Comparative Profiling and Bioaccumulation of PAHs in Soil and Talinum triangulare Harvested from Charcoal Production Areas in Southern Nigeria

This study investigated the comparative profiling and bioaccumulation of PAHs in soil and Talinum triangulare harvested from charcoal production areas in Southern Nigeria. T. triangulare was cultivated in three sites (1, 2 and 3) in a charcoal production environment for seven weeks. Plant and soil samples were collected and prepared for PAHs analysis using GC–MS. Results showed that PAHs were most abundant in the soil of site 1. The 3–rings PAHs were predominant in sites 1 and 2. Contamination classification of PAHs showed that all three experimental sites were heavily polluted with PAHs. The results also indicated that sites 1 and 2 had higher percentage of Low molecular weight PAHs (LMW PAHs) while heavy molecular weight PAHs (HMW PAHs) were higher in site 3. The ratios of LMW PAHs / HMW PAHs and that of fluoranthene / pyrene in all experimental sites denoted petrogenic origin of PAHs. However, values obtained for phenanthrene / anthracene indicated pyrolytic origin of PAHs. The proportion of the seven carcinogenic PAHs was similar in sites 1, 2 and 3 while the biological concentration factor showed the naphthalene and fluoranthene were concentrated by roots of Talinum triangulare in site 2 while Indenol[1,2,3-cd] pyrene in site 3.