Potential health risk index of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in fish species from Oguta Lake, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Polyaromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides are among the ubiquitous and lipophilic persistent organic pollutants that pose environmental hazards to humans. In this study, four fish of different species; mochokidae, perpyroclanusalpha, cintharinidae and ciclidae, locally known as Okpo, Ubu, Ifuru and Egu, respectively, from Oguta Lake were analysed for poly aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and the data obtained were subjected to some chemometric assessments models. 10 g of each of the samples were subjected to soxhlet extraction using 100 mL of methanol for the extraction of the organic pollutants. The extracts were analysed for PAHs, PCBs and OCPs using Buck 530 Gas Chromatograph. PAHs, PCBs and OCPs were detected in all the samples, however, Ifuru had an equal level of PAHs followed by Ubu and Egu. The total mean for PAH were 18.367 mg/kg. The concentration of PCBs were in the order Okpo> ubu> ifuru > egu with a total mean of 0.0513 mg/kg. Ifuru recorded the highest level of OCPs while Ubu had the lowest with a total mean of 0.0666 mg/kg. Estimated dietary intake (EDI) showed higher in children than in adults for all the pollutants. Okpo showed equal EDI with Ifuru for PAHs followed by Ubu and Egu. EDI for PCBs were in the order Okpo> Ubu> Ifuru> Egu. EDI for OCPs were insignificant except for Ifuru. The health risk analysis showed that consumption of fish from Oguta Lake could pose a non-carcinogenic health hazard especially in children.

KEYWORDS:

• Anthropogenic
• carcinogenic
• environmental
• health
• risk
• persistent organic pollutants

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).