Heavy metals levels in shellfish from Bodo City and B-Dere, Ogoniland, Rivers State, Nigeria, and evaluation of possible health risks to consumers

Abstract

Heavy metals in the environment have proven to be a major health concern, and there are several health risks associated with it. Seafood consumers are particularly prone to these health risks. This study was designed to investigate heavy metal levels in shellfish from Bodo City and B-Dere, Ogoniland, Rivers State, Nigeria, and to evaluate possible human health risks to consumers of shellfish in these coastal regions. Non-carcinogenic health risk for consumption of shellfish were evaluated using the estimated daily intake (EDI) and target hazard quotients (THQs) for Ni, Cr, As, Cd, Pb, and Fe, while carcinogenic health risk from Ni, Cr, Pb, Cd, As, and Ni was also evaluated. EDI was below the threshold values for Cr but exceeded the threshold for Cd, Pb, As, Ni and Fe. THQs for Cr, Cd, Pb, and Ni were below 1 except for Cd in U. tangeri from Bodo City. THQs values for As and Fe were greater than 1 except for Fe level in C. pallidus from Bodo City and U. tangeri from Bodo City and B-Dere. Also, carcinogenic risk (CR) for Cr in all shellfish exceeded the accepted risk level of 10E−4. Cd CR level for C. pallidus, T. fucastus, U. tangeri, and C. gasar collected from Bodo City and B-Dere also exceeded the accepted risk level of 10E−4 for As and Ni. CR risk for Pb was below the acceptable range of 10E−4. Consumers of shellfish from Bodo City and B-Dere may be exposed to hazardous metals contamination over a period of time.