Concentrations of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon in Crude Oil Polluted Soil and Its Risk Assessment

Crude Oil spill on land during oil exploration has been a major environmental challenge, such soil is rendered unproductive and toxic. Hence this study determined the levels of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAHs) in the crude oil-polluted son, health implication from human contact with the soil was also determined. Soil samples were obtained from the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, the soil was polluted with crude oil and then analyzed for PAHs. In order to assess the health risk, Hazard Quotient (HQ) and Incremental Life Cancer Risk (ILCR) from human unconscious ingestion, inhalation and dermal contact with contaminated soil was estimated. The results showed the mean Sigma PAHs of 1439.9mg/kg and the mean Sigma carcinogenic PAHs in the sample was 704.84 mg/kg. The estimated Incremental Life Cancer Risk (ILCR) value for human unconscious ingestion, inhalation and dermal contact with contaminated soil with crude oil were 5.8 x 10(-5), 1.2 x 10(-6) and 8.5 x 10(-9), respectively, for adults. While 1.3 x 10(-4), 9.3 x 10(-4) and 3.7 x 10(-9) were values estimated for children. The HQ values estimated were 101.1 and 442.1 for adults and children. The PAHs concentrations, the ILCR and HQ values obtained in the study are higher than the permissible which is of great health human concern.

Automated summary

This study found high levels of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAHs) in soil samples from the Niger Delta region, indicating significant health risks from human contact with the polluted soil through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal exposure.