ASSESSMENT OF THE QUALITY OF CATFISH USING PAHS FROM NEW BENIN MARKET, OREDO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, BENIN CITY, EDO STATE

ABSTRACT

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are carcinogenic pollutants which get into foods during processing. This study was used to access the quality of smoked catfish from open market using Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). The fish species Clarias gariepinus were collected from local vendors in part of local market in Oredo Local Government Area, Benin City, Edo State. The PAHs in smoked catfish samples was extracted with 15ml of n-hexane using solid-liquid extraction and cleaned up using chromatography process, a column packed with 3g of Silica gel and topped with little anhydrous sodium sulphate (Na₂SO₄). The clean extract was analyzed with gas chromatograph model (HPS890) coupled to Flame Ionization Detector (FID). Result obtained that Acenaphthylene recorded the highest concentrations of PAHs ranging from 1205.82µg/kg to 1237.02µg/kg followed by Naphthalene with PAHs content ranging from 810.69µg/kg to 765.74µg/kg. The mean concentration of Benzo (a) pyrene observed for the samples was 3.81µg/kg.  Benzo (a) pyrene values obtained was below the European kCommission (EC) regulatory limit which is 5.0µg/kg. The study concluded that consumers of Clarias gariepinus from local vendor in part of New Benin market in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria generally have minimal health risk concerns via consumption but regular monitoring is required to detect changes.