The hydrocarbon levels and physico-chemical properties of the Ebocha -8 was determined six months after the spill incident to determine the extent of pollution. The affected area was mapped into (200m x 200m) quadrant and samples were collected using the grid method from three replicate quadrants at two depths, surface (0-15cm) and subsurface (15-30cm). An unpolluted site which is 50m away from the spill site but within same geographical location was also sampled and used as reference. The physico-chemical properties of soil such as pH, conductivity, moisture content, chloride, total acidity, sulphate were determined using standard analytical methods. Also the hydrocarbon level of the impacted soil was also determined at 95% confidence limit. The results for surface, subsurface and reference samples are: pH (6.50 ± 0.21, 6.48 ± 0.20 & 5.33 ± 1.16), Conductivity (2844.85 ± 157.2, 2072 ± 97.12 & 14.0 ± 4.95), moisture content (15.40 ± 1.09, 12.78 ± 0.81& 5.82 ± 1.59), Total acidity (782.06 ± 33.62, 4328 ± 2.42 & 85.60 ± 30.37), Chloride (973.94 ±55.63, 366.06 ±17.29 & 56.00 ±17.76), Sulphate (1.06 ± 0.10, 0.25 ± 0.02 & 0.60 ± 0.37), Total Organic carbon (2.84 ± 0.13, 3.57 ± 0.12 & 3.56 ± 0.75), Total Organic Matter (4.90 ± 0.22, 6.15 ± 0.21 & 6.14 ± 1.30 ) mg/kg and Total Hydrocarbon Content (19837.12 ±1465.05, 1672.37 ± 113.67& 50.0 ± 10) mg/kg. The high values of the results from surface and sub- surface soils respectively are not unconnected with pollution. Immediate depollution measures and liming is therefore recommended to rehabilitate the impacted area.
