High concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons found in water and sediments of car wash and kisat areas of Winam Gulf, Lake Victoria-Kenya
Abstract/ Overview
Mean concentrations of selected USEPA priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
(PAHs) in surface sediments and water samples from Car Wash and Kisat areas of Winam
Gulf, Lake Victoria in Kenya have been determined using GC-FID and GC-MS. Sampling
was done during the rainy season in April 2006. The PAH concentrations in sediment and
water ranged from 0.04 to 31.95 μg/g dry weight and 3.32 to 55.8 μg/L, respectively,
depending upon the sampling location. The total concentration levels of PAHs in both the
sediment and water phase in this study were found to be much higher compared with those
reported from other regions worldwide, revealing significant PAH pollution of Car Wash and
Kisat areas of Kisumu city bay as a consequent of anthropogenic activities as described in
the text. The GC-detected PAHs were confirmed by GC-MS.
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- Department of Chemistry [326]