Abstract
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) sources in Kolo Creek soil were predicted using Diagnostic Ratios (DRs) of parent PAHs [Phe/Phe+Ant; Fluo/Fluo+Pyr; BaA/BaA+Chry and Ind/Ind+BghiP]. The study was conducted in the dry and rainy seasons of 2008. The dry season had higher concentrations of PAHs than in the rainy season. Five ringed PAHs were dominant all through the study period. Applying cross plots of the DR values, revealed that in the rainy season, the PAHs were mainly of combustion origin, while in the dry season, it was a combination of petroleum and combustion sources, based on the activities domiciled in the sampling station during the period of study. Comparison of DR values obtained from this study with literature values enabled the further classification into combustion and/or petroleum sources. The combustion sources of PAHs were mainly as a result of Grass/Wood and petroleum combustion while the petroleum sources were as result of combined petroleum products. The predicted PAHs sources corresponded with the prevailing human activities in the vicinity, especially samples collected near a petrol station and an abattoir.
Highlights
Environmental pollution is ascribed to point sources, especially, in developing countries that have crude oil and gas as a natural resource
Applying cross plots of the Diagnostic Ratios (DRs) values, revealed that in the rainy season, the Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) were mainly of combustion origin, while in the dry season, it was a combination of petroleum and combustion sources, based on the activities domiciled in the sampling station during the period of study
In order to defend themselves from litigations, most oil companies have been in the business of sponsoring technologies that can establish sources of pollution, for instance, fingerprinting of crude oil, which enables the establishment of facts as to which crude is responsible for which pollution
Summary
Environmental pollution is ascribed to point sources, especially, in developing countries that have crude oil and gas as a natural resource. Gas flaring has always been a culprit in these scenarios. In October 2011, a Nigerian village filed a law suit against Royal Dutch Shell Plc for polluting their drinking water and killing their crops, as a result of gas flaring (Cosgrove, 2011). Nigerian Agip Oil Company was held responsible for having caused poor yields in farm produce due to gas flaring in a community in the Niger Delta. It is a fact that gas flaring emits a number of hazardous products into the atmosphere which include but not limited to soot, toxic metals and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). In order to defend themselves from litigations, most oil companies have been in the business of sponsoring technologies that can establish sources of pollution, for instance, fingerprinting of crude oil, which enables the establishment of facts as to which crude is responsible for which pollution
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