Characterization and safety evaluation of the impact of hydrocarbon contaminants on ecological receptors.

Hydrocarbon-contaminant removal efficiency of Bambara groundnuts and biomagnification was investigated. The crude oil contaminated soil samples in which the plants were established were either un-amended, or amended with NPK, or Urea, or Poultry manure. Amendments improved phytoextraction rates as follows: Urea - 63.37%, NPK - 65.99%, Poultry - manure - 70.04%, for PAH; Urea - 78.80%, NPK - 79.80%, Poultry manure - 87.90%, for BTEX. Hazard characterization from 28-day feeding study revealed negative effects of potentially toxic BTEX and PAH on organ weight, optimum digestibility and animal growth rate. Sleep time decreased with increasing hydrocarbon concentrations probably due to increased liver enzyme activity.