Concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in samples of soil, feed and food collected in the Niger Delta region, Nigeria: A probabilistic human health risk assessment

Esther Amaka Okoye; Beatrice Bocca; Flavia Ruggieri; Anthonett N Ezejiofor; Ify L Nwaogazie; Jose L Domingo; Joaquim Rovira; Chiara Frazzoli; Orish E Orisakwe

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2021.111619

Concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in samples of soil, feed and food collected in the Niger Delta region, Nigeria: A probabilistic human health risk assessment

Environ Res. 2021 Nov:202:111619. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111619. Epub 2021 Jul 13.

Authors

Esther Amaka Okoye¹, Beatrice Bocca², Flavia Ruggieri², Anthonett N Ezejiofor³, Ify L Nwaogazie¹, Jose L Domingo⁴, Joaquim Rovira⁴, Chiara Frazzoli⁵, Orish E Orisakwe⁶

Affiliations

¹ African Centre of Excellence for Oilfield Chemicals Research (ACE-CEFOR), University of Port Harcourt, PMB, 5323, Port Harcourt, Choba, Nigeria.
² Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
³ African Centre of Excellence for Public Health and Toxicological Research (ACE-PUTOR), Nigeria; Department of Experimental Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Port Harcourt, University of Port Harcourt, PMB, 5323, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
⁴ Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat Rovira I Virgili, Sant Llorens 21, 43201, Reus, Catalonia, Spain.
⁵ Department for Cardiovascular, Dysmetabolic and Aging Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
⁶ African Centre of Excellence for Public Health and Toxicological Research (ACE-PUTOR), Nigeria; Department of Experimental Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Port Harcourt, University of Port Harcourt, PMB, 5323, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. Electronic address: orishebere@gmail.com.

PMID: 34265352
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111619

Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widely distributed compounds with two or more fused aromatic ring, being some of them classified as carcinogenic. In the present study, the concentrations of 16 PAHs and the sum of them (∑PAHs) were determined in samples of food, feed, plant and soil collected in six different heavily polluted areas (Choba, Khana, Trans Amadi, Eleme, Uyo and Yenagoa) of the Niger Delta Region (Nigeria). Principal component analysis (PCA) was then used to identify groups of variables (PAHs) and groups of samples that were the best in rendering the environmental pollution in that Region of Nigeria. In addition, PAHs food consumption and the derived carcinogenic risks were assessed in a probabilistic way. The highest ∑PAHs (mg/kg) were: 16.7 in cow meat, 8.06 in goat meat, 25.4 in chicken meat, 7.72 in fish, 28.70 in fish feed, 15.3 in chicken feed, 8.42 in plant, and 8.80 in soil. In most of the Nigerian areas, cooked cow meat, chicken and chicken feed presented the highest impact regarding PAHs contamination. The highest intake of PAHs was through meat consumption, with a very high and unassumable carcinogenic risk, which is quite above 10^-5 for some PAHs, including benzo [a]pyrene. The results of the present survey highlight the importance of reducing PAHs content in food, specially in meat, in the Niger Delta region.

Keywords: Carcinogenic risks; Food intake; Human health; Niger Delta region; Nigeria; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Environmental Monitoring
Humans
Niger
Nigeria
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons* / analysis
Risk Assessment
Soil

Substances

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Soil