Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in leafy vegetables consumed in southern Nigeria: concentration, risk assessment and source apportionment.

Four commonly consumed leafy vegetables, obtained from four major cities in southern Nigeria, were analysed for their polycyclic hydrocarbon (PAH) content using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The estimated daily intake (EDI), margin of exposure (MOE), hazard index (HI) and total cancer risk (TCR); principal component analysis (PCA) and diagnostic ratios (DRs) were respectively used for risk evaluation and source identification of the detected PAHs. The results showed that the mean concentration (µg kg) of ∑16 PAHs in the vegetables ranged from 532 to 2261.