DETERMINATION OF TOTAL PETROLEUM HYDROCARBONS AND SELECTED HEAVY METALS IN UNDERGROUND WATER AND SOIL FROM THE VICINITY OF MAJOR FILLING STATIONS IN ABUJA

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DETERMINATION OF TOTAL PETROLEUM HYDROCARBONS AND SELECTED HEAVY METALS IN UNDERGROUND WATER AND SOIL FROM THE VICINITY OF MAJOR FILLING STATIONS IN ABUJA

ABSTRACT

Five different filling stations (Station A, Station B, Station C, Station D and Station E) were analyzed for Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons and heavy metals concentration using Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and atomic absorption spectrophotometer respectively. The result of the analysis obtained indicated that the percentage range of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) in soil is from 0.8061-34.3103%, respectively. Furthermore, the percentage range of underground water are from 11.632 to 2.292%, while those of heavy metals elements are 0.1277 to 0.1682 mg/L for Cd, 0.1919 to 5.3279 mg/l for Cr, 0.9025 to 1.6084 mg/l for Cu and

0.2977 to 2.4786 mg/l for Pb in soil samples and 0.1269 to 0.1799 mg/l for Cd, -0.3058 to 0.9095mg/l for Cr, 0.4053 to 1.5700 mg/l for Cu and 0.2230 to 1.6303 mg/l for Pb in water samples. Station E recorded the highest value of 32.292% for TPH in water samples while Station D recorded the highest value of 43.9357% for TPH in soil samples. heavy metal in Cd Station E had the highest concentration for soil and Station D had the highest for water, Station E had the highest concentration of Cr in soil and Station A had the highest concentration for water, Station C had the highest concentration of Cu in soil and Station A had the highest concentration in water, Station E had the highest concentration of Pb in both soil and water. From the result, the concentration of Cd,

Cr and Pb in soil and water samples are above WHO permissible limit. Also, the percentage concentrations of TPH in soil and water samples in these areas are also higher than the UN recommended value. The soil and water samples from the study areas showed some level of contamination.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

The exploration and exploitation of crude oil in Nigeria have been in existence since 1956. Available data shows that in 2020, total oil production averaged 1,951.000 Barrel/Day, with an estimated 36.89 billion barrels of proven oil as of January, 2020 (Adeniyi and Afolabi, 2002).In view of discovery of crude oil, oil spillages as a result of industrial activities and pipe-line vandalization have been a concern area in Nigeria, where oil is being produced or taken to (filling stations), the soil and groundwater of oil exploration, production and storage zones are frequently contaminated. Heavy metals are released into the environment by both natural and anthropogenic sources. The main natural sources of metals in soil, water and air are chemical weathering of minerals. The existence of total petroleum hydrocarbons and heavy metals in soil and water has led to serious concerns about their influence on plant and animal life. Total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) are a term used to describe a large family of several hundred chemical compounds that originally come from crude oil. Crude oil is used to make petroleum products, which can contaminate the environment (Hassan et al, 2013) while heavy metals is used to describe more than a dozen elements that are metals or metalloids (Vogel, 1989); e.g. chromium, arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, manganese, copper etc. Heavy metals are natural constituents of the Earth’s Crust; they are persistent and non-degradable in all parts of the environment.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Crude oil, when refined contains a wide range of components such as hydrocarbons, heavy metals, dye additives, antioxidants, corrosion inhibitors, etc. The refined products show higher toxicity compared to crude oil, since metals speciation is altered and new metals are added to the matrix during the refining processes (Pavageau et al. 2004). The waste generated from such processes may contain spent catalyst which are not recovered in most cases but discharged into soil and receiving water bodies where they accumulate in surface water, sediments of rivers and ultimately ground water. Environmental soil and water pollution has been aggravated by marked increase in global population, poverty, increased industrialization and urbanization in developed countries since the beginning of the century. An environment can be polluted by toxic organic and inorganic waste/chemicals which are always released into the environment through human (directly or indirectly) activities. According to United State Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), TPH releases into the environment will threaten public health and safety by contaminating drinking water, causing fire and explosion hazards, diminishing air and water quality, compromising agriculture, destroying recreational areas, destroying habitats and food, and wasting non-renewable resources.

1.3 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

As population increases progressively, the environment of the areas (urban and rural) become more polluted. However, urban environment is more likely to be polluted than rural environment. This could be as a result of establishment of modern industries, trade wastes and auto-mobile exhaust which generate waste products such as heavy metals and organic chemicals as their byproducts, co-products and final products. Apart from the modern industries, the establishments of cottage industries like fuel filling stations especially in cities also compound the pollution of the environment to the various ways. Improper disposal of wastes, engine oil, transmission oil, brake fluid in the vicinity of fuel filling stations contributes immensely to water and soil contamination; this may possibly have adverse impact on human health. As fuel filling stations increases, measures must be taken to know the source, significance and concentration of this pollutant “heavy metals” and ‘hydrocarbons’ and necessary research work should be carried out in order to get a clean society that will match the ever increasing fuel filling stations.

1.4 JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY

Some chemicals that may be found in Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons are hexane, naphthalene, fluorine, jet fuels, mineral oils, benzene, xylenes as well as other petroleum products and gasoline components and related heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Ni and Zn) However, it is likely that samples of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons and heavy metals will contain only some, or a mixture, of these chemicals. The amount and types of compounds in a petroleum hydrocarbon and heavy metals released into the environment differ widely depending on the product spilled and how it is weathered. This variability makes it difficult to determine the toxicity and mobility of weathered petroleum products solely from Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons and heavy metals results. However, an analysis of soil and/or groundwater can be used to approximate risk depending on the hydrocarbon range, the release scenario, how well the land (ODEQ, 2010). Adeniyi and Afolabi (2002) have reported total petroleum hydrocarbon in vicinity of facilities handling refined petroleum product in Lagos metropolis, Nigeria. The discoveries of the heavy metals and Total Petroleum hydrocarbons composition of soil and water in the vicinity of these filling stations will not only serve to improve the knowledge but such knowledge when published will create awareness on the possible effects of higher concentration of these chemicals on the environment and consideration of suitable control measure to suppress such incidents.

1.5 AIM AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study is to determine the total petroleum hydrocarbon and some heavy metals in underground water and soil from the vicinity of selected major filling stations in Abuja metropolis, Nigeria.

The objectives of the study are:

Collection of soil samples from selected major filling stations within Abuja metropolis, Nigeria and Carrying out preliminary analysis (Digestion, extraction and Clean up prior to instrumental analysis).

Using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) machine to investigate heavy metals in soil and groundwater extract from the collected samples and Using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry Technique for the detection and quantification of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon products in the collected samples.

Comparing the results obtained with the international standards set by an international organization like World Health Organization (WHO).

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