Human Health Risk Assessment of Consuming Heavy Metals in Oyster (Crassostrea virginica) from Different Markets in Port Harcourt, Rivers State

Abstract

Babatunde Bolaji Benard, Dike Chinyere Silverleen and Iroh Jennifer Chidinma

Food safety is of great concern in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria because of its pollution levels. Shell fish is one of the major diets of the people of Rivers State and they affect a large market and customer target in the region. This study was aimed at assessing the human health risk from consuming oysters bought from different markets in Rivers State namely; Creek Road market Borokiri, Mile 3 Market and Choba Market while Oysters harvested from ARAC (Buguma) were used as control. Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Cobalt (Co) and Nickel (Ni) were analysed in all samples using the Atomic absorption spectrometer. Cobalt had the highest concentration in all the samples from the markets except Mile 3 market, it ranged from 0.011-0.014mg/kg, while Lead ranged from 0.007-0.012 mg/kg, Chromium ranged from 0.008-0.010 mg/kg, Nickel ranged from 0.008-0.021 mg/kg and Cadmium ranged from 0.001-0.007mg/kg .The Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) of these metals were calculated, Target Human Quotient (THQ) and Hazard Index (HI) derived. EDI values were within tolerable limit. THQ and HI calculated indicated likely risk from oyster consumption since the values obtained were above the threshold of one (1) for lead, Cobalt and Cadmium, long term consumption may lead to health risk.

PDF