Seasonal Concentration Variations Of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons In Soils Of Western Niger Delta

Abstract

The concentration levels of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soils of Western Nigeria delta were determined for the dry and wet seasonal variations. For different sampling sites, the PAH concentration levels in soil samples during the wet season ranged from 0.70 - 29.66 µg/g (dw). The highest concentration of 29.66 µg/g (dw) was recorded in samples collected from sites predominant with industrial activities, while the lowest concentration of 0.70 µg/g (dw) was from residential quarters. In the dry season, the PAH concentration levels ranged from 1.06 to 58.82 µg/g (dw), with highest concentration recorded in samples collected from industrial sites, while the lowest was also from residential quarters. The seasonal variations showed that total PAH conce-ntrations in the soils at all the sampling sites were higher in the dry season than the wet season.

Journal of Applied Science and Technology Vol. 12 (1&2) 2007: pp. 41-45