ASSESSMENT OF THE SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION AND TOXICITY OF POLY CYCYLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBON (PAH) IN AMBIENT AIR OF EGBEMA COMMUNITIES, IMO STATE.

Abstract

Mosses plants (pleurozium schreberi) was used to trap Poly cyclic aromatic hydrocarbon in ambient air of oil producing areas of Egbema, where the distribution and assessment of pollution in ambient air from six locations where harvested for Six months (Dry Season). Gas chromatography was used to analyze the samples where the mean average of PAH recorded Pyrene with highest concentrations of 0.146(µg/kg) followed by Fluoranthane with 0.051(µg/kg) and their locations were recorded highest at AQOWH, AQEOJ with 2.86(µg/kg) followed by AQEWH and AQEWFS with 1.73(µg/kg) and 1.87(µg/kg) respectively. AQEOJ and AQOWH have largest variation spread of PAH in all locations, while Fluorathene recorded highest variation spread in all Locations. It is also noted that not only oil exploration generates PAH spread in Egbema, there are other vices that also contribute to daily exposures PAH which is associated with increased incidences of premature death, chronic asthma and as well as respiratory problems in children.