Molecular Examination of Polycyclic Aromatic and Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Soot in Port Harcourt Metropolis Using Advanced Analytical Instruments

Abstract

A short-term study was carried out to comparatively evaluate the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) in soot evading Port Harcourt and its environs. Samples were collected from three (3) different locations namely; Eleme Petrochemicals, Rumuodomaya Town, and University of Port Harcourt (Uniport) to determine the level of residual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and total petroleum hydrocarbons in soot as dispersed from source to the troposphere. The evaluation was carried out using Gas Chromatography Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS). Soot particles collected from the various locations were trapped in a tenax Gas Chromatography adsorbent tube for Gas chromatography analysis. The total petroleum hydrocarbons were analyzed according to ASTMD 3911. The result of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons obtained from Eleme Petrochemicals (0.04 mg/m 3 ), Rumuodomaya Town (0.02 mg/m 3 ), and University of Port Harcourt (0.01 mg/m 3 ) were below the permissible limit of World Health Organization (W.H.O.) standard for work place of 0.2 mg/m 3 . This indicates that areas under study were free from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons pollution. However, the values of total petroleum hydrocarbons which has no regulatory limit for soot showed high values of 21.44 mg/m 3 (Eleme Petrochemicals), 18.91 mg/m 3 (Rumuodomaya Town), and 12.68 mg/m 3 (University of Port Harcourt). This suggests that the weight of total petroleum hydrocarbons inhaled by humans and deposited on the body were unsafe. This study recommends safety measures to be taken to reduce emissions of this menace and steps to be taken by the residents to stay healthy in Port Harcourt and its environs.