Geospartial Characterization of the Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHS) in the Wetlands of Uzere Oil Bearing Community Delta Nigeria

This study is an ex-post facto research that investigated the concentration of PAHs in the wetlands in Uzere oil bearing community. The study answered four research questions and tested a hypothesis. To accomplish these, the study area was mapped out into research grids corresponding to the quarters in Uzere and 5 wetlands were randomly selected. Water sample were collected from 5 spots in each deploying grab sampling technique at 10cm depth and covered subsurface. The samples were bulked, composites drawn, fixed with HNO4 and stored in ice cooled boxes for analysis. The analytical standard adopted was EU/1881/2014 and the instrument of determination deployed was Agilant GC/MS Triple Quadrupole 7000 model. The mean results obtained were; pyrene 1.03±0.10 μg/l, chrysene; 1.04±0.01 μg/l, BaP; 1.03±0.00 μg/l, BaA; 1.03±0.01 μg/l and BbF; 1.04±0.01 μg/l. The mean results were further subjected to test of significance with ANOVA using SPSS model 29 (IBM) at 0.05 level of significance and the p value was 0.42 thus rejecting H0. The study concluded that the wetlands in Uzere are polluted higher than EU recommendations thus the produce are not fit for human and for animal consumption. The produce can also not be exported. The study recommended that the oil company should be mindful of the environment and adopt world best practices in its operation, the monitoring agency (NESREA) should increase its surveillance on the oil company’s activities and the impacted wetlands should be remediated.