Tissue distribution, bioaccumulation, and carcinogenic risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in aquatic organisms from Lake Chaohu, China

Freshwater products consumed in the diet are among the major sources of exposure of humans to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In this study, eight freshwater organisms and environmental samples were collected from Chaohu Lake, the fifth-largest lake in China. The levels of PAHs in the collected organisms were measured using GC MS. Tissue distribution characteristics in three fish species were studied. Relationship between residual levels and environment concentrations were analyzed and bioaccumulation effect and influencing factors were identified. Finally, the potential carcinogenic risk of aquatic product intake was estimated. The concentrations of Sigma PAHs in aquatic organisms varied from 18A to 398 ng/g, with a mean value of 157 +/- 125 ng/g. For carp, the highest Sigma PAHs level was detected in the brain with concentration of 591 ng/g. For topmouth cutter, and bighead fish, the organs with the greatest IPAHs concentration were gills (440 ng/g) and muscles (200 ng/g), respectively.Significant correlations were found between the PAH content in environment media including water, SPM, sediment and PAH content in aquatic animals. The calculation of food web magnification factors and Usk assessment indicates that although the PAH concentration diluted with the increase of the trophic level, PAHs exposure through the aquatic products intake still poses potential carcinogenic risk. The incremental lifetime cancer risk values were 7.68 x 10(-6) and 4.75 x 10(-6) in urban and rural populations, respectively. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All lights reserved.