*1,5Igborgbor J. C., 2,5Imarhiagbe E. E., 3,5Okolafor F. I. and 4,5Ekhaise, F. O
1Department of Microbiology, University of Delta, Agbor, Delta State
2Department of Environmental Management and Toxicology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City.
3Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City.
4Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City.
5Applied and Environmental Bioscience and Public Health Research Group, Dept. of Microbiology, University of Benin, Benin City.
*Corresponding author: jude.igborgbor@unidel.edu.ng, doi.org/10.55639/607.1423
ABSTRACT
Auto-mechanic workshops are major concerns due to the repeated discharge of spent engine oil to the receiving soil. This study investigated the qualities of soil samples from an auto-mechanic workshop located in Orubor, Abgor, Delta State, Nigeria. The collected soil (n=36) was characterized for physicochemical and bacteriological quality using standard procedures. The physicochemical results wet season were pH (5.25 ± 0.07 to 6.15 ± 0.07), electrical conductivity (45.0 ± 7.07 to 165 ± 7.07 µS/cm), organic carbon (1.53 ± 0.42 to 10.1 ± 0.16 %), nitrogen (0.05 ± 0.00 to 0.44 ± 0.01 %), phosphorus (0.69 ± 0.05 to 5.20 ±0.02 mg/kg) and total hydrocarbon content (151 ± 1.41 to 572 ± 3.53 mg/kg). The dry season recorded pH (4.78 ± 0.04 to 5.73 ± 0.04), electrical conductivity (44.1 ± 6.29 to 1.62 ± 4.60 µS/cm), organic carbon (1.21 ± 0.07 to 7.52 ± 0.13 %), nitrogen (0.47 ± 0.00 to 0.58 ± 0.00 %), phosphorus (0.90 ± 0.57 to 6.79 ± 0.09 mg/kg) and total hydrocarbon content (98.9 ± 0.44 to 373 ± 6.36 mg/kg). There was no significant difference (p˃0.05) in the physicochemical parameters concerning the sampling periods. The total heterotrophic bacterial and total naphthalene utilizing bacterial counts were 9.67 ± 1.04 × 105 cfu/g and 5.40 ± 0.88 × 105 cfu/g respectively. The major bacterial isolates were Serratia, Pseudomonas, Enterococcus, and Providencia spp. Findings from this study revealed the necessity for public education and stricter waste management practices within auto-mechanic workshops to stem the negative effects of spent auto-engine oil pollution in the ecosystem
Keywords:
Auto-mechanic,
Physicochemical,
Total-Heterotrophic
Bacteria,
Workshop