Evaluation of Level of Petroleum Hydrocarbon in Water, Fishes and Plants from Pond and Well in Oghara Community in Delta State, Nigeria

Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) is of immense interest to environmental chemist because they are toxic to human system and animals. Some of the TPH compounds are carcinogenic and poses serious health problem to humans and aquatic life. Hence, there is need for continuous check of the level of TPH in the communities in Niger Delta region of Nigeria were crude oil is being exploited. This research was carried out to investigate the level of TPH in water, plant and fishes from the pond and well located in Oghara community in Delta State, Nigeria. The samples were collected, prepared and TPH extracted and purified using standard analytical methods. The extracts were then concentrated and separately analyzed by capillary gas chromatography with flame ionization detector (GC/FID) after silica gel fractionation. The results revealed that the levels of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) and individual aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons in well and pond samples examined were below the standards of World Health Organization (WHO) and Standard organization of Nigeria (SON) of 0.007 mg/l. Though the samples collected in this community were not polluted by TPH; however there is need of regular monitoring for adequate environmental protection of the water body in this region.