Abstract
Dietary intake of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and heterocyclic amines (HCA) has posted a great health risk as they have been identified as a most potent human carcinogen. Microbial quality of food is also of concern as they contribute to food poisoning and infection. Sixty food samples comprising roasted yam, plantain, grilled and smoked fish and meat were randomly sampled from Lagos and Ogun State, Nigeria, and the PAHs, HCAs contents and microbial load were determined. Isolates were subjected to antibiogram assay. The pH of the samples ranged between 5.08 and 7.49, titrable acidity was in the range of 0.50 and 1.20. Staphylococcus, Bacillus, Micrococcus, Proteus, Pseudomonas, Citrobacter and Klebsiella sp. had been identified. Antibiogram revealed that the isolates were multi-resistant and most resistant to ceftazidime, cloxacillin and tetracycline and more susceptible to ofloxacin. PAHs were detected in some grilled, roasted and smoked samples and with the highest concentrations 314.85 and 139.97 µg/g Dibenzene[a,h]anthracene established in roasted yam and smoked fish samples. Only 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) was detected in grilled fish and meat samples. This study therefore established the presence of chemical and microbial contaminants in some of the food items investigated. It recommended that strict sanitary practices and appropriate cooking methods be enforced during food preparation. Key words: Antibiogram, carcinogens, hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP), heterocyclic amines, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, Nigeria.
Highlights
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a large group of chemically inert, hydrophobic compounds consisting of three or more condensed aromatic rings soluble in organic solvents which are ubiquitous in the environment as a result of incomplete combustion of organic materials during industrial processing and various human activities (Ishizaki et al, 2010; Wretling et al, 2010)
Polycyclic hydrocarbons and heterocyclic amines have been identified as a most potent human carcinogen (Jamin et al, 2013; Purcaro et al, 2013). Due to their mutagenic and carcinogenic effects, PAHs have been listed on the priority pollutant list of several agencies including the Agency for Toxic Substances and Diseases Register (ASTDR), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) (Yusuf et al, 2015)
The results of antibiotics sensitivity test obtained from the isolates revealed that the isolates were multi-resistant to the antibiotics, with Pseudomonas, S. aureus and Micrococcus sp. having the highest rates of multiresistance
Summary
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a large group of chemically inert, hydrophobic compounds consisting of three or more condensed aromatic rings soluble in organic solvents which are ubiquitous in the environment as a result of incomplete combustion of organic materials during industrial processing and various human activities (Ishizaki et al, 2010; Wretling et al, 2010). Polycyclic hydrocarbons and heterocyclic amines have been identified as a most potent human carcinogen (Jamin et al, 2013; Purcaro et al, 2013). Due to their mutagenic and carcinogenic effects, PAHs have been listed on the priority pollutant list of several agencies including the Agency for Toxic Substances and Diseases Register (ASTDR), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) (Yusuf et al, 2015)
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