EVALUATION OF TOTAL PETROLEUM HYDROCARBON IN FOUR IMPORTANT SEAFOOD FROM CRUDE OIL POLLUTED WATER IN OGONILAND, RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

This study was designed to evaluate the risk levels of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) in seafood (Tilapia gueneesis,Liza falcipinis, Callinectes pallidus and Penaeus notialis) from crude oil polluted waters of Ogoniland, Rivers State, Nigeria. GC-FID was used for the quantification technique. The result showed significant differences (p<0.05) between TPH levels in seafood from Kaa/B-Dere and Kaa/Bodo City for Tilapia gueneesis, Liza falcipinis and Callinectes pallidus. Between the three sites and the seafood analyzed, L. falcipinis (1,610±5.89 µg.kg−1 wet wt.) accumulated significantly higher levels (p<0.05) of TPH at Bodo City. Accumulation of petroleum hydrocarbon may reduce the quality of this seafood tissues and cause tenting. Total petroleum hydrocarbon levels in most of the seafood tissue were at critical level (exceeding DPR set limits) and also suggest that tissues of these samples may act as bio-indicators of exposure owing to expressed contaminants uptake pattern. Possible health risk consequences of such high bioaccumulation of TPH on public health cannot be ignored.