Distribution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Air and Surface Soil: Case Study Kumasi, Ghana.
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Date
2011-06-20
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Abstract
PAHs are organic compounds connected in ring like forms. Their presences in air and soil matrices deserve attention because they are highly stable, toxic and can produce carcinogenic and mutagenic effects. The objectives of this study are to determine the concentrations, distribution, and the sources of emission of PAHs in air samples and surface soils from the Kumasi metropolis. Concentrations of total and 22 individual PAHs in air and soils samples in Kumasi were determined. In all, 34 air samples were collected from KNUST campus and the Kejetia lorry station and 129 soil samples were also collected from 36 communities in the Kumasi metropolis. These samples were extracted with a 1:2 v/v acetone: hexane mixture for 6 h prior to clean-up and GC-MS analyses. The highest concentration of total PAHs in air samples from KNUST campus and Kejetia lorry station were 16.58 ng/m3 and 38.72 ng/m3 respectively. The mean concentration of total PAHs in surface soils ranged from 10.85±4.84 at Ahinsan to 2084.87±2210.05 ng/g dry weight at Adum. The Benzo(a)Pyrene concentration in the air samples from KNUST campus and Kejetia lorry station ranged from below detection to 0.08 ng/m3 and 1.69 to 5.66 ng/m3 respectively. From the results Adum is the most polluted community with total PAHs concentration with mean value of 2084.87 ng/g dry weight. The diagnostic ratios of the results show that PAHs in the air and surface soil samples are mainly from fuel combustion.
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A thesis submitted to the Board of Postgraduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the Degree of Master of Science in Environmental Chemistry
Keywords
PAHs, Diagnostic ratio, Kumasi, Air, Soil