Research Article: Risk assessment of aromatic hydrocarbon transfers cyclic through fish consumption (case study: Mesopotamichthys sharpeyi of Huralazim wetland in Iran)

The present study aimed to analyze the concentration of aromatic hydrocarbon transfer cyclic through consumption of Binni fish (Mesopotamichthys sharpeyi) at Huralazim wetland and estimates the risk of consumption at 7 stations of Huralazim wetland in spring 2018 (one season). A statistic populations included sediment (n=21), water (n=21) and fish (n=21). The concentration of aromatic hydrocarbons ranged from 178.45 to 1386.26 mg/­kg. Acenaphthene and Pyrenees had the highest concentration of hydrocarbon compounds in sediments. In water samples of 7 stations, the concentration of aromatic hydrocarbons ranged from 17.12 to 651.79 mg/ L, and Acenaphthene and Naphthylene with the mean concentrations of 42 and 28.83 mg/L, respectively, which were the most abundant aromatic compounds (p<0.05). The results indicate the highest and lowest concentrations of total aromatic hydrocarbons in fish caught at station 7 (43±2 mg/kg) and station 1 (9.52±3.06 mg/kg), respectively. The highest carcinogenesis rate (1.13) and mutation rate (23.49) were found at stations 7 and station 5, respectively. The gradual carcinogenesis rate of Benz [a] pyrene ranged from 0.00003 to 0.0029, and its mean rate in Huralazim wetland reached 0.0027. The gradual mutation risk assessment for Benz [a] pyrene was estimated to be 0.055 (which ranges from 0.034 to 0.061). Most of the hydrocarbon compounds in the sediments have originated from pyrolytic and fossil fuels. According to mutant and carcinogenic standards, the daily consumption of fish in this wetland increases the risk of cancer and mutation incidences. Measures should be taken to reduce the consumption of fish at risk in Huralazim wetland, thus minimizing the risk of gradual cancer or mutation.