Concentrations, sources, and exposure risk of polychlorinated biphenyls in soil profiles of the floodplain of the lower reaches of the River Niger, Nigeria

The concentrations of 28 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were determined in soils collected at three depths from thirteen different sites along the floodplain of the lower reaches of the River Niger (LRRN) in Nigeria. The aim of the study was to provide data on the levels of contamination, sources of the contaminants, and risks to the ecosystem and humans. Soil samples were Soxhlet extracted with a solvent mixture of dichloromethane (DCM)/n-hexane and cleaned up on a column packed with Florisil and silica gel. The PCBs in the samples were quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The Ʃ28 PCB concentrations in the floodplain soils varied between not detected (nd) and 11,151 ng g−1 for different sampling sites and depths. The PCB concentrations and homologue distribution patterns in soil profiles of the floodplain of the LRRN showed remarkable differences with respect to sites and depths. The results obtained were used to evaluate the ecological and human health risks, which indicated that there is a potential risk to organisms and humans from exposure to PCBs in these soil profiles. The source evaluation as determined by principal component analysis suggested that PCBs in these soil profiles came from burnt circuit boards, cable wires, use of paints, discharges from transformers, long-range migration, and deposition.