Hydrocarbons Distribution of Total Petroleum in the Surface Water of Kolo Creek, Ogbia Axis, Bayelsa State Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the total petroleum hydrocarbons level in surface water of the Kolo Creek, Ogbia, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The study was carried out to assess the level of occurrence total petroleum hydrocarbons in the creek. Water samples were collected from four designated points along the creek. The water samples were extracted using dichloromethane (DCM) through the liquid-liquid extraction technique which was subsequently followed by clean-up of the chromatographic column. The samples were then analyzed using Gas Chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID) for the determination of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH). The results of the analysis revealed that the mean concentrations of total petroleum hydrocarbons in the surface water within the months of study ranged from 42.3126±4.6438 to 89.4409±13.620 mg/L in surface water. The average amount of TPH in the surface water samples collected from all the four different sampling stations were generally higher than the maximum permissible limits by WHO which is 10mg/Kg in water. The level of occurrence in the stations were in the 2 > 1 > 4 > 3. The results recorded have indicated that the Kolo Creek is under severe pollution threat by total petroleum hydrocarbons and therefore underscores the essence for urgent remediation to advert serious health complication and adequate steps should be taken to forestall any impending danger that could pose severe threat to the aquatic ecosystem and the human dweller along the shores of the creek.