PAH EXPOSITION AND CARCINOGENICITY RISK EVALUATION IN SOILS FROM NIGER DELTA, NIGERIA

Abstract

Environmental pollution has become a cross-cutting issue in recent decades, garnering the attention of governments, governmental agencies, the general public, and scientific communities, and (PAHs) is one of the biggest hazards to public health. PAHs were evaluated in Niger Delta soils using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique to assess their distribution, exposure, and carcinogenicity risk. The SS1 location in the city had the highest amounts of PAH. The toxic equivalency factor (TEF), incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCRs) and as well as a global comparison analysis was employed. The results showed that three city sample locations surpassed the clean-up standards for BaP, 0.1 mg/kg, according to the data. Carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are those polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) determined as Group A (known human) and Group B (probable) carcinogens and currently seven PAHs classified probable human carcinogens (Group B2). The majority of the risk associated with PAHs is attributed to benzo (a) pyrene and a few other PAHs. The results further revealed that six out of the seven HMW PAHs are known human carcinogens. The results of this study were found to be within permissible levels recommended. However, the authors strongly advocate a remediation alternative aiming at decontaminating the PAH-polluted soils at SS1, SS3, and SS2.