Distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in some selected tubers grown in farmlands in Alakahia and Eleme communities, Rivers, Nigeria

Abstract

The present study investigated the level of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) in three commonly consumed tubers grown in farmlands in two communities- Alakahia and Eleme, Rivers state, Nigeria. The total PAH concentrations in the tubers ranged from 2.94 ± 0.26 to 70.83 ± 1.56 -µg/kg. Pyrene was the predominant PAH in most of the tuber samples from Alakahia and Eleme communities. The PAH profile in the tuber samples were dissimilar at both communities when compared. The Low molecular weight PAH to High molecular weight PAH ratio (LMW-PAH/HMW-PAH) showed that the high molecular PAH were predominant in the tubers thus suggesting that the source of PAH in the tubers are of pyrogenic origin.