Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Hydrocarbon contamination of a terrestrial ecosystem: the case of Oshire-2 oil spill in Niger Delta, Nigeria

  • Published:
The Environmentalist Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

An oil-impacted site at Oshire-2 in Niger Delta (Nigeria) was delimited by reconnaissance. Surface and subsurface soils were analyzed for total extractable hydrocarbon content and some physicochemical characteristics. The oil-impacted soils had a mean hydrocarbon content of 1.99 × 103 mg/kg (no overlap in Standard Error at 95% Confidence Limit) and were characterized by an isohyperthermic temperature regime >22°C, high moisture content, high acidity (low soil-pH) and low electrical conductivity. The intense infusion of degradable hydrocarbons at the site must have stimulated aerobic and anaerobic microbial metabolism and so, as oxygen became limiting, utilization of alternate electron acceptors produced an increasingly reducing environment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Amadi, A., Dickson, A., & Maate, G. O. (1993). Remediation of oil polluted soils: 1.Effect of Organic and inorganic nutrient supplements on the performance of maize (Zea may L.). Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 66, 59–76.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Atlas, R. M., & Bartha, R. (1997). Microbial ecology fundamentals and principles, benjamin/cummings science publishing Co. 985 pp.

  • Benka-Coker, M. O., & Ekundayo, J. A. (1995). Effects of an oil spill on soil pysico-chemical properties of a spill site in the Niger delta area of Nigeria. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 36, 93–104.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dibble J. T., & Bartha, R. (1981). Effects of environmental parameters on the biodegradation of an oil sludge. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 37, 729–739.

    Google Scholar 

  • DPR (1991). Environmental Guidelines and Standards for the Petroleum Industry in Nigeria, Department of Petroleum Resources, Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Lagos, 172 pp.

  • Ekundayo, E. O., & Obuekwe, C. O. (1997). Effects of an oil spill on soil physico-chemical properties of a spill site in a typic paleudult of midwestern Nigeria. Environmental Monitoring Assessment, 45, 209–221.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • HSE-ENV (2004). Accompanying Guidelines for SPDC EIA Process. SPDC-0002712, Vol. 3. Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, 17 pp.

  • Manahan, S. E. (1994). Environmental chemistry. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 811 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • NDES (1999). The Niger Delta Environmental Survey Phase 1 Report, Vol. 1 Environ-mental and Socio-Economic Characteristics’ in Technical Report Submitted by Environ-mental Resource Managers Ltd, Lagos, pp. 22–34.

  • Nwankwo J. N., & Ifeadi, C. N. (1988). Case studies in the environmental impact of oil production, marketing in Nigeria. In P. O. Sada, & F. O. Odemerho (Eds.), Environmental issues and management in Nigeria (pp. 208–228). Ibadan: Evans Brothers Nigeria Limited.

    Google Scholar 

  • Odum, E. P. (1971). Fundamentals of ecology. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders Company 574 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Okpokwasili, G. C., & Amanchukwu, S. C. (1988). Petroleum hydrocarbon degradation by Candida species. Environment International, 41, 234–247.

    Google Scholar 

  • Osuji, L. C. (2001). Total hydrocarbon content of soils, fifteen months after Eneka and Isiokpo oil spills. Journal of Applied Science Environment Management, 5(2), 35–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Osuji, L. C., Adesiyan, S. O., & Obute, G. C. (2004). Post impact assessment of oil pollution in Agbada-west plain of Niger delta: Field reconnaissance and total extractable hydrocarbon content. Chemistry & Biodiversity, 1, 1569–1578.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Osuji, L. C., & Onojake, C. M. (2004). Trace heavy metals associated with crude oil: A case study of Ebocha-8 oil-spill-polluted site in Niger delta, Nigeria. Chemistry & Biodiversity, 1, 1708–1715.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Osuji, L. C., & Adesiyan, S. O. (2005). The Isiokpo oil-pipeline leakage: total organic carbon/organic matter contents of affected soils. Chemistry & Biodiversity, 2, 1079–1085.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Osuji, L. C., Egbuson, E. J., & Ojinnaka, C. M. (2005). Chemical reclamation of crude- oil-inundated soils from Niger Delta, Nigeria. Chemistry and Ecology, 21(1), 1–10.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the Management of Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) Port Harcourt and he Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) for facilitating the field program.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Petroleum Chemistry Research Group, Department of Industrial and Pure Chemistry, University of Port Harcourt, PMB, 5323, Choba Port Harcourt, Nigeria

    Leo C. Osuji & Ugochukwu C. Opiah

Authors
  1. Leo C. Osuji
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ugochukwu C. Opiah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Leo C. Osuji.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Osuji, L.C., Opiah, U.C. Hydrocarbon contamination of a terrestrial ecosystem: the case of Oshire-2 oil spill in Niger Delta, Nigeria. Environmentalist 27, 337–340 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-007-9034-7

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-007-9034-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation