Author: O. Terebo, O.O Olayinka, A.A. Soyingbe and *O. Bamgbose

Abstract:

PAHs are persistent toxic contaminants in the environment which pose health risk to human and animals when ingested. This study was used to assess the quality of 264 borehole water samples of selected settlements covering 33 locations divided into four districts (identified as I, II, III & IV) between 2017 and 2019. PAHs were extracted from the water samples using standard method. GC-FID was used for the analysis of PAHs. PAHs concentrations (mg/L) ranged from ND to 7.77±1.54 and 0.01±0.00 to 7.10±2.18 for wet and dry seasons respectively. There were significant differences (p<0.05) between the two seasons for concentrations of Naphthalene, Acenaphthylene, Fluorene, Phenanthrene, Fluoranthene, Benzo(b)fluoranthene and Benzo(a)pyrene. The results obtained from this study suggest no significant risk to this population given the toxicity of these PAHs with exception to district I is of public health concern as Fluoranthene, Benzo(b) fluoran and Benzo(a) pyrene are known carcinogens. This contamination in district 1 is of public health concern as several PAHs are known carcinogens. It is recommended that advanced technological engineering be applied to contain the presence of these pollutants in drinking water sources of residents of the area.