Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Exposure to Soil and Vegetable near a Gas-Powered Plant in Rivers State, Nigeria: Impact of Industrially Affected Soil to Public Health

Abstract

Assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) levels in soil and selected vegetables grown in the vicinity of Afam IV power plant in Rivers State was carried out in this study. Similarly, potential health risk associated with their exposures via dietary intake of vegetables and other pathways were evaluated. Levels of PAHs were determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometer. Mean concentrations of ∑16PAHs in the soil were 174.87 mg/kg, while in vegetables the value was 24.94 mg/kg. These concentration values ∑16PAHs were below the safe limits of international regulatory agencies. Analysis showed that pollution of PAHs, especially benzo(a)pyrene and benzo(g,h,i)perylene in the soil, was due mainly to anthropogenic activities. Results revealed accumulation of acenaphthylene, fluorene, anthracene, pyrene, benz(a)anthracene and Mn in some vegetables. The carcinogenic risks of PAH pollution were 9.31E-05 in children and 5.16E-05 in adults for soil, and 8.10E-08 in children and 2.58E-07 in adults for vegetables. The lifetime carcinogenic risk (LCR) of a local populace due to the PAHs contamination in both soil and vegetables was 1.45E-04. Of the LCR. Diagnostic ratio analysis shows PAH contamination was from pyrogenic and petrogenic sources, while Pearson correlation analysis revealed a positive relationship between PAHs in soil and vegetables, suggesting similar sources. Our findings confirm that soil around Afam IV was vulnerable to PAH pollution