Concentrations of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons from Selected Dumpsites Within Port Harcourt Metropolis, Rivers State, Niger Delta, Nigeria

Abstract

Soil samples were collected from three dumpsites Chakiricha, Psychiatric and Rumuokwuta within Port Harcourt metropolis and examined for the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The study showed that there was heavy presence of PAHs in the dumpsites. The total concentrations of PAHs in the dumpsites were in the order; Rumuokwuta > Chakiricha > Psychiatric with values of 60.958, 30.036 and 21.987mg/Kg respectively. There was the predominance of 2-3 membered ring PAHs in Rumuokwuta and Psychiatric dumpsites while at the Chakiricha dumpsite, it was the 4 membered rings that dominated. The diagnostic and source identification of PAHs in the dumpsites showed multiple sources but dominated by pyrogenic sources. The difference between carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic PAHs in the dumpsites shows almost equally competing concentrations of the two classes thus therefore inferring the closeness of human to risks of cancer within the area.