Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Levels in soils from selected automobile workshops

Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a class of ubiquitous organic compounds generated from a wide range of natural and anthropogenic activities. The study assessed the concentrations of PAHs in soils around automobile workshops in six towns in Delta State (Asaba, Ughelli, Agbor, Effurun, Kwale and Bomadi). Soil samples were collected from four (4) automobile workshops in each town. The PAHs in the samples were extracted with dichloromethane through solid phase extraction and quantified using gas chromatography- mass spectrometry under optimum oven conditions. Data was analysed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS. The ranges of the mean concentrations of the PAHs from the results obtained were Naphthalene - <0.001 to 0.008±0.006 mg/kg; Acenaphthalene - <0.001 to 0.007±0.005 mg/kg; Acenaphthene - <0.001 to 0.003±0.003 mg/kg; Florene - <0.001 to 0.008±0.003 mg/kg; Phenanthrene - <0.001 to 0.030±0.012 mg/kg; Anthracene - <0.001to 0.056±0.033 mg/kg; Fluoranthene - <0.001 to 0.003±0.002 mg/kg; Pyrene - <0.001 to 0.125±0.125 mg/kg; Benzo(a)anthracene - <0.001 to 0.008±0.005 mg/kg; Crysene - <0.001 to 0.001±0.001 mg/kg; Benzo(b)fluoranthrene - <0.001 to 0.003±0.002 mg/kg; Benzo(a)pyrene - <0.001 to 0.006±0.003 mg/kg; and Benzo(k)fluoranthrene - <0.001 to 0.002±0.002 mg/kg. Indeno (1,2,3) perylene, Dibenzo (a,h) anthracene and Benzo (g,h,i) perylene were not detected in any of the samples. The concentrations were within permissible limits recommended by the World Health Organisation. Routine monitoring and mitigation of pollution was recommended to protect the environment and humans from the effects PAHs pollution in the study area.