Distribution and Health Risk Profiling of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Well Water Sourced from Urban Hubs

International Journal of Chemistry | Vol. 3, No. 6, June 2012 | pp. 42–49

DOI: 10.46882/2012/IJC/000045

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: Distribution and Health Risk Profiling of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Well Water Sourced from Urban Hubs

Names of Authors: T. H. Awotunde¹, S. C. Chika²*

Authors’ Affiliations:
¹Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.
²Department of Chemistry, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.

Abstract: Leaching of hazardous organic industrial residues into urban shallow well water resources poses a severe threat to public health in municipal settlements. This study screens the spatial distribution, origin indicators, and health risk profiles of 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) across twenty shallow wells in a highly populated urban hub. Water samples were gathered during the dry and wet seasons, and quantified via Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Total PAH concentrations ranged from 12.4 to 56.8 ng/L, with lower molecular weight structures like phenanthrene and fluoranthene emerging as the dominant species. Diagnostic ratio calculations (phenanthrene/anthracene and fluoranthene/pyrene) indicated that the PAHs were primarily pyrogenic in origin, driven by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and urban municipal refuse dumps. Seasonal assessments revealed significantly higher PAH migration during the rainy period, indicating rain-induced runoff and soil leaching pathways. Carcinogenic potency evaluations and Lifetime Cancer Risk (LCR) indices for adult consumption routes fell within the safe benchmark threshold of 1 in 1,000,000, but presented an escalating trend near active commercial automobile repair centers.

Keywords: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Groundwater; Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; Diagnostic ratios; Pyrogenic sources; Cancer risk assessment

Manuscript Timeline: Received: August 02, 2011; Revised: September 12, 2011; Accepted: October 04, 2011; Published: June 03, 2012.

Citation: Awotunde, T. H., & Chika, S. C. (2012). Distribution and Health Risk Profiling of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Well Water Sourced from Urban Hubs. International Journal of Chemistry, 3(6), 42–49.

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