Theresa Nganje
University of Calabar, Nigeria
Title: Distribution and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in contaminated soils in the vicinity of tank farm distribution facility in calabar municipality, Nigeria
Biography
Biography: Theresa Nganje
Abstract
The sum of concentration of total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soils collected from the vicinity of spilled fuel from pipeline which carries fuel from jetty to a tank farm were analysed for sixteen priority PAHs using Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrophotometer (GC - MS). The total PAHs concentrations in the soil ranged from 16.06µg/Kg to 25,547.75 µg/Kg with a mean concentration of 2,906.36 µg/Kg. Sum of PAHs concentration of the seven carcinogenic PAH compounds in soil varied from 0.02 to 97,954 µg/Kg. In terms of compositions of patterns in soil the PAHs were dominated by three and four rings. The distributions pattern show a predominance by low molecular weight compounds. In comparison with sum of concentrations of PAHs in other parts of the world and part of the study area, the total PAHs concentrations in this study were higher than those reported in some urban, semi urban and rural soils in some regions of the world and in the vicinity of some petroleum handling facilities in part of the study area.The ratios Phenanthrene/Anthracene, Fluoranthene/Pyrene, Fluorantine/Fluorantine+Pyrene and Benzo(A)Anthracene / Benzo(A)Anthracene + Chrysene in the soil indicated various sources of PAHs in the area. These sources includes fuel spills, burning of motor tyres and vegetation, vehicle repairs and washing, motor exhaust and fire wood burning from cooking.