Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Different Varieties of Rice (Oryza sativa) from Yobe State, Nigeria

The present study determined the levels of sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in rice (Oryza Sativa) samples from six agricultural locations in Bade and Karasuwa Local Government Areas, Yobe State, Nigeria. Four varieties of rice (FARO 42, 44, 45 and 52) were collected for this study. The concentrations of PAHs in the study rice samples were lower than the maximum allowable concentration (MAC), average daily dose (ADD) of PAHs in the different variety of rice from the six agricultural locations shows that FARO 44 had the highest ADD (5.84 x1011 mg/kg), while FARO 52 shows the lowest ADD (1.20 x1015 mg/kg). The potential for non-carcinogenic PAHs in this study revealed that FARO 42 has the highest hazard index (2.04 x1011 mg/kg). Result from incremental lifetime expectancy cancer risk shows that FARO 44 from Jawa had the highest value (4.19 x1010 mg/kg), while the lowest value (7.61 x1015 mg/kg) was recorded for FARO 52 from Rina Kuna agricultural location. Results from the present study shows that the rice samples from the study locations are safe for human consumption and not significantly contaminated by PAHs.