Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon Carcinogens in Commercial Fish in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden - Yemen

Aim: To assess the Physicochemical indices of Phytoremediated Crude Oil polluted amended soil using grass plant Cyperus esculentus (Cyp) and Phyllanthus amarus (Phy). Study Design: The study employs experimental design, statistical analysis of the data and interpretation. Place and Duration of Study: Rivers State University demonstration farmland in Nkpolu- Oroworukwo, Mile 3 Diobu area of Port Harcourt, was used for this study. The piece of land is situated at Longitude 4°48’18.50” N and Latitude 6ᵒ58’39.12” E measuring 5.4864 m x 5.1816 m with a total area of 28.4283 square meter. Phytoremediation process monitoring lasted for 240 days; analyses were carried out monthly at 30 days’ interval. Methodology: The study was carried out on Crude Oil Polluted soil (PS) amended with bio-nutrient supplements (Spent Mushroom Substrate (SMS) and selected fungi (Aspergillus niger(AN) andMucor racemosus (MR)) used to stimulate and augment the indigenous microbial population present in a crude oil polluted soil thereby enhancing hydrocarbon reduction in pari per sue with phytoremediation (uptake of Crude oil by test plants) over a period of 240 days. Ten (10) experimental plots (two Control (Unpolluted and polluted soil without amendment) and eight polluted amended/treated plots) employing Randomized Block Design (each having dimensions: 100 x 50 x 30 cm LxBxH); formed and mapped out on agricultural soil and left fallow for 6 days before contamination on the seventh day; after which it was allowed for 21 days for proper contamination and exposure to natural environmental factors (to mimic soil crude oil spill site); thereafter nutrients/organics (biostimulating agents) and bioaugmenting organisms were applied. Baseline studies were carried out on soil profile before and after contamination, major parameters monitored and assayed were Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) uptake by plant roots and stem, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and TPH reduction in soil. Other physicochemical properties analyzed in the soil from different plots were pH, Electrical Conductivity, Moisture Content, Total Nitrogen, Available Phosphorus, Potassium, Total Organic Carbon, Plant Height, Iron, Lead and Zinc at regular intervals; days 1, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210 & 240. The rate of phytoremediation was estimated from percentage (%) uptake of Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) in plant roots and stem from day 1 -240; while percentage (%) reduction of TPH and PAHs in soil was estimated from day 1 to the residual at day 240. Results: The test plants decreased significant amount of crude oil as revealed in TPH uptake in their roots and Stem. Mean amount and percentage Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) uptake by Cyperus esculentus roots and stem were; 152.33±50.34mg/kg, 12.57±4.16% and 201.13±8.80mg/kg, 13.27±0.58% respectively; while that of Phyllanthus amarusroots and stem were 141.50±35.62mg/kg, 11.68±2.94% and 174.44±19.98mg/kg, 11.51±1.32% respectively; revealing higher Uptake of TPH in plant stem than roots. From the initial TPH contamination value of 5503.00mg/kg, it was observed that plots planted with Cyperus esculentus (TPH 5492.75±76.36mg/kg) showed higher reduction of TPH from soil than those planted with Phyllanthus amarus(TPH 5449.72±18.27mg/kg); while PAHs degradation/reduction showed a reverse trend with plots planted with Phyllanthus amarus (PAHs 28.72±2.74mg/kg; 60.46±5.77%) higher than plots planted with Cyperus esculentus s (PAHs 25.77±2.12mg/kg, 54.24±4.47%). Conclusion: Plots planted with Cyperus esculentus showed higher reduction of TPH from soil than those planted with Phyllanthus amarus while PAHs degradation/reduction in plots planted with Phyllanthus amarus was higher than plots planted with Cyperus esculentus. TPH uptake was higher in plant stems than roots; more so, plots amended with nutrient supplements showed significant higher percentage reduction in hydrocarbon in the polluted soil than unamended polluted soil. It is therefore recommended that Cyperus esculentus is a suitable plant species for phytoremediation of crude oil contaminated soil with high TPH value while Phyllanthus amarusis the best option in phytoremediation of polluted soil with high PAHs value, both in combination with bio-nutrient supplement.

Download Full-text

Sensitivity of Red Sea circulation to sea level and insolation forcing during the last interglacial

Climate of the Past Discussions ◽

10.5194/cpd-7-1195-2011 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 1195-1233 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

G. Trommer ◽

M. Siccha ◽

E. J. Rohling ◽

K. Grant ◽

M. T. J. van der Meer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sea Level ◽

Red Sea ◽

Planktonic Foraminifera ◽

Gulf Of Aden ◽

Last Interglacial ◽

The Holocene ◽

Circulation Mode ◽

Monsoon Strength ◽

Mis 5E ◽

Mis 5

Abstract. This study investigates the response of Red Sea circulation to sea level and insolation changes during termination II and across the last interglacial, in comparison with termination I and the Holocene. Sediment cores from the central and northern part of the Red Sea were investigated by micropaleontological and geochemical proxies. The recovery of the planktonic foraminiferal fauna following high salinities during MIS 6 took place at similar sea-level stand (~50 m below present day), and with a similar species succession, as during termination I. This indicates a consistent sensitivity of the basin oceanography and the plankton ecology to sea-level forcing. Based on planktonic foraminifera, we find that increased water exchange with the Gulf of Aden especially occurred during the sea-level highstand of interglacial MIS 5e. From MIS 6 to the peak of MIS 5e, northern Red Sea SST increased from 21 °C to 25 °C, with about 3 °C of this increase taking place during termination II. Changes in planktonic foraminiferal assemblages indicate that the development of the Red Sea oceanography during MIS 5 was strongly determined by insolation and monsoon strength. The SW Monsoon summer circulation mode was enhanced during the termination, causing low productivity in northern central Red Sea core KL9, marked by high abundance of G. sacculifer, which – as in the Holocene – followed summer insolation. Core KL11 records the northern tip of the intruding intermediate water layer from the Gulf of Aden and its planktonic foraminifera fauna shows evidence for elevated productivity during the sea-level highstand in the southern central Red Sea. By the time of MIS 5 sea-level regression, elevated organic biomarker BIT values suggest denudation of soil organic matter into the Red Sea and high abundances of G. glutinata, and high reconstructed chlorophyll-a values, indicate an intensified NE Monsoon winter circulation mode. Our results imply that the amplitude of insolation fluctuations, and the resulting monsoon strength, strongly influence the Red Sea oceanography during sea-level highstands by regulating the intensity of water exchange with the Gulf of Aden. These processes are responsible for the observation that MIS 5e/d is characterized by higher primary productivity than the Holocene.

Download Full-text

Biodegradation Potentials of Aspergillus sydowii and Fusarium lichenicola on Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon in an Oilfield Wastewater in Rivers State

Journal of Advances in Microbiology ◽

10.9734/jamb/2019/v19i330194 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Williams, Janet Olufunmilayo ◽

Aleruchi Owhonka

Keyword(s):

Mixed Culture ◽

Contaminated Soils ◽

Petroleum Hydrocarbons ◽

Petroleum Hydrocarbon ◽

Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon ◽

Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons ◽

Aspergillus Sydowii ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Set Up ◽

Rivers State

This study investigated the potential of Aspergillus sydowii and Fusarium lichenicola as mixed cultures in the biodegradation of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons TPHs in oilfield wastewater. Oilfield wastewater was collected from an onshore oil producing platform and biodegradation of total petroleum hydrocarbons was investigated using standard methods. Fungi were isolated from oilfield wastewater contaminated soils obtained from the vicinity of the oil producing platform. Experimental control set-up and treatment with mixed culture of fungal isolates were periodically analyzed on days 7 and 21 intervals for total petroleum hydrocarbon degradation using Gas Chromatography (GC). The total amount of TPHs on day 1 recorded 381. 871 mg/l. The amount of TPHs on days 7 and 21 in the mixed culture of fungi was 108.975 mg/l and 21.105 mg/l respectively while TPHs in control was 342.891 mg/l and 240.749 mg/l respectively. There was a significant difference between the mixed culture and the control on days 7 and 21 at p≤0.05. The results therefore revealed actual and significant reduction of TPHs in the mixed culture. In addition, there was clearance of n-alkanes by the mixed culture. This suggests that fungi have great potentials in biodegradation of TPHs and in remediation of TPH contaminated environments.

Download Full-text