Risk assessment of consuming aromatic hydrocarbons (The case study: Mesopotamichthys sharpeyi of Huralazim Wetland in Iran)
Abstract: Background and goal: Aromatic hydrocarbons are one of the most important environmental pollutants in the environment. These compounds, even at very low concentrations, have carcinogenic and mutagenic properties and are quantitatively and qualitatively known as compounds that have entered all parts of the environment due to human activities. This research studies the concentration of aromatic hydrocarbons in the predominantly fish (Mesopotamichthys sharpeyi) in Huralazim wetland and calculates the risk of consuming this fish by a human.Materials and Methods: In the spring of 2018, 210 fish were collected from 4 reservoirs (7 stations). The analysis of 16 hydrocarbon compounds was carried out using the GC-FID (Shimadzn-14A) equipped with a capillary column (RTX-5).Results: The highest concentration of oil-based hydrocarbons was in fish of station 7 (43.93 ± 2.70 mg/kg) and its lowest concentration was at station 1 (9.52 ± 3.06 mg/kg). The highest carcinogenesis incidence rate was 1.13 at station 7 and the highest mutation rate was 23.49 at station 5. The gradual carcinogenesis rate of Benz [a] pyrene was 0.00003 to 0.0029 and n in general, through Huralazim Wetland it was 0.0027. The gradual mutation risk assessment for Benz [a] pyrene was estimated as 0.055 (which ranges from 0.034 to 0.061).Conclusion: According to the standard of mutant and carcinogenic compounds [5], it can be said that the daily consumption of fish in this wetland increases the risk of cancer and mutagen in the consumer population. Measures have to be taken to reduce the consumption of caught fish which are exposed to pollution in Huralazim Wetland, in order to minimize the risk of gradual cancer or mutagen, especially in the natives of that area.