Abstract:
This study assessed the physicochemical characteristics and toxicity of water-accommodated fraction
(WAF) and chemically enhanced WAF (CEWAF) of Bonny Light Crude oil and Dispersit SPC 1000 (dispersant) to Mudskipper fish (Periophthalmus Papilio). There were variations in the levels of the physicochemical parameters. The coefficient of variation (CV) indicated that the temperature show the least variation of 2.24% and salinity the highest 98.12%.Hypothesis test for significant differences at p < 0.05 significance level however, showed that there were no significant differences in the levels of the measured parameters over the 96 hours. All the mudskippers fish samples exposed to the water accumulated water fraction of 10% bonny oil survived beyond 96 hours. An increase in toxicity of the oil was observed after 72-96 hour exposures of the mudskipper to the oil and dispersant CEWAF. For dispersant concentrations of 540 ml/L and 630 ml/L the survival of mudskippers was 80%. These mortalities might be due to the toxic effect of the dispersant, Dispersit SPC 1000.The Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) and the Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) in the test media were respectively 7.66-63.18 ppm and 0.82-5.26 ppm.10% Bonny light crude oil WAF had no effects on mudskipper survival. Exposures to 540 ml/L and 630 ml/L Dispersit SPC 1000 dispersed oil WAF (CEWAF) resulted in 20 % mortality. The lethal dose concentrationwas 885.5 ml/L (88.55%). The lowest observed effect concentration (LOEC) was found to be 540 ml/L
