Health risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons via dietary intake of leafy vegetables

The 16 US-EPA priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can reach to potentially hazardous levels in leafy vegetables as studies suggest. In this study, the 16 PAHs were quantified in samples of lettuce, cabbage, celery and spinach collected from Tehran central fruit and vegetable market in summer and winter using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results indicated the dominance of low molecular weight PAHs (LPAHs) in all vegetables. With respect to total mean concentration, the vegetables were ordered as follows: lettuce (51.61 mu g/kg) > cabbage (28.13 mu g/kg)> spinach (24.85 mu g/kg) > celery (9.98 mu g/kg). Isomeric ratios and principal component analysis (PCA) suggested diesel and gasoline vehicles, petroleum and coke ovens as the sources of pollution. No statistically significant difference was found between summer and winter regarding the total mean concentrations of 16 PAHs in the vegetables. The estimated combined lifetime average daily dose (LADD) was 3.36E-6 (mg/kg/day) and the estimated excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) upper confidence limit (P95%), using Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) in Oracle Crystal Ball software, was 3.88E-5, indicating low cancer risk. Assessment of target hazard quotient (HQ) showed no possible adverse health effect. Sensitivity analysis showed exposure duration, Benzo[a]pyrene equivalent concentration (BaPeq) and body weight (BW) as the most influential parameters.