Department of Biological Sciences, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, Nigeria; Ecotoxicology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Lagos, Akoka, Nigeria
Doherty, V.F., Department of Biological Sciences, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, Nigeria; Otitoloju, A.A., Ecotoxicology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Lagos, Akoka, Nigeria
In May 2008, an accidental damage of a Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipeline occurred in Ijegun area of Lagos, Nigeria, resulting in oil spillage and consequent contamination of the environment. The residual concentration of the total hydrocarbon (THC) and benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) in the groundwater and soil was therefore investigated between March 2009 and July 2010. Results showed elevated THC mean levels in groundwater which were above the World Health Organization maximum admissible value of 0.1 mg/l. THC values as high as 757.97 mg/l in groundwater and 402.52 mg/l in soil were observed in March 2009. Pronounced seasonal variation in the concentration of THC in groundwater and soil samples show that there was significant (P < 0.05) difference in the measured concentration of THC between each season (dry and wet), with the highest being in the dry season and between the years 2009 and 2010. Significant hydrocarbon contamination, 500 m beyond the explosion site and 25 months after the incident, was observed revealing the extent of the spillage of petroleum products. The highest concentrations of 16.65 μg/l (benzene), 2.08 μg/l (toluene), and 4864.79 μg/l (xylene) were found in stations within the 100 m buffer zone. Most of the samples of groundwater taken were above the target value of 0.2 μg/l set for BTEX compounds by the Environmental Guidelines and Standards for Petroleum Industry in Nigeria. The level of hydrocarbon in the impacted area calls for concern and remediation of the area is urgently needed to reduce further negative impact on the ecosystem. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
Benzene , toluene , ethylbenzene , and xylenes; Environmental guidelines; Groundwater contamination; Hydrocarbon contamination; Pipeline explosion; Residual concentrations; Total hydrocarbons; World Health Organization; Benzene; Contamination; Groundwater; Groundwater pollution; Hydrocarbons; Petroleum products; Pipelines; Soils; Toluene; Xylene; Soil pollution; benzene; ethylbenzene; ground water; hydrocarbon; petroleum derivative; toluene; xylene; BTEX; concentration (composition); environmental impact; groundwater pollution; oil pipeline; oil spill; pollution incidence; pollution monitoring; remediation; seasonal variation; soil pollution; article; explosion; maximum allowable concentration; Nigeria; oil spill; pipeline; pollution monitoring; seasonal variation; soil pollution; water contamination; water sampling; chemistry; environmental monitoring; oil spill; soil pollutant; water pollutant; Lagos [Nigeria]; Nigeria; Environmental Monitoring; Explosions; Groundwater; Nigeria; Petroleum Pollution; Soil Pollutants; Water Pollutants, Chemical