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Concentration, toxicity, and health risk assessment of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in top soils around Nekede auto-mechanic village, Imo State

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Abstract

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are organic pollutants that are found in the ecosystem and can pose risks to the populace. For this study, a total of 20 sub-samples were collected. A mass selective detector (Agilent 5975C) and a gas chromatograph (Agilent 7890A) were used for the analysis of PCBs. Standard methods were used for the analysis of the physicochemical properties of the soil. Twenty-eight PCBs were detected in the soil samples. The concentrations of the PCBs revealed that PCB-118 had the highest concentration, while PCB-157 had the lowest concentration. The high TEQ concentrations of PCB-126 and PCB-169 congeners suggest a potential risk to humans when exposed to the soil. The lifetime cancer risk of DL-PCBs for both adults and children were below the tolerable carcinogenic risk limits, indicating low risk. The hazard quotient of DL-PCBs in the soil for adults and children exceeded the tolerable limit set by the World Health Organization, indicating a potential non-carcinogenic risk to the populace, with the child more prone to risk than the adult. It is therefore recommended that soil remediation around the Nekede mechanic village be evaluated in order to protect the residents, especially children, from PCB pollution.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria

    Victor C. Eze, Valentine I. Onwukeme & Josephat O. Ogbuagu

  2. Department of Chemistry, University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo, Imo State, Nigeria

    Victor C. Eze

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  1. Victor C. Eze
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  2. Valentine I. Onwukeme
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  3. Josephat O. Ogbuagu
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Contributions

VCE: visualization, conceptualization, methodology, and writing—original draft preparation; VIO: reviewing, supervision and editing, data curation; JOO: investigation, software, and validation.

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Correspondence to Victor C. Eze.

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Responsible Editor: Amjad Kallel

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Eze, V.C., Onwukeme, V.I. & Ogbuagu, J.O. Concentration, toxicity, and health risk assessment of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in top soils around Nekede auto-mechanic village, Imo State. Arab J Geosci 17, 42 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-023-11836-w

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