Description
Abstract
In view of the devastating effect of petroleum hydrocarbon, this study was carried out to determine the level of petroleum hydrocarbon contamination in the Niger River (Okpo and Iyiowa-Odekpe portion). Three water samples were collected from three different sampling points. The samples were subjected to liquid-liquid extraction method and were analyzed for Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon using Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID). Result indicated that the surface water was contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbon with an average individual value of 172921.79 µg/l. It was observed that the surface water was mostly contaminated with hydrocarbons whose range falls into the category of diesel range organic (DRO), lube oil range, with gasoline range organics (GRO). This is so because this area usually receives a high concentration of hydrocarbon from the vicinity of heavy trucks/buses and vehicles from the overhead bridge. Also petroleum product spills, outboard, and inboard engine boats may also have contributed the increase of petroleum hydrocarbon. It was also observed that the level of petroleum hydrocarbon in this study was high relative to the Nigerian permissible limit of 10mg/l in water.
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