Effects of oil spillage on Soil and Surface Water in Odoro Ikot Ukanafun Area Akwa Ibom State

Abstract

A hydrogeochemical survey of water and soil sample in Odoro Ikot and its environment was carried out using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) techniques. It was done to assess the impact of oil spillage on soil and surface water in the area. The soil samples were taken from the top to a depth of 30cm at the interval depth of 5cm each. Results obtained from these analyses were compared with World Health Organization (WHO) Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR)and Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) standards. The following parameters were measured and analyzed, temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, oil/grease, copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd) lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), Iron (Fe), phosphorus, (Pox) and sulphate (S0₄). The results of the analysis show that the surface water samples exceeds the WHO, FEPA and DPR acceptable standards. Apart from the water pH which was almost moderately acidic and oil/grease value in the study area, other parameters also exceeds the recommended standards, therefore there is need for remediation or clean up exercise to be carried out in the study area. The comparison with the soil sample analytical results show that the crude oil has polluted the soil and rendered it unsuitable for agricultural purpose since the ecology has been damaged and the soil degraded. ©JASEM

Keywords: Tozicity, heavy metals, soil and water, WHO standard, Odoro Ikot Ukanafun, Akwa Ibom State Nigeria.