Abstract
Contamination by petroleum hydrocarbons has rendered soil from oil exploring areas in Nigeria unwholesome for agricultural practices. Because of the carcinogenic properties of the contaminant, its removal from soil is therefore an absolute necessity to promote a sustainable development for society and sound human health. Thus, a rapid cost effective method of biodegradation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) using Pleurotus sajor-caju was employed. Soil samples were collected from agricultural sites in Akpan town near Nigerian refineries and were analysed for sixteen PAHs by Gas Chromatography (GC). The total PAHs concentrations ranged from 56.8 to 112 mg kg-1. Using the ratios of phenanthrene to anthracene (Phe/Ant) and fluoranthene to pyrene (Flu/Pyr) to identify sources of contamination, PAHs concentrations in Akpan soils possibly had pyrogenic and petrogenic sources. These sources included crude oil petroleum combustion and spills. Pleurotus Sajor-Cajor offered significant reduction in PAHs concentrations after 6 weeks of incubation.
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