Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Crude Oil Contaminated Water from Ese-Odo Offshore, Nigeria

Hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous compounds, which have posed high risk to the human health and ecological systems. In this study, conspicuous crude oil contaminated water samples from regions around seven derricks of the Ese-Odo Offshore, Nigeria were homogenized and analyzed for suspected PAHs. Analytes were simultaneously extracted by Liquid-Liquid extraction using dichloromethane and analyzed by gas chromatograph coupled with mass spectrophotometer (GC-MS). The concentration of PAHs in water sample range from 0.07-113.16 ppm with ΣPAHs of 381.06 ppm, having Biphenylene (0.018%) and Fluoranthene (29.696%) as the least and most abundant respectively. The average PAH-homologue concentrations are 4 rings ( Fluoranthene; 1113.16 ppm) >2 ring (Naphthalene; 58.67 ppm and its derivative; 48.05 ppm) >3 rings ( Fluorene ; 45.45 ppm) > 5 ring (Benzo[a]pyrene; 1.73 ppm). Generally, PAHs concentration at the ppm range is quite alarming with results pointing more at petrogenic than pyrogenic or mixed origin. Estimated PAHs like benzo[a]; 1.73 ppm, benzo [b] fluoranthene, 16.08 ppm, benzo [ghi] perylene; 2.09 ppm and Dibenz [a,h] anthracene; 4.72 ppm has properties that are either carcinogenic, toxic, mutagenic or teratogenic and are therefore dangerous to health.

Keywords: crude oil, Environment, Pollution, PAHs, GC-MS, Petrogenic, carcinogenic.