (NRF) for research support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Delta State University, P.M.B. 1, Abraka, Nigeria

    Andrew E. Aziza & Chukwujindu M. A. Iwegbue

  2. Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Africa, Toru-Orua, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

    Godswill O. Tesi & Godwin E. Nwajei

  3. School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X54001, Durban, 4000, South Africa

    Bice S. Martincigh

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  1. Andrew E. Aziza
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  2. Chukwujindu M. A. Iwegbue
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  3. Godswill O. Tesi
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  5. Bice S. Martincigh
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Contributions

Andrew E. Aziza: Methodology, Resources, Investigation, Writing—original draft; Chukwujindu M. A. Iwegbue: Conceptualization, Methodology, Formal analysis, Writing—original draft, Supervision; Godswill O. Tesi: Resources, Visualization, Formal analysis; Godwin E. Nwajei: Methodology, Resources, Investigation, Supervision; Bice S. Martincigh: Writing—review and editing, Supervision.

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Correspondence to Chukwujindu M. A. Iwegbue.

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Aziza, A.E., Iwegbue, C.M.A., Tesi, G.O. et al. Concentrations, sources, and exposure risk of polychlorinated biphenyls in soil profiles of the floodplain of the lower reaches of the River Niger, Nigeria. Environ Monit Assess 193, 579 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-021-09310-9

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