Determination of Nonylphenol, Octylphenol and Bisphenol-A in Water and Sediments of Two Major Rivers in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

The continuous uncontrolled discharge of pollutants into aquatic systems in developing countries like Nigeria has prompted a more sensitive assessment of the level of pollutants inhabiting the environment. Sediments and waters of River Ogun and River Ibeche in southwestern part of Nigeria were collected and analysed for 4-t-Octyphenol (4-t-OP), 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) and Bisphenol-A (BPA), that have been shown to possess endocrine-disrupting properties. Prior to analysis by GC-MS technique, targeted compounds were extracted from samples by ultrasonication and liquid-liquid extraction, respectively. Physicochemical properties of the samples such as temperature, pH, total organic carbon and particle size distribution were also determined. 4-NP and 4-t-Op were detected in all the water samples with concentration ranging between 43.9 ng/L - 79.4 ng/L and 57.1 ng/L - 68.6 ng/L, respectively. No trace of BPA was found in all the water samples collected. However, BPA in sediment samples from both rivers ranged from non detectable to 0.4 ng/g, while 4-t-OP and 4-NP were between 2.2 ng/g - 24.5 ng/g and 1.1 ng/g - 79.4 ng/g, respectively. The presence of these compounds in surface water and sediments may be attributed to the release of pollutants into the studied rivers from both domestic and industrial activities. Further studies are however needed to investigate the potential ecological and health effects of these compounds on aquatic organisms that inhabit the rivers.

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A. Oketola and T. Fagbemigun, "Determination of Nonylphenol, Octylphenol and Bisphenol-A in Water and Sediments of Two Major Rivers in Lagos, Nigeria," Journal of Environmental Protection, Vol. 4 No. 7A, 2013, pp. 38-45. doi: 10.4236/jep.2013.47A005.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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