DISTRIBUTIONS OF FOSSIL FUEL BIOMARKERS IN SEDIMENTS AS PROXIES FOR PETROLEUM CONTAMINATION OF COASTAL ENVIRONMENT OF THE NIGER DELTA, SOUTHEASTERN NIGERIA

Hopane and sterane derivatives typical of mature sedimentary organic matter, such as petroleum, were quantified in recent sediments from coastal areas of the Niger Delta of Nigeria using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique. The distributions of the 17 (H)-hopane series and the presence of relatively high amounts of 18β (H)-oleanane in our samples are as found in petroleum, suggesting possible contamination by crude oils. Biomarker diagnostic ratios based on the fossil fuel biomarkers detected in our samples confirmed petroleum contamination of the Niger Delta coastal environment.