Comparative Toxicity of Three Petroleum Products against Benthic Macroinvertebrate Clibanarius africanus of Lagos Lagoon

Comparative toxicity testing of three petroleum products (Kerosene, Petrol and Diesel) were evaluated against hermit crab, Clibanarius africanus (Aurivillus) from University of Lagos Lagoon front within the Lagos Lagoon was carried out in the ecotoxicological laboratory using semi-static toxicity testing technique. The resulting lethal concentration (LC50) for petrol was 22.08 ml/L; which was relatively more toxic compared to kerosene and diesel (33.50 ml/L and 36.08 ml/L) respectively. ANOVA analysis indicates that (P<0.05) was significant difference between the three petroleum products used throughout the acute toxicity test against C. africanus. Duncan test further divulged significant difference (p<0.05) in the mean mortality of the test organisms treated with the three petroleum products at all concentration including the control. The toxicity of the test chemicals increased with the period of exposure. Hence, deliberate or accidental discharges of petroleum products can cause serious hazard to the aquatic biota.