The determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in some foods from industrialized areas in South Eastern Nigeria: human health risk impact

Abstract

This study investigated the potential health risk due to dietary exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) for the populace living around selected industrial areas in the south eastern states of Nigeria. The concentrations of PAHs were measured in edible food crops using Gas Chromatography - Flame Ionization Detection (GC-FID). The mean concentration of PAHs in food crops collected ranged from < 0.01 to 2.64 ± 0.02, 5.27 ± 0.04, 0.96 ± 0.02, 8.94 ± 0.01 and 1.95 ± 0.06 in mg/kg for Osisioma, Ishiagu, Irete, Akwuuru, and Ngwo respectively. PAHs distributions in food samples analyzed in this study showed vegetables to be significant higher (p ≤ 0.05) in the order vegetables > fruits > nuts > tubers. Total PAHs (ΣPAHs) concentrations in most crop samples had highest values 14.49, 36.29, 4.59, 23.36 and 21.8 mg/kg for Chyrysophyllum albidum, Telferia occidentalis, Vernonia amygdalina, Talinum triangulare and Elaies guinnensis for Osisioma, Akwuuru, Irete, Ishiagu and Ngwo respectively. The low molecular weight-PAHS/high molecular weight-PAHS were < 1 with values 0.76, 0.18, 0.28, 0.91 and 0.12 for Osisioma, Irete, Akwuuru, Ishiagu and Ngwo respectively. 58.3% and 71.7% of ΣB(a)P and ΣPAHs in food samples in the study areas exceeded the permissible limits set by DPR and EU. The estimated daily intake of PAHs via the ingestion of food crops were within the tolerable range. The carcinogenic risk values for the food crops were within the predicted permissible lifetime risks of carcinogen (10−6-10−4) for adults and children in Osisioma, Akwuuru, Ishiagu and Enugu respectively. Therefore, this study suggests that the populace around industrialized areas in South Eastern Nigeria, may be at risk due to PAHs exposure through food consumption.

Biomonitoring and Biomathematical Modeling of Health Risks Associated with Dumpsite Grown Vegetables in Lagos State

“…Fe has the maximum level of concentration in all the vegetables from the dumpsites as the values ranged from 0.30 and 2.21 (mg/kg).Alimosho Soulus 2 had the peak of concentration of Fe (2.21 mg/kg) in Amaranthus viridis. High concentration of Fe has also been reported in vegetables grown on such contaminated site as reported by(Wegwu et al 2017;Onyedikachi et al 2018Onyedikachi et al , 2019. Iron is an essential micronutrient necessary for the transport of oxygen round body.…”

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons content of food, water and vegetables and associated cancer risk assessment in Southern Nigeria

“…Concerns about the current environmental PAH status stem from their persistent, toxic, carcinogenic and distribution within different ecosystems. Additionally, their incorporation into the food chain raised a significant threat to the human health [ 31 ] with nearly 30% of human cancer cases linked to low-level PAH exposure through dietary intake [ 17 ]. For the above-presented concerns, this study focused on evaluating the PAH content in various sources such as surface and underground water samples, vegetable oils, palm oils, fresh vegetables, barbecued foods, and their fresh equivalents.…”

Implications of Artisanal Crude Oil Refining on Sustainable Food Production in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

“…Besides oil and gas activities, PAHs can be released into the environment during the incomplete combustion of coal, wood, garbage, or other organic materials [70]. PAH has also been found in seafood from the Niger Delta, like prawns, periwinkle, crab, and oyster [71], as well as in vegetables like Chyrysophyllum albidum, Telferia occidentalis, Vernonia amygdalina, Talinum triangulare, and Elaies guinnensis [72,73]. Furthermore, PAHs have been reported in food sources of men from other parts of Nigeria, including Lagos, in edible vegetables such as Corchorus olitorius, Celosia argentea, Amaranthus cruentus, Telfairia occidentale, Basella alba, Lactuca sativa, Allium ascalonicum, and Talinum triangulare [74].…”