Assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons contamination in urban soils from Niamey, Niger

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Research Paper 01/01/2015
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Assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons contamination in urban soils from Niamey, Niger

Abdourahamane Tankari Dan-Badjo, Yadji Guéro, Nomaou Dan Lamso, Tahar idder, Guillaume Echevarria, Thibault Sterckeman
J. Biodiv. & Environ. Sci. 6(1), 275-281, January 2015.
Copyright Statement: Copyright 2015; The Author(s).
License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are produced during incomplete organic matter combustion at high temperature and have potentially mutagenic and carcinogenic effects. No data on PAHs in soils from Niger have been reported despite the existence of numerous PAH emissions sources. This study provides data on PAH contamination of urban soils in Niamey. For this purpose, soil samples were collected from 10 urban sites and their PAHs levels were determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). PAH compound ratios such as phenanthrene/anthracene (Phen/Ant) were used to identify petrogenic or pyrogenic sources. The results showed that the total PAH concentrations in the soils ranged from 372 µg/kg to 4320 µg/kg and carcinogenic PAHs ranged between 23% and 53 % of the total PAHs. According to the evaluation criteria of PAH levels (Maliszewska – Kordubach 1996), soils of Niamey can be considered as contaminated at moderate to high degree by PAHs. Calculated values of Phen/Ant ratio varied from 0.72 to 16.55 and indicated that the PAHs in Niamey urban soil are mainly of pyrogenic origin such as incineration, open burning for domestic heating and cooking.

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