TITLE:
Dietary Intake, Carcinogenic and Non-Carcinogenic Risk Potentials of Lead, Cadmium, Mercury and Arsenic Exposure via Consumption of Dried Crayfish in Calabar, Nigeria
AUTHORS:
Udiba U. Udiba, Michael O. Odey, Udeme U. Udofia, Ekom R. Akpan, John Ama, Ekpo. E. Antai, Monica U. Dan
KEYWORDS:
Oil Industry, Heavy Metals, Crayfish, Human Health Risk, Carcinogenic, Non-Carcinogenic
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.10 No.8,
August
31,
2022
ABSTRACT: Intense
pressure from both onshore and offshore oil exploration and exploitation
activities, together with the accompanying urbanization and industrialization
has resulted in massive contamination of land and water resources in Niger
Delta, Nigeria. Whereas crayfish is very sensitive to contaminant in the aquatic environment and constitute an important
part of human diet, its quality and
safety from environmental pollutant is of serious health concern. Evaluation of dietary intake, potential
carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk of
lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic exposure via consumption of dried crayfish
purchased from major markets in Calabar, Nigeria was carried out between June and August 2021. Thirty-six
composite samples of dried crayfish purchased from 180 vendors were used for the study. Heavy metals concentrations
were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (Model AA-6800, Japan) after wet digestion. Metals
concentrations (Mg/kg) were of the ranges 0.02 - 0.24, 0.14 - 0.86, 0.32 - 0.72, 0.04 - 0.19 for Pb, Cd, Hg and As respectively. The mean content of cadmium and mercury exceeded FAO/ WHO and
Commission of European Communities maximum levels for crustaceans. Average
Estimated Daily Intake for each of the metals was found to be above the
recommended daily intake level except for arsenic. The average estimated daily
intake values for Cd and Hg were also above the tolerable upper intake level.
Average Target Hazard Quotient of all the metals and Hazard Index of all the markets were below 1.00. The Incremental
Lifetime Cancer Risk of the metals was greater than the standard tolerable regulatory risk
(10-4) for carcinogens. Consumption of crayfish purchased from major
markets in Calabar could pose a range of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic human health risks.