POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS IN SOILS WITHIN SELECTED COMMUNITIES IN DELTA STATE

Ivwurie W., Emelife S.C., Sun C. and Snape C.

Department of Chemistry,

Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun

Email: wivwurie@yahoo.com.uk  

Abstract: Five soil samples from five different communities in Delta State were analyzed for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The concentrations of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons ranged from 1-17mgg^-1 with a mean concentration of 66mgg^-1  5.63mgg^-1. The PAH diagnostic ratio showed that all the soil samples have PAH inputs from liquid fossil fuel as a result of crude oil spillage from Shell operations in the study areas and also vehicular emissions. The high PAH concentrations show that all the soil samples had more input from exogenous sources than endogenous.

Keywords:    Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon, Crude Oil Spillage, Exogenous and Endogenous Sources