Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediment and two tilapia fish species with the health risk of their consumption of the Shatt Al-Arab River, Basrah, Iraq

PAHs are toxic pollutants that endanger human health and the environment. This study aimed to assess the PAH levels in sediment and two tilapia species of Oreochromis niloticus and Coptodon zillii in the Shatt Al-Arab River along the Basrah City, southern Iraq, from May to October 2021. In addition, the risk to human health from fish was calculated using dietary daily intake and the carcinogenic potencies of PAH concentrations. Sixteen PAH congeners were found in sediment and fish samples. The total PAH concentrations in sediment and fish samples ranged from 37.46 to 76.33 µg/g dry weight and 23.55 to 55.81 µg/g wet weight. The total concentration pattern of PAHs was as follows: Sediment O. niloticus C. zillii. PAH levels in the fish s dietary intake were 0.00866 mg/kg body weight/day for 8 PAHs and 0.01288 mg/kg body weight/day for 16 PAHs, respectively. The TEQ (0.0025888 mg/kg body weight/day) exceeded the SV (0.677 ng/g wet weight) of the USEPA.