POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS (PAHs) AND HEAVY METALS IN SELECTED DRIED SEA FOODS FROM PORTHARCOURT CITY NIGERIA

Abstract

 Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHS) and heavy metals constitute environmental recalcitrant pollutants which are toxic and carcinogenic. The levels of PAHs and heavy metals (As, Hg, V, Zn, Pb, and Cr) in dried sea foods: prawn (Panaeus monodon), water snail (Bithynia tentaculata), periwinkle (Littorina littorea), conch (Lobatus gallus) and Oyester (Ostrea edulis) were determined. PAHs were determined using GC/FID and the heavy metals were determined using AAS. Total PAHs ranged from 0.170 mg/kg in conch to 0.493 mg/kg in water snail. The highest accumulation of heavy metals determined was Cr with concentration level of 320 ± 40.0mg/kg in periwinkle. Mercury was found in very low levels of < 0.001mg/kg. The values determined were found to be greater than the maximum permissible limit set by WHO. This implies that the consumption of these sea foods by the inhabitants portends danger and possible development of heavy metal and PAH related diseases.

Keywords: Environment, heavy metals, PAHs, Seafoods, toxicity.