Determination of levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil contaminated with spent motor Engine oil in Abakaliki Auto-Mechanic Village

Soil samples contaminated with spent motor engine oil collected from Abakaliki auto-mechanic site were analyzed to determine the concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) components which are often targets in environmental check. Identification and quantification of the PAH components was accomplished using a gas chromatographic system (6890 series and 6890 plus) equipped with a quadrupole Mass Spectrometer (Agilent 5975 MSD) after ultrasonic extraction of the sample and clean up of the extract. The results showed that out of the sixteen USEPA target PAHs (EPA-16) assayed, only six were detected in varying concentrations in mg/kg. These include Phenanthrene with concentration range of 0.0172 ± 0.01 to 0.0193 ± 0.02, fluorene (0.0189 ± 0.01), benzo[a]anthracene (0.0162 ± 0.05), chrysene (0.0209 ± 0.02), benzo[b]fluoranthrene (0.0453 ± 0.02) and benzo[k]fluoranthrene (0.0389 ± 0.1). The concentration of total PAH components detected in the samples ranged from 0.0184 ± 0.02 to 0.1385 ± 0.2 mg/kg. Implications of PAHs on health were discussed.