Distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and sterols in termite nest, soil, and sediment from Great Kwa River, SE Nigeria

Costal sediment samples from Great Kwa River as well as adjoining termite nest and soil samples were analyzed for quantitative determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and sterols using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) in order to access the possibility of transport of biologically produced PAHs/sterols from termite nest to the sediments. The total PAH concentrations (sum of parent and alkyl) for the sediments ranged between 131.96 and 139.35 ng/g dry weight (dw) while those for the nest and soil samples were in the range 9.51–9.71 and 71.85–77.26 ng/g dw, respectively. These levels of PAHs in sediments were relatively low compared to other urban/industrial Asian and American countries. No evidence of the usual biologically produced PAHs was found, thus reducing the likelihood of transport of these compounds from the nest to the sediments. The absence of parent and alkyl PAHs in central compartment of the nest may reflect the selective fern leaves feeding pattern of the dominant termite species prevalent in the vicinity of the study site. Utilization of six selected PAH ratios such as Fla/(Fla + Pyr) (0.4–0.5), Ant/(Ant + Phe) (0.25–0.90), BaA/(BaA + Chrys) (0.45–0.61), MP/P (0.05–6.81), 1,7/(1,7 + 2,6)-DMP (0.61–0.95), and LPAH/HPAH ( 2.80–3.80) allows discrimination of PAH sources for the samples to be made with a mixed source dominance observed. Examination of sterol distributions in the samples shows relatively high abundance of cholest-5-en-3β-ol in central compartment of the nest, considered here as a consequence of metabolic conversion of phyto-/fungi sterols in the tissues of the termite species. The relatively reduced levels of stanol compounds in central compartment of the nest may be associated with their utilization by the termites for growth and development.