article · Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances
This research assesses the presence and dispersion of hydrocarbon contaminants around the Kaduna Refinery Petrochemical Corporation in Nigeria, an industrial site known for historical spills. Investigators paired hydrochemical testing with electrical resistivity imaging to evaluate groundwater quality and subsurface contamination. Chemical testing focused on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, total petroleum hydrocarbons, and heavy metals. The measured levels largely fell within established safety thresholds set by the World Health Organization and local petroleum authorities, though a small number slightly surpassed these limits. Simultaneously, subsurface resistivity measurements revealed high anomalies in topsoil layers, demonstrating that contamination is predominantly clustered near the ground surface. Combining geophysical methods with standard water testing offers an integrated approach to identify subsurface pollution and support ongoing environmental oversight in industrial zones.
Petroleum refining provides critical energy resources but can lead to ground and water contamination. Elevated levels of hydrocarbons and heavy metals threaten local groundwater safety and public health. Demonstrating that combined electrical mapping and water testing can pinpoint shallow pollutants helps authorities and industrial operators track hazardous spills before contaminants penetrate deeper drinking water supplies.
The integrated methodology could be applied by environmental consulting firms, refinery operators, and environmental regulators to improve contamination tracking and compliance monitoring. The technique represents applied and tested field research using existing analytical and geophysical tools, demonstrating direct utility for site assessment and remediation planning at active industrial and petrochemical facilities.
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• The environmental impact of hydrocarbon was exploited via Hydro-chemical and resistivity data. • Resistivity surveys exploit subsurface anomalies due to hydrocarbon contaminants. • The levels of heavy metals, PAHs and TPH presence in the regional groundwater were examined. • Health implications of hydrocarbon contaminants examined alongside the international standard Hydrocarbons no doubt remain a major wheel of global energy and economic development. However, the insidious environmental impact of hydrocarbon contaminants (HCCs) presents a pressing concern due to the potential health risks associated with elevated levels of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH), and heavy metals (HMs). This study investigates the impact of HCCs at the Kaduna Refinery Petrochemical Corporation (KRPC) in Nigeria, a site selected due to its history of spills and high potential for contamination. The primary goal was to evaluate both the levels and distribution of HCCs in the area, utilizing hydro-chemical analysis and electrical resistivity imaging (ERI) to measure contaminant concentration and spatial spread. Analytical results indicated PAH levels ranging between 0.65 and 1.47 µg/l, TPH concentrations of (0.3421 - 0.5716) µg/l, and HM values from 0.038 to 1.711 mg/l, many falling within and few slightly exceed safety thresholds, established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Nigeria’s National Directorate of Petroleum Resources (NDPR). ERI data also showed significant anomalies in topsoil resistivity, with values between 5000 and 50000 Ωm, far exceeding the typical regional range of 300–3000 Ωm, indicating notable contamination concentrated near the surface. Although contamination levels relatively align with regulatory standards, continued monitoring is strongly recommended to prevent potential long-term impacts. This study demonstrates the significance of integrating hydrochemical and geophysical methods for detailed environmental assessments, enhancing contamination detection, guiding sustainable environmental management and regulatory enforcement.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.hazadv.2025.100853
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