Dynamics of Microbial Population in Petroleum-Impacted Soils in Automobile Mechanic Workshops in Awka, Nigeria

Research areas:

• Volume 4,Issue 5, Sept. 2017

Year:

2015

Type of Publication:

Article

Keywords:

Microorganisms, Mechanic Workshops, Petroleum, Soil

Authors:

Michael Uchenna Orji; Ikechukwu Okoli; Maria-Mary Chinyere Nwaogo; Tochukwu Nwamaka Theresa Nwagu

Journal:

IJRIES

Volume:

2

Number:

4

Pages:

122-126

Month:

July

BibTex:

@article{85, author = "Michael Uchenna Orji and Ikechukwu Okoli and Maria-Mary Chinyere Nwaogo and Tochukwu Nwamaka Theresa Nwagu", abstract = "Used engine lubricating oil, diesel and petrol (premium motor spirit) used in washing out grease from machine parts in automobile mechanic workshops are routinely discharged into soils within and some meters away from the mechanic workshops on daily basis in Awka, Nigeria. The effect of the used automobile petroleum hydrocarbon discharge on microbial populations in soils within mechanic workshops was assessed. Microbiological analysis of soil samples collected from mechanic workshops that had been in operation for over three years, those in existence for about one year and those abandoned for over one year and also from 2 meters and 1km away from functional mechanic workshops was carried out on monthly basis for six months. Fourteen bacterial genera and eight fungal genera were isolated from soils 1km away from the mechanic workshop while five bacterial genera and five fungal genera were isolated from soils where mechanic activities had been on for over 3 years. Mean heterotrophic bacterial and fungal counts were more in soils 1 km away from mechanic workshop (3.12 x 104 cfu/g, 2.21 x 103 cfu/g for bacteria and fungi respectively) than soils impacted by petroleum product from mechanic activities (0.36 x 104 cfu/g and 0.20 x 103 cfu/g for bacteria and fungi respectively). Mean counts of petroleum hydrocarbon utilizers were higher and more consistent in soils where mechanic activities had been going on for over 3 years. ", journal = "IJRIES", keywords = "Microorganisms, Mechanic Workshops, Petroleum, Soil", month = "July", number = "4", pages = "122-126", title = "{D}ynamics of {M}icrobial {P}opulation in {P}etroleum-{I}mpacted {S}oils in {A}utomobile {M}echanic {W}orkshops in {A}wka, {N}igeria", volume = "2", year = "2015", }

Abstract:

Used engine lubricating oil, diesel and petrol (premium motor spirit) used in washing out grease from machine parts in automobile mechanic workshops are routinely discharged into soils within and some meters away from the mechanic workshops on daily basis in Awka, Nigeria. The effect of the used automobile petroleum hydrocarbon discharge on microbial populations in soils within mechanic workshops was assessed. Microbiological analysis of soil samples collected from mechanic workshops that had been in operation for over three years, those in existence for about one year and those abandoned for over one year and also from 2 meters and 1km away from functional mechanic workshops was carried out on monthly basis for six months. Fourteen bacterial genera and eight fungal genera were isolated from soils 1km away from the mechanic workshop while five bacterial genera and five fungal genera were isolated from soils where mechanic activities had been on for over 3 years. Mean heterotrophic bacterial and fungal counts were more in soils 1 km away from mechanic workshop (3.12 x 104 cfu/g, 2.21 x 103 cfu/g for bacteria and fungi respectively) than soils impacted by petroleum product from mechanic activities (0.36 x 104 cfu/g and 0.20 x 103 cfu/g for bacteria and fungi respectively). Mean counts of petroleum hydrocarbon utilizers were higher and more consistent in soils where mechanic activities had been going on for over 3 years.

Full text: IJRIES_85_Final.pdf Online version