Risk evaluation and modeling of soils contaminated with Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in parts of Bonny Island, Niger Delta, Nigeria

Abstract

Crude oil exploration is a major economic venture in Nigeria which [1,2] noted has resulted to the release of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals into soils and water bodies through oil spillage. In soils, petroleum hydrocarbon creates conditions which lead to unavailability of essential nutrients to plants [3]. It implies that the soil remains unsuitable until the crude oil is degraded to a tolerable level. The amount of natural crude oil seepage was estimated to be 600,000 metric tons per year with a range of uncertainty of 200,000 metric tons per year [4,5]. The discharge of crude oil whether accidentally or due to human activities is a main cause of water and soil pollution and they constitute a serious environmental problem which can threaten human health and that of bene icial organisms in the environment [1].