Background: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are common pollutants in water and have been reported to cause severe health effects in humans as well as the ecosystem.
Objectives: This study examined the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and estimated the human health risk from water samples around Atlas Cove jetty, Lagos, Nigeria.
Methods: Physical and chemical parameters and PAHs were determined in Atlas Cove jetty water using standard methods from June to August 2016 at five different points of activity. Chronic daily intake through ingestion, exposure dose via dermal absorption and carcinogenic risks were calculated for children and adults.
Results: Electrical conductivity values ranged from 23,600±57.74 - 30,000±57.74 μS/cm. Dissolved oxygen ranged from 6.27±0.46 - 9.60±0.00 mg/L. Biochemical oxygen demand levels ranged from 2.93±0.61 - 7.33±0.23 mg/L and total dissolved solid ranged from 17,500±57.74 - 20,000±57.74 mg/L for the water samples, which was higher than permissible limits. The values obtained for pH, chemical oxygen demand, nitrate, sulphate and phosphate for the water samples were within World Health Organization (WHO) limits except for pH at point 2 (3.18±0.02). A total of eleven PAH congeners were detected in the water samples. The concentrations of total PAHs observed in water samples ranged from 46 - 507 μg/L. Low molecular weight PAHs were more dominant in all samples. It was observed that 2-3 ring PAHs accounted for 63.64% of PAHs, 4-rings PAHs accounted for 27.27% of PAHs, and 5-6 ring PAHs accounted for 9.09% of PAHs.
Conclusions: Carcinogenic risks calculated for both adults and children were higher than the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) acceptable cancer risk, and much higher for children, which suggests that children could be prone to cancer through ingestion. Fauna and flora around the Atlas Cove jetty may be at risk due to water pollution.
Competing interests: The authors declare no competing financial interests.
Keywords: HMW; LMW; PAHs; crude oil; pollution; risk assessment.