@article{jaem2014263,
author={{V.C., Eze and C.E., Onwuakor and F.E., Orok},
title={Microbiological and Physicochemical Characteristics of Soil Contaminated With Used Petroleum Products in Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria},
journal={Journal of Applied & Environmental Microbiology},
volume={2},
number={6},
pages={281--286},
year={2014},
url={http://pubs.sciepub.com/jaem/2/6/3},
abstract={The discharge of used petroleum products from machines such as power generating sets, vehicles and motorcycles has become a major source of soil pollution around Umuahia metropolis. The objectives of this study were to assess the microbiological and physicochemical characteristics of soils contaminated with used petroleum products. A total of four (4) sampling sites (filling stations, vehicle mechanic workshop, motorcycle workshop and areas around power generating plants) were investigated. The total heterotrophic bacterial and fungal counts ranged from 1.6x10<SUP>7</SUP> to 1.9x10<SUP>8 </SUP>CFU/g and 1.0x10<SUP>7</SUP> to 1.7x10<SUP>7 </SUP>CFU/g respectively. The hydrocarbon utilizing bacterial and fungal counts ranged from 3.8x10<SUP>6</SUP> to 7.8x10<SUP>6 </SUP>CFU/g and 1.0x10<SUP>6</SUP> to 1.4x10<SUP>6 </SUP>CFU/g respectively. The bacterial isolates were <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella </i>spp<i>, Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus </i>spp<i>, Bacillus </i>spp<i>, Citrobacter </i>spp and <i>Streptococcus </i>spp. Fungal isolates included <i>Aspergillus </i>spp<i>, Cladosporium </i>spp<i>, Mucor </i>spp<i>, Rhizopus </i>spp<i> </i>and <i>Geotricum</i> spp. The total organic carbon concentration ranged from 5.20 to 16.74 mg/kg and 4.81 mg/kg for control. The contamination also affected other physicochemical parameters such as sulphate, nitrate and phosphate and ranged from 28.70 to 63.71 mg/kg, 21.73 to 53.79 mg/kg and 1.24 to 3.54 mg/kg respectively compared to the control sample, 11.93 mg/kg, 5.39 mg/kg and 0.64 mg/kg respectively. The contamination increased calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, iron and zinc concentrations compared to the control and caused a reduction in pH. These adverse conditions have impacted negatively on soils around the polluted site could affect nutrient cycles and consequently affect vegetation around the area.},
doi={10.12691/jaem-2-6-3}
publisher={Science and Education Publishing}
}