Potential Risk Assessment of Selected Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Vegetables Grown in Polluted and Non-polluted Areas of Sindh, Pakistan

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in vegetables grown in Sindh, Pakistan. The vegetables were collected from both local markets and industrial areas where vegetation was carried out. All three types of vegetables, root vegetables, leafy vegetables and fruit vegetables were selected for analysis. The PAHs were extracted by Soxhlet extraction method and analysed by gas chromatography. The results showed that average concentration of PAHs in vegetables was ranged from 1.62 +/- 0.01 mu g/kg to 144.52 +/- 2.51 mu g/kg. From seven PAHs analyzed, the fluorene was found to be present in almost all vegetable samples and was highest in bitter guard that is 144.52 +/- 2.51 mu g/kg. Like fluorene, naphthalene and anthracene were also present in all the vegetables but their concentration was not very high (6.89 +/- 0.03 mu g/kg for naphthalene and 2.18 +/- 0.01 for anthracene). Higher concentration of PAHs was observed in samples collected from industrial areas due to the fact that industrial smoke could easily be absorbed by the vegetables grown in those areas.