Bioaccumulation and health risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon in Pseudotolithus species in the Gulf of Guinea, Ondo State, Nigeria

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are persistent pollutants that accumulate in marine organisms, posing health risks through human consumption. The Gulf of Guinea in Ondo State, Nigeria, influenced by urban runoff and petroleum effluents, provides a critical setting to assess PAH contamination in Pseudotolithus typus and P. elongatus, with implications for food security and public health. Despite their dietary value, species-specific PAH risks remain poorly understood. This study assessed seasonal PAH bioaccumulation in edible tissues and associated human health risks, hypothesizing that accumulation varies by species and season. Sixty specimens per species were collected during the wet (June-August) and dry (November-January) seasons from Awoye, Ayetoro, and Idi-Ogba. Muscle tissues were analyzed for PAHs using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. Risk assessment employed Estimated Daily Intake (EDI), Toxic Equivalency Quotients (TEQ), and Screening Values (SV). EDI revealed elevated intake levels of carcinogenic PAHs, particularly benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[a]pyrene, dibenz[a, h]anthracene, indeno[1,2,3-cd] pyrene, and benzo[g, h,i] perylene. The ∑PAH concentrations in P. typus ranged from 0.134 ng/g (Awoye, wet season) to 0.437 ng/g (Ayetoro, dry season), while P. elongatus ranged from 0.269 ng/g (Awoye, wet season) to 0.921 ng/g (Idi-Ogba, dry season). Although concentrations were below the European Commission permissible limit (12.00 µg/kg), TEQ values (0.116-86.10 µg/kg for P. typus; 0.25-87.30 µg/kg for P. elongatus) exceeded the SV threshold of 0.00690 µg/kg, indicating potential carcinogenic risks. These findings suggest that consumption of P. typus and P. elongatus may pose long-term health concerns. Continuous monitoring and consumption advisories are recommended to safeguard coastal communities.