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Toxic Potential of Carcinogenic Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (cPAHs) and Heavy Metal in Crude Oil from Gokana Area, Rivers State, Nigeria
IWUOHA, G.; ORUBITE, O. & OKITE, I.
Abstract
This article is focused on ascertaining the toxic potentials of heavy metals and
the levels of PAHs and cPAHs in crude oil samples from Gokana area and using the data to
determine the carcinogenicity (toxicity) of the cPAHs in the crude oil. All the cPAHs namely;
benzo (a) pyrene, benzo (a) Anthracene, benzo (b) Fluoranthene, chrysene, benzo (k)
fluoranthene, dibenzo (a, h) perylene and indeno (1,2,3-cd) pyrene were detected at various
concentration in mg/l as 1597.88, 46.97, 4219.99, 1498.04, 1220.41,831.82 and 1106.20
respectively. The total concentration of cPAHs is 10,474.34 mg/l which represent 41.83% of
the total PAHs (tPAHs) in the crude oil sample. Using BaP as baseline standard (0.0007 mg/l)
to correlate the (toxicity) carcinogenicity of the cPAHs, we found out that the crude oil
sample is many thousands of folds significantly and exceedingly (toxic) carcinogenic. The
order of concentration of heavy metal (Fe > Ni > Cr > Cu > Cd = Pb = Zn) in the crude oil
sample did not reflect their actual toxic potential as only nickel and chromium exceeded the
maximum effluents limits. Considerable caution should be applied in exploration, exposure
and distribution of the crude oil through protected and well maintained pipelines to avoid the
possible release of PAHs as well as nickel and chromium toxicity to soil, water and
inhabitants of Gokana area.
Keywords
carcinogenicity; toxicity; crude oil; heavy metal; cPAHs
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