Determination of polyaromatic hydrocarbons and some selected heavy metals in an aluminium recycling contaminated soil of Atuwara-Igbheren, Sango-Ota, Ogun State
Olanrewaju Kayode 1 * , Egba Leo Princewill 2 , Chineyem Ebite 3 4 , Michael Oluwole Akintunde 5
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1 Department of Environmental Management and Toxicology, College of Environmental Resources Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, NIGERIA2 Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Agbani, Enugu State, NIGERIA3 Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA4 Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli, Anambra State, NIGERIA5 Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, NIGERIA* Corresponding Author

Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals (HMs), both carcinogenic and hazardous, are common environmental contaminants. Soil samples were taken from three sites using a soil auger, air dried, and digested with the AODC method. HMs concentrations were measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometry, while PAHs were extracted with the USEPA method and analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrophotometry. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied to the data. HMs’ mean concentrations in mg/kg were copper (Cu) (255 ± 33-356 ± 22), lead (Pb) (48 ± 4-213 ± 62), Mn (77 ± 10-101 ± 3), Na (49 ± 8-63 ± 19), and cadmium (Cd) (0.51 ± 0.05-4 ± 3), with Cu > Pb > Mn > Na > Cd. Cu, Pb, and Cd levels exceeded Dutch target values. PAHs concentrations ranged from 147,290 ± 120,340 to 265,090 ± 184,321 µg/kg, with six out of seven carcinogenic PAHs detected. Dibenzo[a,h]anthracene had the highest concentration (26,053 ± 18,465 µg/kg). All PAH levels exceeded the Dutch guideline of 50 µg/kg.

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This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Research Article

EUR J SUSTAIN DEV RES, Volume 9, Issue 3, 2025, Article No: em0313

https://doi.org/10.29333/ejosdr/16358

Publication date: 01 Jul 2025

Online publication date: 06 May 2025

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Article Downloads: 25

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