HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS IN BOBO CROAKER (Pseudotolithus elongatus) FROM THE BONNY RIVER, RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

The sudden death of thousands of Pseudotolithus elongatus in the first quarter of the year 2020 was an indication of elevated effluent contamination. The study was aimed at evaluating the human health risk of human exposure Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH)s to P. elongatus exposed to contaminants in Bonny River. Thirty-six P. elongatus and eighteen controls were sampled from the Bonny River in two seasons, (Wet season and Dry season) and analyzed for PAHs using Gas Chromatography - Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID). Risk assessment of PAHs for the Dietary Daily Intake (DDI), carcinogenic potencies[(B(A)Pteq)], PAH4 index, Carcinogenic toxic equivalents (TEQ) and Excess Cancer Risk Index (ECR) was evaluated. DDI of PAHs indicates 1.4E-03 in Chrysene and Indeno (1,2,3) pyrene for wet season, and 1.1E-03 during the dry season. PAH4 revealed 0.065mg/kg in wet season and 0.23 mg/kg in dry season which are significantly above EU standard of 0.03mg/kg. B(A)Pteq in Dibenzo (a,h)anthracene (6.2E-02 and 0.22) were also higher than the EU standard. TEQs values were 0.23 mg/kg and 6.5E-02 were above the SV of 5.55E-03mg/kg which indicates potential toxicity. Result of the present studies indicates that there could be high potential PAHs human health risk associated with the consumption of Bobo Croaker (Pseudotolithus elongatus) from Bonny River.