DISTRIBUTION OF POLYNUCLEAR AROMATIC AND TOTAL ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBON CONTENTS IN SURFACE WATER AND SEDIMENTS OF SOMBRIERO RIVER IN RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Variations in Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) and Total Aliphatic Hydrocarbon (TAH) concentrations in surface water and sediments of Sombriero River during wet and dry climatic conditions and their implications to human health and the environment were investigated. The sediments and water samples were collected from seven selected stations at Sombriero river banks and within Sombriero River. The dry season sampling was carried out in December, 2020 while the wet season sampling took place in May, 2021. The samples were analyzed in the laboratory for Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH’s), and Total aliphatic Hydrocarbons (TAHs) following the standard operational procedures. The results indicated that the summation of the Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbon (\(\Sigma\)PAH’s) exceeded 0 – 50ng/l background value signifying contamination by polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon with congeners such as benzo(a) pyrene; benzoflouranthenes; benzo(a) anthracene; indeno(1,2,3-cd) pyrene and dibenzo(a,h) anthracene which are carcinogenic. The aliphatic fraction of the total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) results indicated ranges within DPR target and intervention limits, but the aromatic fraction indicated presence of chemical compounds that are carcinogenic to human health and at concentrations that exceeded their tolerable limits. The potential health effect of concentrations of total petroleum hydrocarbons to human exposure in the study area lies on the carcinogenic Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) fractions constituent chemical compounds such as Benz[a]anthracene, Benzo[b]fluoranthene, Benzo[k]fluoranthene, Benzo[a]pyrene, Dibenz [a,h] anthracene, Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, whose concentrations portends human health hazard.