Identification and quantification of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and trace metal analyses in soils around the Donald Ekong Library Car Park, University of Port Harcourt

Abstract

The outcome of analysis of the levels of PAHs and trace metal in soils around Donald Ekong library car park at University of Port Harcourt shows that its heavy metal contents is high relative to the DPR standard in soils. With the exception of Vanadium, all other selected heavy metal in mg/kg was detected in the soil samples. The selected trace metals and concentration in mg/kg are Cd (0.15), Pb (13.10), Zn (34.75), Fe (30.73), Cr (5.73), and Ni (9.45) relative to their respective Department of petroleum resources standards (mg/kg) which are 0.01, 0.05, 1.0, 1.0, 0.03 and 0.10 respectively. Twelve PAHs were detected while four PAHs were not detected. The carcinogenic and high molecular weight PAHs were all detected while some of the low molecular weight PAHs were not detected or were detected at very small concentration. The higher solubility and volatility of the lower molecular weight PAHs are responsible for this trend of PAHs distribution. There is need to use proper soil remediation strategy for restoration of the soil in line with the appropriate permissible limits for heavy metal and PAHs in soil, which are both (as they are) above their respective permissible limit.

Keywords: PAHs, Soil, Heavy Metal, Quantification