Studies on persistent organic pollutants in lagos lagoon ii: evaluation and spatial distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments of the lagoon
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Date
2017-03-28
Authors
Alani, R.A.
Drouillard, K.
Olayinka, K.O.
Alo, B.I.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Science PG
Abstract
PAHs in the Lagos lagoon are high enough to raise concern over possible adverse effects on aquatic organisms
and human health. Their spatial distribution in the sediment was largely dependent on the proximity of the sediment deposition
site to known sources of pollution. Due to their tendency to accumulate in sediments at the bottom of the food chain, PAHs in
the lagoon could pose a toxicological threat to benthic organisms and their predators. In this study, the PAH levels in the
sediments of the lagoon at twelve locations were evaluated. This work is a follow-up on an earlier paper showing the levels of
PAHs in the water samples of the lagoon. All sixteen EPA priority PAHs were found in eight of the locations. Significant
amounts of most of the PAHs were found in all the sediments throughout the year. The higher PAHs were more abundant and
distributed across the lagoon. Bioavailability assessment revealed that the PAHs were not bioavailable. Adjusted Equilibrium
Sediment Benchmark Toxic Units ΣESBTU revealed that the lagoon sediments at all the locations were not toxic to aquatic
life.
Description
Staff publications
Keywords
Research Subject Categories::NATURAL SCIENCES::Chemistry::Analytical chemistry::Separation methods , Lagos Lagoon , Sediment , Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons , ESBTUs , food chain
Citation
Alani, R.A., Drouillard, K., Olayinka, K.O. and Alo, B.I. (2017). Studies on persistent organic pollutants in lagos lagoon ii: evaluation and spatial distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments of the lagoon.