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Environmental impacts and distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soils and sediments in Ilaje area, southwestern Nigeria

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Abstract

Continuous oil exploration and exploitation activities in the Niger Delta region have led to the area being plagued by oil pollution. Baseline and detailed studies have been reported in the southeastern part of the region; however, in the southwestern part, some authors have ascribed the pollution in the area with oil production activities, with no empirical evidence to justify the claim. This present work is a baseline study utilizing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) extracted from soils and sediments in four (4) localities within the southwestern part of the Niger Delta region, with the aim of determining the sources and level of pollution in the area. A total of fifteen (15) samples, made up of four (4) sediments and eleven (11) soil samples, were collected. Identification and quantification of PAHs were performed using a Shimadzu GC/MS QP 2010 model. In all soil samples analyzed, 15 PAHs were identified (naphthalene (Nap), acenaphthylene (Acy), acenaphthene (Ace), fluorene (Flu), phenanthrene (Phe), anthracene (Ant), pyrene (Pyr), benz(a)anthracene (BaA), chrysene (Chr), benzo(b)fluoranthene (BbFl), benzo(k)fluoranthene (BkFl), benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), dibenz[a,h]anthracene (DahA), benzo[g,h,i]perylene (BePe), and indeno[1,2,3-c,d]perylene (InP)) while 6 were detected in the sediments (Nap, Flu, Phe, Ant, BaP, DahA). The concentrations of PAHs identified in the soil and the sediment samples ranged from 0.056 to 52.640 ng/g (∑PAHs 57.998 ng/g) and from 0.188 to 0.932 ng/g (∑PAHs 2.052 ng/g), respectively. The ranges of different diagnostic ratios used indicated more of pyrogenic sources, with the exception of low molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to high molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons ratio (LMWPAH/HMWPAH), which indicated a petrogenic source. Generally, the PAH concentration in the samples was relatively low and below standard thresholds of toxicity. However, the presence of some carcinogenic PAHs, though at lower concentrations, may pose threat to the ecosystem if not monitored.

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Acknowledgements

We wish to appreciate Mr. K. Egunjobi, Dr. A.O. Adeyi, and Mrs. Yekini for their contributions during field sampling and laboratory work. The authors are also grateful to the staff and students of the Department of Geology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, for providing a good academic environment where this study was carried out.

Funding

This work was supported by the African Union through the Pan African University Life and Earth Sciences Institute, University of Ibadan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

    Omololu Okedoyin, Matthew Essien Nton & Mutiu Adesina Adeleye

  2. Pan African University Life and Earth Sciences Institute, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

    Omololu Okedoyin

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  1. Omololu Okedoyin
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  2. Matthew Essien Nton
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  3. Mutiu Adesina Adeleye
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Correspondence to Omololu Okedoyin.

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Okedoyin, O., Nton, M.E. & Adeleye, M.A. Environmental impacts and distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soils and sediments in Ilaje area, southwestern Nigeria. Arab J Geosci 15, 1404 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-022-10684-4

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