Distribution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Soils within Vicinity of an Electronic Waste Open Burning Workshop in Aba, South East Nigeria

Authors

  • Mark O. Onyema Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, P.M.B. 5323 Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
  • Chisom M. Obasi Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Faculty of Physical Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka P.M.B. 5025 Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
  • Nkechi H. Okoye Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Faculty of Physical Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka P.M.B. 5025 Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
  • Leo C. Osuji Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, P.M.B. 5323 Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.

Keywords:

Aba, composition, diagnostic ratio, e-waste, open burning, PAHs.

Abstract

Electronic waste (e-waste) workshops distributed in the commercial city of Aba, South East Nigeria, employ open burning to extract valuable sub-assemblies from the e-waste. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were studied in soils (0-5 cm) collected from three sampling points within an e-waste workshop vicinity: the e-waste open burning site (OBS-X), 30 m from the open burning site (OBS-30m) and 70 m from the open burning site (OBS-70m). Concentrations of 16 USEPA PAHs in the soils were characterized by dominance of high molecular weight (HMW) over low molecular weight (LMW). The most abundant PAHs were DA 26.45%, IP 13.82% and BbF 13.07% in OBS-X, BaA 19.78%, BbF 17.15% and BaP 16.80% in OBS-30m and Chr 23.73%, BP 14.26% and Nap 8.871% in OBS-70m. Source diagnostic PAH isomer ratios determined are Phe/Ant from 0.73 - 1.36, Fth/Pyr 1.52 - 3.79, BaA/Chr 0.29 - 28.27 and BkF/BaP 0.11 - 1.31. These results from PAH distributions and compositions indicated incomplete combustion source for pyrogenic PAHs in OBS-X and OBS-30m and mix combustion-petroleum source for PAHs in OBS-70m. In conclusion, the open burning of e-waste in Aba metropolis largely contaminated soils from the workshop vicinity, particularly with carcinogenic HMW PAHs.

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Published

2017-08-10

How to Cite

O. Onyema, M., M. Obasi, C., H. Okoye, N., & C. Osuji, L. (2017). Distribution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Soils within Vicinity of an Electronic Waste Open Burning Workshop in Aba, South East Nigeria. International Journal of Sciences: Basic and Applied Research (IJSBAR), 35(1), 286–293. Retrieved from https://www.gssrr.org/index.php/JournalOfBasicAndApplied/article/view/7069

Issue

Vol. 35 No. 1 (2017)

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Articles

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