An extensive investigation on human risk associated with PAHs in fish and sediment in Bushehr, Northern of Persian Gulf

Abstract

Here, a comprehensive study was designed to estimate the human risk assessment attributed to exposure of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)in sediment and fish in most polluted shore area in north of Persian Gulf. To this end, a total of 20 sediment and inhabitual Fish, as one of most commercial fish, samples were randomly collected from 20 different stations along Bushehr Province coastline. The 16 different components of PAHs were extracted from sediment and edible parts of inhabitual fish and measured with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography (GC), respectively. In addition, dietary daily intake (DDI) values of PAHs via ingestion Indian halibut and the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) attributed to human exposure to sediments PAHs via (a) inhalation, (b) ingestion, and (c) dermal contact for two groups of ages: children (1–11 years) and adults (18–70 years) were estimated. The results indicated that all individual PAHs except for Benzo(b)flouranthene (BbF) and Benzo(ghi) perylene (BgP) were detected in different sediment sample throughout the study area with average concentration between 2.275 ± 4.993 mg.kg–1 dw. Furthermore, Naphthalene (Nap) with highest average concentration of 3.906 ± 3.039 mg.kg–1 dw was measured at the Indian halibut. In addition, the human risk analysis indicated that excess cancer risk (ECR) attributed to PAHs in sediment and fish in Asaluyeh with high industrial activities on oil and derivatives were higher the value recommended by USEPA (10−6). Therefore, a comprehensive analysis on spatial distribution and human risk assessment of PAHs in sediment and fish can improve the awareness on environmental threat in order to aid authorities and decision maker to find a sustainable solution.