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Research Article Open access CC BY 4.0

Impact of Artisanal Crude Oil Refinery on Physicochemical and Microbiological Properties of Soil and Water in Igia-Ama, Tombia Kingdom, Rivers State, Nigeria

D. B. Onwuna, H. O. Stanley, G. O. Abu, O. M. Immanuel

Asian Journal of Environment & Ecology · pp. 56–67 · Published 3 Nov 2022

10.9734/ajee/2022/v19i3412

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the impact of artisanal refinery operations on the physicochemical and microbiological properties of soil and water in Igia-Ama, Tombia Kingdom, Rivers State, Nigeria. Physicochemical parameters along with concentrations of heavy metals, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH), benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) were determined in soil and water samples using standard methods. Microbial populations were determined using standard plate count. Microbial isolates were identified based on their cultural, morphological and biochemical characteristics. Results show that concentrations of monitored physicochemical parameters differed significantly (p<0.05) between impacted sites and control as well as between dry and wet season. Heavy metals, PAHs, TPH, BTEX and PCB concentrations were higher in the impacted sites than in the control (significant, p<0.05), and also differed significantly between dry and wet season. Microbial counts varied between polluted samples and control as well as between dry and wet season, though not significantly different (p>0.05). Bacterial isolates in polluted soil samples were identified as Enterobacter sp., Bacillus sp., Micrococcus sp., Staphylococcus sp. and Pseudomonas sp. Bacteria in polluted water samples were identified as Staphylococcus sp. and Escherichia coli. Fungi in polluted soil samples were identified as Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp. Fusarium sp., Rhodotorula sp., Exophiala sp. and Crypotococcus sp. While only Penicillium sp. was isolated in polluted water sample. Artisanal crude oil refinery operations significantly impacted the physicochemical properties of soil and water in the study area but not the microbiological properties. The levels of heavy metals, PAHs, TPH and BTEX in the soil and water suggest the need for remediation of the impacted environment.

Artisanal refinery physicochemical properties microorganisms

References (6)

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Cited by 20

Status of Soil Quality in the Vicinity of Artisanal Refining Sites in Rivers State, Nigeria

M. P. Solomon, I. O. Agbagwa, L. C. Osuji · Asian Journal of Environment & Ecology · 2023

SOLID-PHASE FRACTIONATION OF HEAVY METAL IONS IN SOILS FROM MUNICIPAL WASTE DUMPSITE IN PORT HARCOURT, NIGERIA

C. C. Obunwo, S. C. Ubah, O. S. Bull · Journal of Chemical Society of Nigeria · 2024

Toxicity of Soot Against Microorganisms Isolated from Artisanal Crude Oil Refining Sites in the Niger Delta

David Bagharum Onwuna, Herbert Okechukwu Stanley, Gideon Orkwagh Abu · Asian Science Bulletin · 2024

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