TITLE:
Post-Remediation Evaluation of Heavy Metals and Hydrocarbon Interactions in the Olero-Abiteye Oil Spill Corridor, Niger Delta
AUTHORS:
Akinyemi Olufemi Ogunkeyede, Sarah Oritseweyimi Ukuti, Oluwadamilare Hussein Orekoya, Cosby Olaoluwa Oni, Preye Tawari-Fufeyin
KEYWORDS:
Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH), Heavy Metals, Post-Remediation Soil Contamination, Seasonal Variation, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Niger Delta Oil Spill
JOURNAL NAME:
International Journal of Geosciences,
Vol.16 No.9,
September
9,
2025
ABSTRACT: This study presents a post-remediation assessment of soil quality at the Olero-Abiteye oil spill corridor in the Niger Delta, following intervention via evacuation and Enhanced Natural Attenuation (ENA) techniques. The investigation evaluates the persistence and interactions of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) and heavy metals across two soil depths (0 - 15 cm and 15 - 30 cm) and two seasons (wet and dry), in comparison with control samples. Results indicate that TPH concentrations remain significantly elevated across all sampled horizons, with dry season surface soils recording 3945.14 ± 1342.22 mg/kg—well above the EGASPIN intervention threshold of 500 mg/kg. Heavy metals, notably copper (Cu), also exceeded permissible limits in all depths and seasons, with Risk Quotients (RQ) consistently greater than 1.0. Multivariate analyses reveal strong correlations (r > 0.75, p