Petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs) are persistent pollutants with serious ecological and health implications, especially in oil-impacted aquatic systems. This study evaluated the concentration, distribution, and health risks of PHCs in dry-season water samples from Alau Dam, Konduga LGA, Borno State, Nigeria. Water from ten sampling points S1–S10 was analyzed using GC–MS. PHCs concentrations ranged from 0.001 to 0.457 mg/L, with elevated levels near agricultural runoff and wastewater discharge areas. Dominant compounds included n-alkanes such as n-C16, n-C23, and n-C33. CDI values ranged from 1.12 × 10⁻⁵ to 8.43 × 10⁻³ mg/kg/day. Hazard Quotients (0.01–0.92 suggested low individual risk; however, cumulative Hazard Index values exceeded safety limits at several sampling points, particularly for children 0.87–3.46. Carcinogenic risks were above USEPA limits, with higher risks at S4, S6, and S9. Overall, PHCs contamination poses significant health concerns, warranting urgent monitoring and remediation.

Unraveling the response mechanism of soil dissolved organic matter to petroleum hydrocarbon contamination: Insights from a wood preservation site study.

Acclimation of Rhizophora mangle to petroleum: Morphological responses and implications for phytoremediation in contaminated mangrove sediments.

Comparative microbial responses and degradation characteristics of petroleum-based and biodegradable chainsaw lubricants in forest soils impacted by timber harvesting.

Assessment of petroleum pollution near oyster reef habitats along the Guangdong coast, China.

Comprehensive chemical molecular characterization of petroleum-contaminated soils: Unraveling physical migration and biotransformation processes in the vadose and saturated zones.

Multi-scale investigation of long-term performance of permeable reactive barrier systems subjected to (bio)passivation.

The Ivorian Antipollution Center discovered the toxics Waste from Probo Koala boat in 21 August, 2006. This boat had been used to refine oil named naphta of cokéfaction by Trafigura firm in the sea. The process of refine consist to caustic sodium carbonate washing and produced toxics waste. These toxic wastes have been unloading in 13 zones of the Abidjan district: Akouédo, Abobo, Abobo Alépé road (DJIBIvillage), civile prison road (MACA), industrial zone of Koumassi, Port-Bouët - Vridi CAP Logistic (Rue Saint-Sylvestre) … This situation caused a socio-political crisis and generated the death of many people. The first analyses showed that the substances coumpound of toxic waste are a petroleum factory origin. In the aim to know the environmental impact of these pollutes in Abidjan district (IvoryCoast) the samples of these toxic wastes have been sent to analyses in Wesling laboratory in France. These experiences showed thatthe toxic waste contain the Polycyclics Aromatics Hydrocarbons (PAH), the Volatile Aromatics Compound (VAC), the Mercaptans and sulphur molecules Aliphatic hydrocarbons, Linear hydrocarbons, Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH), Mercaptans, sulphur and also heavy metals.

This study investigated the potential of biosurfactant-producing halophilic bacteria isolated from hydrocarbon-contaminated soils and evaluated their application in soil recovery. Soil samples collected from contaminated sites and an uncontaminated control were analyzed for physicochemical properties, microbial population density, and plant growth response following biosurfactant treatment. The results shows that contaminated soils exhibited acidic to near-neutral pH (5.6–6.2), reduced organic matter content (1.9–2.3%), elevated electrical conductivity (3.6–4.1 dS/m), and high total petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations compared with the control soil. Halophilic bacterial populations ranged from 5.6 × 10⁵ to 6.8 × 10⁵ CFU/g in contaminated soils and were significantly higher than the control (p < 0.05). Biosurfactant-producing isolates were presumptively identified as Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and Halomonas species. Application of biosurfactants significantly improved plant growth compared with untreated soils, with isolate-specific differences observed. Statistical analysis using one-way ANOVA revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) between treated and control soils for key measured parameters. The findings demonstrate that biosurfactant-producing halophilic bacteria can enhance hydrocarbon-impacted soil recovery and support their potential application in environmentally sustainable remediation strategies.

This study assessed temporal variations of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) in water, sediment, Periwinkle (Tympanotonos fuscatus) and Oyster (Crassostrea gasar) from the Iwofe River, Niger Delta. Samples collected bimonthly from July 2018 to May 2019 were analyzed using gas chromatography. Sediment recorded consistently higher TPH concentrations than water, peaking in January (8.89 mg/kg), while water values remained low (0.01–0.02 mg/L). Oyster accumulated higher and more variable TPH levels (0.002–0.029 mg/kg) than Periwinkle (0.003–0.005 mg/kg), with significant temporal changes observed only in Oyster. Seasonal comparisons showed no significant difference for Oyster but a minor yet significant variation for Periwinkle. The overall pattern confirmed a clear accumulation hierarchy of sediment > Oyster > Periwinkle > water. These findings highlight sediments and Oysters as sensitive indicators of petroleum contamination and the importance of using multiple matrices to better understand hydrocarbon dynamics in polluted coastal ecosystems. The elevated sediment and Oyster concentrations underscore potential ecological risks and reinforce the need for continuous monitoring and improved management in oil-impacted environments such as the Niger Delta.

Oil contamination poses serious environmental challenges, particularly in hyper-arid desert ecosystems; yet, microbial responses to oil pollution and biostimulation in desert soils remain insufficiently explored. This study explored the microbial community dynamics and hydrocarbon degradation potential to oil contamination and biostimulation in desert soils collected from sites in southern Israel polluted in 1975 and 2014. Laboratory-based biostimulation experiments were conducted over 1.5 years, involving the addition of water (20% or 50% gravimetric saturation), nutrients, and biosurfactants. Results revealed that biostimulation treatments reduced microbial diversity but enriched populations capable of hydrocarbon degradation. Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria were the dominant phyla, comprising 68% to 78% of the total microbial community across both contamination timelines. The relative abundance of Chloroflexi was higher in biostimulated contaminated soils, showing an increase of 41% to 227% compared to untreated contaminated soils. Differential abundance analysis identified distinct taxa of hydrocarbon degraders associated with untreated contaminated soils (e.g., Pseudomonas, Alkanindiges, Bacillus, and Mycobacterium) and biostimulated contaminated soils (e.g., Pseudomonas, Flavobacterium, Pseudoxanthomonas, unclassified Microbacteriaceae, Solimonadaceae, and Gammaproteobacteria). Further, soil hydrophobicity and total petroleum hydrocarbon suggested a positive relationship with the abundance of the nahAc gene, a key marker of hydrocarbon degradation. These findings exhibit that targeted biostimulation with water, nutrients, and biosurfactants accelerates oil biodegradation while selectively reshaping microbial communities toward hydrocarbon degrading taxa in hyper-arid desert soils. This study points to the potential development of effective management and remediation strategies for oil-contaminated desert environments.

Oil spillage, the accidental or deliberate release of liquid petroleum hydrocarbons, constitutes a severe environmental hazard with profound consequences for the built environment. This study investigates the effects of oil spills on the structural integrity, economic value, and long-term sustainability of infrastructure, including buildings, roads, and drainage systems, within Nigeria's oil-producing regions. Employing a descriptive research design, data were collected via structured questionnaires from 200 respondents in affected communities. Quantitative analysis of the responses revealed that 45% of participants observed moderate infrastructural damage, with 25% reporting severe damage. Economically, 40% noted moderate losses, while 35% experienced significant devaluation of properties and assets. Regarding governance, 35% rated existing regulatory frameworks as only moderately effective, and 30% deemed them ineffective. The findings demonstrate that oil spillage critically undermines both physical infrastructure and local economic stability, with current regulatory measures providing insufficient mitigation. Consequently, the study underscores an urgent need for enhanced preventive maintenance, robust community-led monitoring, and comprehensive rehabilitation strategies to safeguard the built environment in these vulnerable regions.

Remediation of Petroleum Hydrocarbon Contaminated Soils by Hollow nZVI Coupled with Electrokinetic Activation of Persulfate: Performance and Mechanism

The Niger Delta region of Nigeria has experienced persistent hydrocarbon contamination due to extensive oil and gas exploration activities. This study determined of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) detection in hydrocarbon contaminated surface waters in the Niger Delta; using ELISA as an analytical technique. Ninety (90) surface water samples were collected from six (6) sampling locations, including a control site, and analyzed using the ELISA technique. Results revealed that TPH concentrations in surface water ranged from 0.033 to 10.32 mg/L, with an average of 3.49 ± 2.64 mg/L. These concentrations exceeded the Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ) limit of 0.003 mg/L and the Environmental Guidelines and Standards for the Petroleum Industry in Nigeria (EGASPIN) limit of 0.05 mg/L, indicating severe hydrocarbon pollution. The study concluded that ELISA method demonstrated high accuracy, sensitivity, and reproducibility, validating its efficiency as an alternative to conventional chromatographic methods for environmental hydrocarbon analysis.

This study investigates the synergistic effect of microbial consortia and activated charcoal on the remediation of crude oil-contaminated soil in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Soil samples were treated over nine weeks using Aspergillus niger, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Sargassum filipendula, activated charcoal, and their combinations. Key physicochemical parameters including pH, temperature, organic matter (OM), and total organic carbon (TOC) were monitored. The combined treatment of microorganisms and charcoal (S6) achieved the highest total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) removal efficiency (91.45%), outperforming individual treatments. BTEX compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene isomers) showed substantial removal, with final degradation efficiencies ranging from 95.5% to 100% based on preliminary spectrophotometric data. However, due to limitations in the analytical method used (UV-Vis at 600 nm), these BTEX results are considered indicative and require validation through standard chromatographic techniques. The findings suggest that activated charcoal enhances microbial degradation by adsorbing toxic intermediates and providing a surface for microbial colonization. This integrated approach offers a cost-effective, scalable, and environmentally sustainable strategy for remediating oil-polluted soils, particularly in ecologically vulnerable regions such as the Niger Delta.

Understanding how surfactants interact with clay minerals is essential for controlling organoclay properties and improving hydrocarbon adsorption performance. However, distinguishing between surfactant adsorption on external surfaces and within interlayer galleries remains challenging using conventional techniques. In this study, we introduce a combined Washburn-immersion methodology that enables both quantification of total surfactant adsorption and localization of adsorbed species. Bentonite and kaolinite were modified using three commercial detergent formulations at concentrations below their experimentally determined critical micelle concentrations (CMC). The resulting changes in wettability, interlayer accessibility, and hydrocarbon uptake were systematically examined. For the first time, this study provides a quantitative framework to distinguish between external-surface adsorption and true interlayer incorporation of surfactants in clay minerals and directly links adsorption location to hydrocarbon uptake behavior. Bentonite exhibited significantly higher surfactant uptake (2.83-3.10mg·g-1) accompanied by substantial interlayer incorporation, resulting in enhanced organophilicity and a 13-33% increase in diesel and kerosene adsorption. In contrast, kaolinite showed lower surfactant uptake (2.46-2.70mg·g-1) dominated by surface and edge adsorption, leading to a 10-30% reduction in persistent diesel uptake, while kerosene adsorption remained essentially unchanged. Interlayer density analysis further confirmed that surfactant intercalation promotes denser hydrocarbon packing in bentonite but has negligible influence on kaolinite. This work introduces a robust and scalable diagnostic approach for distinguishing surface and interlayer adsorption in surfactant-clay systems, offering a practical framework for screening and optimizing surfactant-modified clays intended for hydrocarbon sorption under controlled conditions.

Spatial-environmental assessment and molecular fingerprinting of petrogenic hydrocarbons in soil-plant systems around an urban oil refinery.

Comparative study by microwave, fixed-bed and rotary kiln pyrolysis of oily sludge: Petroleum hydrocarbons, N-/S-/Cl-containing pollutants and heavy metals

Biogeochemical characterization of froth treatment tailings.

Salicylic acid as a pathway inducer for improved bioremediation of oil-polluted saline-alkali soils by chemotactic S. Stutzeri M3.