Evaluation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Concentrations in Locally Smoked and Fresh Clarias Gariepinus from Government Assisted Clustered Fish Farm, Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria

Aim:  To evaluate the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) concentrations in fresh and smoked Clarias geriepinus. Study Design: Fifty numbers of fresh Clarias geriepinus which range in weight between 200.5g and 655.2g were collected from selected clustered farmers and categorized based on their weight into five groups. The tissues were collected from each fresh fish for analysis of PAHs before smoking. Place and Duration of Study: The sampled fish were collected from government assisted clustered fish farm estate. The analyses for PAHs were conducted for two weeks in year 2022 at the central laboratory of Nigeria Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research Methodology: The laboratory procedures and analyses for the detection of sixteen PAHs in the muscles of fresh and smoked on each five grouped of C. geriepinus were carried out using Gas Chromatography (Model HP 6890A). Results: The results shows presence of PAHs in both locally smoked and fresh Clarias geriepinus therefore, there is no significant difference in the means concentrations of PAHs in both tissues but significant difference occurs (p=.05) in the grouped smoked fish with Indeno (1, 2, 3-c, d) Pyrene mean concentrations higher in both fresh and smoked fish. Conclusion: PAHs concentrations from both fresh and smoked C. geriepinus muscles are below the FAO/WHO threshold limit. It is therefore safe for human consumption but a gas or electric powered smoking kiln is hereby recommended to prevent further accumulation of PAHs in smoked fish which could be carcinogenic to human consumers.