TITLE:
Determination of Nonylphenol, Octylphenol and Bisphenol-A in Water and Sediments of Two Major Rivers in Lagos, Nigeria
AUTHORS:
Adebola A. Oketola, Taiwo K. Fagbemigun
KEYWORDS:
Endocrine Disrupting Compounds; Surface Water; Sediment; Pollution
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Environmental Protection,
Vol.4 No.7A,
July
9,
2013
ABSTRACT:
The continuous uncontrolled discharge of
pollutants into aquatic systems in developing countries like Nigeria has
prompted a more sensitive assessment of the level of pollutants inhabiting the
environment. Sediments and waters of River Ogun and River Ibeche in
southwestern part of Nigeria were collected and analysed for 4-t-Octyphenol
(4-t-OP), 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) and Bisphenol-A (BPA), that have been shown to
possess endocrine-disrupting properties. Prior to analysis by GC-MS technique,
targeted compounds were extracted from samples by ultrasonication and
liquid-liquid extraction, respectively. Physicochemical properties of the
samples such as temperature, pH, total organic carbon and particle size
distribution were also determined. 4-NP and 4-t-Op were detected in all the
water samples with concentration ranging between 43.9 ng/L - 79.4 ng/L and 57.1
ng/L - 68.6 ng/L, respectively. No trace of BPA was found in all the water
samples collected. However, BPA in sediment samples from both rivers ranged
from non detectable to ≤0.4 ng/g, while 4-t-OP and 4-NP were between 2.2 ng/g - 24.5 ng/g
and 1.1 ng/g - 79.4 ng/g, respectively. The presence of these compounds in
surface water and sediments may be attributed to the release of pollutants into
the studied rivers from both domestic and industrial activities. Further
studies are however needed to investigate the potential ecological and health effects
of these compounds on aquatic organisms that inhabit the rivers.