INVESTIGATION OF TOTAL PETROLEUM HYDROCARBONS, CHROMIUM, COPPER AND IRON CONTENTS OF CRUDE OIL CONTAMINATED RIVER WATER SAMPLES

ABSTRACT Rivers located near petroleum refineries are at risk of contamination from industrial effluents and hydrocarbon spills, which can degrade water quality and endanger aquatic and human health. This project set out to examine the quality of water from a river near a refinery. The study investigated the levels of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and chromium (Cr), alongside selected physical parameters, from this selected river (Oriaka River). Water samples were collected from multiple points of this river and analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) and Gas Chromatography (G.C) methods, with results compared to World Health Organization (WHO, 2005) guideline values. The findings revealed a TPH concentration of 0.824 mg/L, which is more than 4,000 times higher than the WHO drinking water limit (0.0002 mg/L) about 82 times higher than the irrigation guideline of 0.01 mg/L, and exceeds the recreational limit of 0.007 mg/L by over 1,100 times. Measured concentrations of iron (0.044 mg/L) and copper (0.0407 mg/L) were within acceptable WHO limits, while chromium was below detectable limits. Physical parameters showed a pH of 8.0, slightly above neutral but acceptable, and a temperature of 52.82°C, which is significantly higher than WHO recommended values of 20-30°C, for fresh water. These results indicate severe hydrocarbon pollution likely linked to refinery operations, posing ecological risks and rendering the water unsuitable for drinking, recreation, or agriculture. The study highlights the urgent need for continuous monitoring, strict enforcement of effluent treatment regulations, and development of effective remediation strategies to safeguard water quality in refinery-impacted 11 regions, hence enforcing remediation measures to protect both the ecosystem and public health