Distribution, Source Appropriation, and Human Health Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons due to Consumption of Callinectes amnicola from Woji Creek in Sambreiro River

Crabs (Callinectes amnicola) and surface water sampled from the Sambreiro River, Rivers State of Nigeria, were analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons concentrations for four months (December (2019), January, February, and March (2020)). Excess cancer risk due to ingestion of the crabs was assessed for individuals of the age groups: 3 to < 6 years, 16 to < 21 years, 21 to < 50 years, and ≥ 50 years. Although concentrations in surface water (ΣPAH16 = 0.125±011 mg/L) were lower than in the previous study, results obtained revealed considerably higher concentrations of aromatic hydrocarbons in crab tissues (ΣPAH16=10.659±2.399 mg/kg). Hepatopancreas (ΣPAH16=6.590±0.266 mg/kg) accumulated the highest concentration of hydrocarbons followed by the gills (ΣPAH16=2.349±0.029 mg/kg), then the muscles (ΣPAH16=1.720±0.320 mg/kg). Source appropriation results revealed a combination of the petrogenic and pyrogenic contribution of hydrocarbons in the crab tissues. The trend for the toxicity equivalent quotient was hepatopancreas > muscles > gills; while the excess cancer risk exceeded for all age groups, suggesting that humans are at risk of cancer arising from the ingestion of crab species from this study location.