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ORIGINAL RESEARCH
A Study of Microbiological Contamination
and Metal Toxicity from Artisanal Crude
Oil Refining on Ecosystem Health
1
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University,
Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
2
King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
3
Department of Agricultural Engineering, Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro, 1334111, Nigeria
4
Department of Civil and Water Resources Engineering, Delta State University of Science and Technology,
Ozoro, 1334111, Nigeria
5
Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Delta State University of Science and Technology,
Ozoro, 1334111, Nigeria
6
Department of Electrical Engineering, Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro, Nigeria
7
Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Sciences, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
8
Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 21959, Saudi Arabia
9
Department of Chemistry, Preparatory Year Program, Batterjee Medical College, P.O. Box 6231, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
10
Department of Biology, College of Science, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
11
Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, SAU
12
Chemistry Department, College of Science, Taibah University, Al-Madinah Al Munawarah, P.O. Box 30002, Saudi Arabia
13
Department of Biology, Al-Jumum University College, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
Submission date: 2024-08-19
Final revision date: 2024-10-03
Acceptance date: 2024-11-10
Online publication date: 2025-01-29
Publication date: 2026-01-29
Corresponding author
Rokayya Sami
Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Sciences, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Sciences, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2026;35(1):43-58
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
This research aimed to examine the environmental consequences of crude petroleum refining
processes. Water and air samples, taken from locations both near and far from artisanal oil refinery
areas, were analyzed following approved procedures. The results obtained revealed that the operation of
artisanal oil refineries had substantial environmental impacts. It was noted that water samples from highincidence
areas exhibited the highest levels of TPH (mean ~561 μg/L), potentially toxic metals, HUB
(mean ~31.33 cfu/mL), and HUF (mean ~16.87 cfu/mL). However, water samples in the high-incidence
area had the lowest electrical conductivity and dielectric constant values. Similarly, the highest levels of VOCs, SO₂, CH₄, NO₂, CO, and NH₃, along with the lowest O₃ values, were recorded in high-emission
zones. In rainwater and surface water, potentially toxic metal concentrations followed this pattern:
Zn>Cu>Ni>Pb>Cd>As and Zn>Cu>Ni>Pb>Cd>As>Hg, respectively. The TCR values indicated that the
metal concentrations were within the tolerable carcinogenic risk range, while the non-carcinogenic risks
were within acceptable levels (HI<1). The findings of this study emphasized the importance of fostering
a cleaner environment and identifying the basic pollution caused by human activities.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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