Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques 2016, Volume 4, Issue 4, Pages: 130-142 130 Evaluation of Total Hydrocarbon Content and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon in an Oil Spill Contaminated Soil in Rumuolukwu Community in Niger Delta Ayobami Omozemoje Aigberua 1 , Allen Tobin Ekubo 1 , Azibaola Kesiye Inengite 1 and Sylvester Chibueze Izah 2* 1 Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. 2 Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Received: 10/12/2016 Accepted: 28/12/2016 Published: 30/12/2016 Abstract This study assessed total hydrocarbon content (THC) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) in an oil spill contaminated soil in Rumuolukwu community in Niger Delta. The study was carried out between August 2013 to January 2014. THC and PAH were analyzed using standard procedure. PAH in the contaminated soil for both season were predicted using Diagnostic Ratios [Ant/(Ant+Phe), Flt/(Flt+Pyr), BaA/(BaA+Chr), Flt/Pyr and BaP/(BaP+Chr)]. PAH and THC concentration were higher in August 2013 (wet season) compared to January 2014 (dry season), indicating natural attenuation as the study period increases. Also, higher concentration of PAH and THC were observed at less depth (0-15cm) compared to higher depth (15cm – 60cm). Based on diagnostic ratio, PAH sources present in the oil contaminated soil depicted the predominance of mixed pyrogenic activities such as petroleum, biomass and coal combustion. Petrogenic sources were observed close to the point source. Keywords: Diagnostic ratio, Oil spill, total hydrocarbon content, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon 1 Introduction 1 Environmental pollution affects the ecosystem and its biota. The environment is contaminated by human activities and to lesser extent by natural effects. Most environmental pollution resulting from natural effects are triggered by anthropogenic activities. For instance eutrophication in slow flowing surface water is mostly due to the effect of nutrient resulting from runoff after precipitation. Also, the discharge of effluents contain high nutrient could also cause eutrophication is addition to other contamination matrices. Some major activities that cause pollution to the environment include agricultural practices through the use of pesticides [1, 2], food processing such cassava and oil palm processing wastes [3], oil and gas exploration and its associated activities such as dredging [4-10]. Typically crude oil and natural gas account for over 50% of global energy sources [11]. Crude oil is a complex mixture containing several compounds which are fractionated into different products including gasoline of various grades, lubricating oils of various weights and grades, kerosene of various grades, jet fuel, diesel fuel, heating oil and other chemicals etc. Exploration of crude oil is carried out in both offshore and onshore. For instance, Nigeria oil fields and offshore oil rigs have hundreds of wells with flow lines that carry crude oil to the lease tanks. The crude oil flows from the wells to the Corresponding author: Sylvester Chibueze Izah, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. * Corresponding author: E-mail; chivestizah@gmail.com; Tel: +234 703 0192 466 unseen lease tanks through the flow lines, where it is accumulated, sampled and measured prior to further transportation through other connecting pipelines. The transportation of crude oil is carried out via flow/ trunk and pipeline depending on the destination. Crude oil transportation lines could be damaged leading to oil spill. The destruction is caused by vandalism or rupture. Either way, it could cause attendant impact of the ecosystem. On soil it could lead to variation in microbial, physiochemical, heavy metal and hydrocarbon content of the soil. The change affects the various biota in such environment including microbes, insects, vegetation and wildlife. The effect can be direct leading to habitat alteration, and death and indirect leading to loss of food resources. However, crude oil is also source of energy to some lower organisms such as microbes especially hydrocarbon utilizing/degrading bacteria and fungi. Petroleum is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons (aliphatic and aromatic) and organometallic complexes such as heavy metals (Vanadium, lead, chromium, nickel etc). Petroleum varies widely in composition and physical properties. Even though the associated consequences of oil production and transportation in an environment has been well documented, especially on the adverse effects of oil spillage, which include soil, water and vegetation loss, a new Journal weblink: http://www.jett.dormaj.com J. Environ. Treat. Tech. ISSN: 2309-1185