Distribution of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) and some heavy metals in the waters of two Niger Delta communities, Delta State, Nigeria

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P. O Agbaire
F. K Tubotu

Abstract

Twelve (12) samples of water were collected from Obuguru and Burutu communities of the Niger Delta of Nigeria. Quantification and identification of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) were performed using Gravimetric and Gas Chromatography-Ionization Detector (GC-FID) methods, respectively. Heavy metal concentrations were analysed using the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometric (AAS) method. The ranges of TPH (C8-C40) in water were 2.81 to 6.31 mg/L and 3.77 to 7.04 mg/L in the Obuguru and Burutu groundwaters. While in surface water, in Obuguru and Burutu it was 5.19 - 8.28 and 3.77 - 9.62 mg/L, respectively. The results indicate that the mean TPH values recorded in this study exceeded both the target (0.05 mg L-1 or 50 μg L-1) as well as the intervention values (0.6 mg L-1 or 600 μg L-1) recommended by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Nigeria for groundwater. The results of the analysis of heavy metals revealed that Fe is the most abundant of all the investigated metals in the water of the study area. The highest to the lowest metal concentrations in groundwater samples were Fe > Mn > Co > Ni > Zn > Cr > Cu > Cd > Pb in Obuguru and Fe > Mn > Zn > Cr > Cr > Ni > Cu > Pb > Cd in Burutu, whereas the order for surface water was Fe > Mn > Zn > Cr > Co > Ni > Cu > Pb > Cd in Obuguru and Fe > Mn > Zn > Cr > Cd > Co > Ni > Pb in Burutu. The results of the correlation matrix analysis show that the metals and hydrocarbons in the study area have varying degrees of correlation. The concentrations of Cd, Ni, Cr, Fe and Mn in the water of the study area were found to be above the allowable limit set by the regulatory authorities.

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How to Cite
Agbaire , P. O., & Tubotu , F. K. (2022). Distribution of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) and some heavy metals in the waters of two Niger Delta communities, Delta State, Nigeria. NIGERIAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT, 19(1). Retrieved from https://delsunjse.com/index.php/njse/article/view/39
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