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Risk assessment of human exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons via shrimp (Macrobrachium felicinum) consumption along the Imo River catchments, SE Nigeria

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Abstract

Shrimp species (Macrobrachium felicinum) collected from estuarine mangrove area of the Imo River is an important route of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The estuarine associated sediment (EAS) composited sample showed higher TPAH, ΣAlkyl, ΣPAHcarc and ΣPAHEPA concentrations (550.84, 172.36, 413.17 and 482.11 ng/g dry weight—dw) than their mean concentrations in shrimp samples (509.39 ± 354.21, 31.38 ± 18.49, 52.10 ± 1.35 and 460.06 ± 330.76 ng/g wet weight—ww), respectively. Among the individual PAHs congeners, phenanthrene was the dominant species detected in the EAS accounting for 21.02 % of the total PAH load and the decreasing order of 3- > 2- > 5- > 4- > 6-ring contamination was found. A different pattern predominated by naphthalene was observed for the shrimp species, suggesting that the organisms have different selectivity for a range of PAHs congeners. These variations may be attributed to different degree of bioavailability of these compounds, characteristic sandy lithology of the EAS and the protective capacity of soot particles associated with liquid fossil fuel combustion masking the uptake of high molecular weight PAHs by the organisms. Cancer risk associated with consumption of shrimps in the region was assessed using estimated daily intake (EDI) and compared with standards. The EDI values for naphthalene, benzo(a)pyrene and ∑PAHcarc were lower than the USEPA benchmarks and EFSA levels of concern values for adult and children population, suggesting low probability of developing cancer.

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Acknowledgments

We are sincerely thankful to the European Association of Organic Geochemists (EAOG) for the financial support that made this research work possible. We are also grateful for the financial support and excellent scientific equipment provided by the Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, Spanish Council of Scientific Research (CSIC) Barcelona, Spain and ADECYTE.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental/Petroleum Geochemistry Research Group, Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria

    Miranda I. Dosunmu, Inyang O. Oyo-Ita & Orok E. Oyo-Ita

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  1. Miranda I. Dosunmu
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  2. Inyang O. Oyo-Ita
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  3. Orok E. Oyo-Ita
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Correspondence to Inyang O. Oyo-Ita.

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Dosunmu, M.I., Oyo-Ita, I.O. & Oyo-Ita, O.E. Risk assessment of human exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons via shrimp (Macrobrachium felicinum) consumption along the Imo River catchments, SE Nigeria. Environ Geochem Health 38, 1333–1345 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-016-9799-z

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