Health Risk Assessment of Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Oruma River, Bayelsa State

James Bobby Yibatoro-iyela 1 ,
Ugom Michael Kenneth 2 ,
 
Nnaukwu Chimezie 2 ,
Daniel Edu Kanu 2 ,
Ikechukwu Gospel Chibuzor 2
1 Department of Environmental Management, University of Africa Toru-Orua, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
2 Centre for Environmental Management and Green Energy (CEMAGE), University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Nigeria.

International Journal of Sustainable Technology, Environmental Sciences and Conservation (IJSTESC)
Volume 1, Issue 1, Pages 22 - 33
Published: 28 August 2025

Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are known hydrocarbon contaminants commonly found in our environment from both anthropogenic and natural activities. PAHs are very persistent group of compounds from petroleum hydrocarbon that can stay in the environment (both land and water) for a very long time. These PAHs are known to have carcinogenic properties that are dangerous to the health of plants and animals that come in contact with them. This study evaluated the carcinogenic health risk associated (exposure) with the known eight (8) PAHs with carcinogenic potentials beginning with the analysis of their concentrations from water samples collected from Oruma River, Bayelsa State during wet season. This study adopted liquid-liquid extraction method and Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectometry (GC-MS) to separate and analyse the concentrations of seven water samples collected from the study area, respectively. The carcinogenic risk of exposure (probability of developing cancer over a lifetime as a result of exposure to a contaminant) to the carcinogenic PAHs was evaluated using the equations; CR=CDi ×SF and CR=CDd ×SF, for oral and dermal exposures, respectively for both adults and children. The results showed that benzo (a) pyrene values for carcinogenic risk via oral intake for adults went as high as 6.69E-02, 3.68E-02, 3.60E-02, 3.58E-02, 3.56E-02, 3.55E-02 and 3.57E-02, exceeding the acceptable limit of 1×10-6 and 1×10-4. Similar high levels of carcinogenic risk from chrysene were recorded for oral intake children with 1.56E-01, 8.58E-02, 8.40E-02, 8.36E-02, 8.31E-02, 8.28E-02, and 8.32E-02, all exceeding the permissible limit. Dibenz (a, h) anthracene also recorded exceedingly high values for children via oral intake and dermal exposure. The study showed that children are more exposed to suffering from carcinogenic health issues than adults. Some PAHs had values higher than the acceptable limits of 1×10-6 and 1×10-4 with children showing higher vulnerability to carcinogenic risk than the adults. Therefore, all concerned stakeholders should work together to decontaminate the Oruma River for the use of the community. This study gives a detailed analysis of the concentration of the 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and the evaluation of the carcinogenic health risk of exposure to the eight (8) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons for both adults and children via oral intake and dermal contact.

Keywords:
Polycyclic Aromatic hydrocarbons Health Risk of Exposure Carcinogenic Risk Risk Assessment Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk Chronic Exposures
APA Referencing Format

Yibatoro-iyela, J. B., Kenneth, U. M., Chimezie, N., Kanu, D. E. & Chibuzor, I. G. (2025). Health Risk Assessment of Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Oruma River, Bayelsa State. International Journal of Sustainable Technology, Environmental Sciences and Conservation (IJSTESC), 1(1), 22-33.

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