Estimation of human health risk from exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHS) through dietary intake of fish and shellfish from Coal beach, Bonny River, Southern Nigeria

Abstract

Dietary intake is one of the major human exposure pathways to PAHs. Consequently, the objective of the study was to estimate possible human health risk from consumption associated with PAHs concentrations in fish (Mullet fish-Mugil cephalus) and shellfish (Tiger prawn-Penaeus monodon and crab-Uca tangeri) samples, from Coal Beach, a landing site for fish catch along Bonny River, Southern Nigeria. Fish samples were observed to record the highest total mean PAH concentration of 0.126 mg/kg with total carcinogenic PAHs accounting for 47.3% of the total PAHs The highest average concentration of 0.060, 0.033 and 0.021 mg/kg was observed for benzo(a)anthracene in fish, prawn and crab respectively. Consumption of fish contributed to the highest intake of PAHs with carcinogenic PAHs accounting for 47% of the total estimated dietary intake. The estimated daily intake of PAHs in all the species analysed were however observed to be lower than the reference dose (RfD) indicating low risk through  consumption. However, further risk assessment using individual carcinogenic potencies, revealed that individual carcinogenic potencies for benzo(a)anthracene and benzo(a)pyrene in fish and shellfish exceeded the guideline screening value for human consumption indicating a high potential for carcinogenic risk.

Keywords: PAHs, Fish, Shellfish, Health risk