Concentration and Risk Assessment Analysis of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Associated with Consuming Procambarus Clarkii (Cray fish) in Nigeria

Crayfish is a fresh water crustacean resembling small lobsters (Procambarus clarkii) that is a rich source of protein. The objective of this study is to assess the environmental toxicants and evaluate the health risks associated with consuming Procambarus clarkii harvested from an oil exploring region. The crayfish samples were sourced by fisher men from Mbo river and sold at Oron beach market in Akwa-Ibom state. It was analysed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using gas chromatography equipped with flame ionization detector (GC-FID). The carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health hazards were estimated for both adult and children using the incremental life cancer risk (ILCR), hazard quotient and hazard index (HQ and HI) models. The concentrations of identified PAHs are as follows: xylene benzo (α) anthracene anthracene pyrene benzo (g-h-i) perylene acenaphthylene dibenzyl (a-h) anthracene naphthalene flouranthene benzo (k) fluoranthene. The prevailing PAHs identified were high molecular weight PAHs (HMW-PAHs) and mainly PAHs with 5 rings. The carcinogenic and mutagenic potency was highest with dibenzo (a-h) anthracene. The non-carcinogenic health hazard (HQ and HI) evaluated were all less than 1. The ILCR evaluated in children showed that consuming dibenzo (a-h) anthracene and benzo (α) anthracene identified in the crayfish have potential risk for cancer since they had a value of 5.51e-3 and 6.09e-3 respectively. This work suggests that children will be at a higher risk of developing cancer since they had a greater evaluated RI (1.16e-2) when compared to adult (1.40e-3).