Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a polyherbal drug: human health exposure-associated risk assessment study

ABSTRACT

PAHs are pervasive pollutants known to bioaccumulate in environmental matrices, plants, and humans. Dr. Iguedo Goko Cleanser® is a polyherbal drug with unsubstantiated claims to treat various diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. PAHs were measured following EPA-16 PAHs guidelines using Gas Chromatography (Agilent-6890N, USA). The drug’s exposure-associated public health concerns was determined using suitable mathematical paradigms. PAHs present were acenaphthene (2.74 × 10⁻²), pyrene (2.7598 × 10⁻²), and chrysene (5.1277 × 10⁻²) ppm. Dietary intake of chrysene, acenaphthene and pyrene for adults, and children ranged from 2.466–4.615 × 10⁻³ and 1.215–2.308 × 10⁻³ ppm/mg/kg, respectively. B[α]Peq, EDB[α]Peq, and incremental lifetime cancer risk were determined to be 5.6777 × 10⁻⁴, 5.109912 × 10⁻⁵ and 5.3289 × 10⁻¹², respectively. Our results suggest a high risk of non-carcinogenic adverse health effects, especially on chronic exposure among adolescents and adults, necessitating caution and/or avoidance of its chronic use. Therefore, policy formulation and implementation as regards the safety of plant-based remedies and allied products before their distribution among end-users must be ensured.

KEYWORDS:

• Public health
• risk assessment
• PAHs poisoning
• herbal medicine

Acknowledgements

The lead author appreciates the collaborative spirit demonstrated by all the authors during the period this study lasted.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article [and its supplementary information files].

Consent for publication

All authors have consented to the publication of this article.

Disclaimer

There exists no competing interest between the authors and the manufacturers of the test sample. As such, our findings are not for litigation purposes. Rather, they are strictly for public health awareness.

Additional information

Funding

This study received no external funding. All financial burdens were handled by the authors.