Impacts of petroleum contamination on the chemical characteristics of soil and ground water quality case study of Mombasa joint terminal, Changamwe
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Date
2014-07-28
Authors
Sanga, Kiprono Silas
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Abstract
Soil and ground water contamination with petroleum is becoming an
environmental problem in many parts of Kenya. The problem has become
rampant more so in the petroleum industry where there is storage, transport and
handling of these products. Petroleum is made of hydrocarbons. Any spillage of
petroleum products either impacts on soil or groundwater as it is deposited on the
ground. Studies on the impacts of petroleum hydrocarbons on soil and
groundwater have been researched on and there are numerous impacts on health
and environment of this particular problem. The purpose of this study will be to
establish the impacts of petroleum contamination on the soil and ground water
quality by focusing on Mombasa Joint Terminal, Changamwe. The research study
will seek to answer the following questions: What are the avenues through which
contaminations of soil and groundwater occur at Mombasa Joint Terminal,
Changamwe, what are the contamination levels of soil and groundwater on
Butane, Toluene, Ethylene and Xylene, Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons and Poly
Aromatic Hydrocarbons parameters respectively at Mombasa Joint Terminal,
Changamwe, what is the flow rate and direction of groundwater contaminants at
Mombasa Joint Terminal, Changamwe, How do the levels of Butane, Toluene,
Ethylene and Xylene, Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons and Poly Aromatic
Hydrocarbons parameters compare with regional and global results, standards and
guidelines on petroleum contamination of soil and groundwater. The broad
research objective of the study is to evaluate the effects of contamination of
petroleum on the soil and groundwater quality parameters, and the specific
objectives will be: To determine the avenues through which contamination of soil
and groundwater occur at Mombasa Joint Terminal, Changamwe, to determine the
contamination levels of soil and groundwater oil Butane, Toluene, Ethylene and
Xylene, Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons and Poly Aromatic Hydrocarbons
parameters respectively at Mombasa Joint Terminal, Changamwe, to determine
the flow rate and direction of groundwater contaminants at Mombasa Joint
Terminal, Changamwe and to compare the levels of Butane, Toluene, Ethylene
and Xylene, Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons and Poly Aromatic Hydrocarbons
parameters with regional and global results, standards and guidelines on
petroleum contamination of soil and groundwater. The research hypothesis is that
Petroleum contamination has adverse effects on the quality of soil and ground
water at the Mombasa Joint Terminal, Changamwe and there is a significant
variation between contamination of soil and groundwater. Data collected will be
analyzed by comparing the results to the existing local and global water quality
standards. Results will be presented in form of tables, charts, and graphs.