Risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the sediments of the Ekulu River in Enugu State in Nigeria

The human health and ecological risks resulting from exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Ekulu River sediments were estimated in this study. The Ekulu River receives pollutants potentially containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from runoff from automotive workshops...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:African journal of aquatic science 2021-04, Vol.46 (2), p.153-160
Main Authors: Ugochukwu, Uzochukwu C, Onuora, Onyechi H, Kurumeh, Leonard, Mbakwe, Uchenna I, Okolo, Obiageli J, Onuorah, Amaka L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abandoned mines
Aromatic compounds
Aromatic hydrocarbons
Benzo(a)pyrene
Coal mines
Ecological effects
ecological risks
Environmental risk
exposure risk
Fluorene
Fluvial sediments
Freshwater
hazard index
Health hazards
Health risk assessment
Health risks
human health
hydrocarbons
Inland water environment
Mine drainage
Phenanthrene
Pollutants
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Pyrene
Risk assessment
Rivers
Runoff
Sediment
Sediments
Toxicity
toxicity equivalence
Water pollution
Waterfalls
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Summary:The human health and ecological risks resulting from exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Ekulu River sediments were estimated in this study. The Ekulu River receives pollutants potentially containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from runoff from automotive workshops and abandoned coal mines. The study found that mine drainage, in particular, could be responsible for the relatively high concentration of benzo[a]pyrene (1.266 mg kg −1 ) in parts of river where sand is harvested on a commercial basis. Sources of the PAHs at The Gate and Damija were petrogenic. The consensus-based quality guideline for freshwater sediments using threshold effect concentration and probable effect concentration was the basis employed for evaluating the ecological risks, which were highest at The Gate, because of the presence of fluorene and phenanthrene. Toxicity equivalency (TEQ) at Damija and The Gate did not indicate health risks; however, those at Waterfall were high (1.39 mg kg −1 ), indicating potential health risks. The hazard and risk indices indicate insignificant human health risks.
ISSN:1608-5914
1727-9364
DOI:10.2989/16085914.2020.1865868