PRELIMINARY EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT FOR KUWAITI CONSUMERS TO POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC-HYDROCARBONS IN SEAFOOD

Levels of PAHs in seafood from Kuwaiti market were determined. Results showed that most of the samples contained significant amounts of total PAHs. Naphthalene constituted the highest PAH burden of the samples. Nuwaibi had the highest level of total PAHs (472.6 mu g/kg, dry wt.). Others ranged from 83.8 to 357.5 mu g/kg, dry wt). PAH levels were reassessed as BaP equivalents using equivalency factors. Nakroor contained the highest levels of BaP equivalents (88.42 mu g/kg dry wt). Others ranged from 0.86 to 55.96 mu g/kg dry wt. The results of exposure assessment for the average consumer indicated a daily intake of 0.231 mu g of total PAH from seafood. BaP equivalent intake was calculated to be 0.0167 mu g/d. For the above average consumer, total PAH intake was 0.326 mu g/d; and BaP equivalents were 0.025 mu g/d. These daily intake levels were quite comparable with those reported for the average American consumer.