Evaluation of Concentrations of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Soil and Borehole Water in Abattoir Environs in Parts of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Southern Nigeria

Abstract

Water and soil contamination due to human activity is a natural phenomenon in all parts of the world. Water and soil samples were collected from three abattoirs in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The water samples were collected from boreholes sited within the area, while soil samples were collected from the surface to a depth of 0-20 cm and were placed in well capped glass vials. Standard purification and extraction procedures were applied on the samples before analysis. Both water and soil extracts were analyzed using gas chromatography – mass spectrophotometry which enabled the fractionation of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) components. Gas chromatographic analysis of water samples revealed the presence of six PAH compounds in Mile 3 station, none in Aker station and two in Egbelu station. Summation of PAH values showed 2.562, nil and 1.243 mg/L for Mile 3, Aker and Egbelu respectively. All the detected PAHs in the stations were above the USEPA value recommended for water use. Soil PAHs from the stations showed that naphthalene, anthracene and benzo(k)fluoranthene were not detected in any of the stations. Soil PAHs total content of the stations were 12.577, 12.397 and 7.802mg/Kg for Mile 3, Aker and Egbelu Stations. PAHs origin and sources favoured pyrogenic input sources in all the stations. Analysis of the ring sizes generally showed the predominance of HMW PAHs over LMW PAHs in Mile 3 borehole water and soil, but LMW PAHs was the only PAH detected in water samples of Egbelu. In case of individual groups, the group order for Mile 3 was 2-3 > 4>6>5, Aker was 4 > 5 > 1 > 6 and Egbelu was 5 >1 > 6 > 4. To reduce the occurrence and increase of PAHs in these locations, there is the need to stop the use of firewood and other incinerating substances to prepare the skin of meat

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