Gathuru, G.Sanga, Kiprono Silas2014-07-282014-07-282014-07-28http://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/10694Soil 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.enThesis