Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in River Niger, Nigeria: Occurrence, distribution and composition profiles

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
JP Unyimadu ◽  
O Osibanjo ◽  
JO Babayemi
Keyword(s):  
Polychlorinated Biphenyls ◽  
Water Samples ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Drinking Water Treatment ◽  
Electron Capture Detection ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Run Off ◽  
Composition Profiles ◽  
Commercial Sources ◽  
River Niger

Contamination of rivers with persistent organic pollutants (POPs) is an issue of current global concern. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are POPs with origin from commercial, incineration and industrial sources. Hence, there is a need for monitoring their occurrence and distribution in the environment. This study assessed the occurrence, distribution and composition profiles of PCBs in River Niger, Nigeria. Surface and bottom water samples were collected in consecutive quarters for a period of 2 years, covering the beginning and end of the rainy seasons and the dry seasons, from five locations (Gurara, Lokoja, Onitsha, Brass and Nicolas) along River Niger. A total of 240 water samples were collected using a Van Dorn water sampler. EPA method 3510c was used with slight modifications for sample preparation and analysis. The PCBs were analysed using a Hewlett Packard GC 5890 Series 11 with electron capture detection, and confirmation was made using a Shimadzu GCMS QP2010. The higher molecular weight marker PCBs (∑CB 138, 153 and 180) were more dominant than the lighter homologues (∑CB 28, 52 and 101), while commercial sources Co-PCBs (80.8 ± 61.7 to 288.3 ± 102.0 ng L−1) were more dominant than the incineration sources (34.9 ± 3.82 to 75.5 ± 65.2 ng L−1). The POPs load in River Niger water varied in both time and space. In surface water of the River Niger, ∑PCBs were higher during the rainy season, as a result of storm run-off from land-based sources. In the Brass and Nicolas Rivers during the dry season, the ∑PCBs were higher during low tide. There was no noticeable pattern during the rainy season. It may be concluded from this study that the water of River Niger is not good for human consumption or abstraction of water from the river for drinking water treatment.

Antimony and arsenic distribution and impacts at a derelict antimony mine in Scotland 

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lenka Mbadugha ◽  
Duncan Cowper ◽  
Sapar Dossanov ◽  
Graeme Paton
Keyword(s):  
Water Samples ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Environmental Standards ◽  
Arsenic Distribution ◽  
Run Off ◽  
Ore Processing ◽  
Regulatory Limits ◽  
Derelict Mine ◽  
Historic Mining ◽  
The Uk

<p>Mining activities are acknowledged to introduce contaminants into localised environments and cause wider spread diffuse pollution. The concentration, distribution and fate of arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb) were studied at the former metalliferous Louisa Mine at Glendinning, Scotland. The associated deposit is one of very few able to produce Sb in the UK and was mined for three brief periods between 1793 and 1922.  </p><p>The remnants of the mine consist of the ore processing area and two spoils. Soils withing these zones as well as around the mine were sampled and complemented by water samples from the adjacent stream, the Glennshanna Burn. All samples were subsequently analysed to map the distribution of contamination and identify pollution sources. The maximum concentrations of As and Sb, 15490 and 1504.2 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> respectively, were determined in soils associated with the ore processing area and spoil heaps. Anthropogenic activities also redistributed As and Sb within these mine zones and altered their relative ratios. The fractions of dissolved As and Sb in soils were < 1 and < 5% of total soil content, respectively, confirming findings of previous studies that As and Sb are relatively immobile. Yet, the concentrations of As and Sb released by soils exceeded regulatory limits.</p><p>Concentrations of As and Sb in surface water in the immediate vicinity of the mine were impacted by a gully discharge, but rapidly diluted. While the concentrations affected by the run-off waters did not exceed EU environmental standards for freshwater, the concentrations of As and Sb sharply increased to 11.43 ± 3.43 and 9.28 ± 0.59 μg l<sup>−1</sup>, respectively, approximately 100 m downstream of the mine site. The unaltered As to Sb ratios in water samples suggested a geogenic source of contamination.</p><p>While there is a justifiable concern about the soil pollution caused by the historic mining in the studied area, the Glenshanna Burn is affected more by indigenous geochemical processes than the derelict mine.</p>

scholarly journals Serum levels of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls among inhabitants of Greater Metropolitan Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

2002 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 519-524 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabella Fernandes Delgado ◽  
Heloisa H.C. Barretto ◽  
Teresa A. Kussumi ◽  
Irene Baptista Alleluia ◽  
Cenira de A. Baggio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Detection Limit ◽  
Polychlorinated Biphenyls ◽  
Organochlorine Pesticides ◽  
Rio De Janeiro ◽  
Serum Lipids ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Electron Capture Detection ◽  
Persistent Organochlorine ◽  
Alpha Beta ◽  
Janeiro City

Levels of persistent organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were determined in the blood serum of people living and working in the urban area of greater Rio de Janeiro city. Blood samples from 33 volunteers (16 males, 17 females, 19-63 years old) were taken in January 1999. OCP residues (op'DDT, pp'DDT, pp'DDD, pp'DDE, Aldrin, Dieldrin, Endrin, Heptachlor, Heptachlor-epoxide, alpha-, beta- and gamma-Hexachlorocyclo-hexane, Hexachlorobenzene) and PCBs (congeners: 28, 52, 101, 138, 153, 180) were extracted with n-hexane and analyzed by gas chromatography with electron capture detection. Except for pp'DDE (detection limit = 1.4µg/L) no other OCP residue was found in the samples. No PCB congener (detection limit = 2.0µg/L) was detected either. pp'DDE was found in 17 out of 33 samples in concentrations that ranged from 1.4 to 8.4 µg/L of serum or, on a fat basis, from 0.200 to 3.452 µg/g of serum lipids. Percentage of positive samples (%) and levels of pp'DDE (range of positive samples) increased from the youngest to the oldest group (<=29 yrs: 10%, 0.278µg/g; 30-39 yrs: 60%, 0.200-0.765µg/g; > or = 40 yrs: 77%, 0.257-3.452µg/g).

scholarly journals Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Brackish Water Fish in the River Niger, Nigeria

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (17) ◽  
pp. 31-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
John P. Unyimadu ◽  
Oladele Osibanjo ◽  
Joshua O. Babayemi
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Polychlorinated Biphenyls ◽  
Brackish Water ◽  
World Health ◽  
Fresh Weight ◽  
Fish Samples ◽  
Water Fish ◽  
Mean Concentration ◽  
River Niger ◽  
Brackish Water Fish

Background. Anthropogenic polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in aquatic environments poses human and ecological health risks in Nigeria. Objectives . This study determined the concentrations of PCBs in brackish water fish in the River Niger to assess the contamination status of fish consumed by the local population. Methods . The sampled fish species included Drepane africana, Mochokus niloticus, Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus, Pristipoma jubelini, Vomer septapinis, Pseudotolithus senegalensis, Mugil cephalus, Pseudotolithus elongatus, Sphyraena piscatorum and Lutjanus goreensis, purchased from landing sites. Six fish from each species were sampled, for a total of 60 samples. Twenty-seven (27) PCB congeners, #8, #18 #28, #44, #52, #60, #77, #81, #101, #105, #114, #118, #123, #126, #128, #138, #153, #156, #157, #167, #169, #170, #180, #185, #189, #195, and #206 were screened in the fish samples using standard methods. The PCBs were identified and quantified using gas chromatography (GC) (Hewlett Packard GC 5890 series 11 with electron capture detector). Confirmation was performed using Shimadzu GCMS QP2010. Results. The sum of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Agency (ΣNOAA) PCBs occurred at the highest concentration of 1830.0±484.0 μg/kg detected in Vomer septapinis, and the lowest in Pseudotolithus senegalensis, with a mean concentration of 795±169.3 μg/kg. The concentration of dioxin-like (DL) PCBs was highest in Pristipoma jubelini (992.0±88.6 μg/kg) and lowest (285.6±81.5 μg/kg) in Drepane africana. The highest mean concentration (418.±177.6 μg/kg) of International Council for the Exploration of the Seas-7 (ICES-7) PCBs was observed in Vomer septapinis. The heavier ICES-7 congeners PCB-138, PCB-153, and PCB-180 occurred at higher concentrations compared to the lighter molecular weight ICES-7: PCB-28, PCB-52, and PCB-101. The European Union (EU) marker PCB limit of 335 μg/kg was exceeded in all the brackish water fishes with the exception of Mochokus niloticus, Pristipoma jubelini and Pseudotolithus senegalensis. Discussion . The total level of PCBs in the brackish fish samples was relatively high at &gt;1000 μg/kg (above the World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) guideline of 1000 μg/kg fresh weight). The EU guideline value for fish (220 μg/kg fresh weight) was exceeded in about 80% of the brackish fish samples studied. Conclusions. Consumption of fish from the River Niger may expose humans to polychlorinated biphenyls. In addition, since contamination of the fish samples is an indication of river contamination, river water quality is of great concern and there is a need for additional PCB data on water quality to be distributed to the community, followed by mitigation measures. Competing interests. The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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