Assessment of petroleum contamination in soil, water, and atmosphere: a comprehensive review

In recent decades, the discovery, extraction, and export of petroleum have significantly strengthened the economy. However, the processes of petroleum exploration, development and production have localized negative impacts on the atmosphere, soil, sediments, surface, groundwater, marine environment, and terrestrial ecosystems. The presence of petroleum hydrocarbons and waste streams has led to environmental pollution that poses risks to human health, affects socioeconomic conditions, and impacts communities in oil-producing countries. It is therefore crucial to promote a deeper understanding of petroleum contamination in soil, water, and atmosphere—an understanding that is actively evolving. The literature will mark a new milestone in the study of petroleum contamination and highlight significant advances in this environmental field. This comprehensive review examines the wide-ranging impacts of petroleum contamination on soil, water, and the atmosphere and aims to identify potential mitigation strategies that can reduce the impact on the environment and human health. Focusing on the latest technologies and practices for petroleum spill monitoring, remediation, and prevention, the report addresses all facets of this issue and helps researchers identify opportunities and gaps. It provides an assessment of the different treatment approaches for the period from 2010 to 2022 and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each technique. Finally, it addresses the challenges that need to be overcome in the detection and treatment of oil spills.