Assessment of seasonal variation in distribution, source identification, and risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-contaminated sediment of Ikpoba River, South-South Nigeria.

The study aims to assess the seasonal variation in distribution, source identification, and risk of 20 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (20 PAHs) in the sediment of the Ikpoba River, south-south Nigeria. The PAHs were extracted in an ultrasonic bath with a mixture of n-hexane and dichloromethane (1:1 v/v). The extract was cleaned by silica-alumina gel mixed with anhydrous NaSO in a chromatography column, eluted by n-hexane, and analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.