Risk assessment of some organic contaminants: a case study based on food consumption in Tanta and Ismailia cities, Egypt

Abstract

The impact of some organic pollutants on some residents of Tanta and Ismailia cities of Egypt through their consumption of vegetables, fruits and fish (Nile tilapia and catfish) was examined. Residues of organochlorine (OC_S) and organophosphorus (OP_S) as some polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB_S) were compared with pesticides as well maximum residue limits (MRL_S). Probable health risk to consumers was also assessed. P, P′-DDT, P, P′-DDE, P, P′-DDD, endrin, α-BHC, (lindane), and hexachlorbenzene (HCB) were the most detected organochlorine compounds, but did not exceed MRLs.

However, OP_S residues were the most frequently detected contaminants. PCBs congeners 28, 70, 52, and 180 were detected in tilapia fish from Tanta, but congeners 28 and 180 were the only detected congeners in samples collected from Ismailia region. ∑PCB_S values in all matrices did not exceed MRL_S. Hazard index (HI) exhibited unity for all compounds at 50 the decreasing order: catfish > vegetables > fruits > Nile tilapia in Tanta, while in Ismailia the order was Nile tilapia > fruit > vegetables. Results also revealed that risk values for adults were greater than those of children categories.