Effect of crude oil spillage on some soil physical properties within Ovia North East Local Government in Edo State.

Abstract

The release of crude oil into the environment by oil spill is currently receiving a worldwide attention due to the high risk it portends to the health of the environment. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of crude oil spillage on some soil physical properties. Eight (8) soil samples were collected from eight sampling locations around the flow station at Gelegele River, Edo State. The total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) recorded were above the 1,000 mg/kg permissible limit by World Health Organization (WHO) and United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for hydrocarbon contaminated soil. The physiochemical studies were carried out according to the methods of Association of Official Analytical Chemist (A.O.A.C) for the determination of the soil physicochemical parameters. The physiochemical parameters obtained were pH (6.01 ± 0.02 – 6.49 ± 0.07), Electrical Conductivity (EC) (416.00 ± 10.70 – 656.45 ± 11.65) mS/m, Carbon (2.13 ± 0.03 – 3.70 ± 0.01a) %, Nitrogen (0.04 ± 0.01 – 1.67 ± 0.02ab) %, Phosphorus (1.33 ± 0.06 – 2.91 ± 0.04ab)%, Water holding capacity (WHC) (82.48 ± 0.82 – 92.48 ± 0.82) %, Bulk density (0.70 ± 0.02ab – 2.79 ± 0.05) %. There is a current concern of environmental pollution and this study showed that the area of study currently of concern that needs to be monitored.