Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contamination of synthetic industrial essential oils utilized in Northern Nigeria

This paper provides supplementary information to earlier elucidations on the level of dioxin contaminations of synthetic industrial essential oils (SIEOs), commonly referred to as Turare (Hausa Language) utilized in Northern Nigeria. In this work, fifteen typical samples of this product was analysed for the EPA-16 targeted Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) using GC-MS methodology. The result revealed that all 15 SIEO samples indicated the presence of the EPA-16-targeted PAHs. The QC sample run for all samples gave a value within ± 19% and percentage recoveries were in the range of 76- 105%. The uncertainty of measurement is within the acceptance criteria based on a confidence level of 95%. Phenanthrene was observed to show the highest concentration at 2.87 mg/kg, while the least PAHs compounds was chrysene at 0.02 mg/kg. The results also showed that the low molecular weight (e.g. phenanthrene, anthracene and acenaphthene) PAHs constitutes the largest group of compounds with high concentrations in the SIEO samples, while the pertinent high molecular weight PAHs, benzo(b)fluoranthene, indeno(1,2,3-c,d)pyrene, benzo(a)anthracene, benzo(a)pyrene and dibenzo(a,h)pyrene were present at relatively moderate to low concentrations. However, on the basis of form of application, the result reveals that the socio-cultural form of application had the highest composition of high molecular weight (MW) PAHs and was statistically significant (p<0.05). Therefore the direct forms of applications of SIEOs in Northern Nigeria portend higher likelihood of exposure enrichments of PAHs with potential hazards to human health and the environment.   Key words: Fragrance material, direct application, toxicant, persistent, human health, environment.