Alkylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are the largest contributor to polycyclic aromatic compound concentrations in traditional foods of the Bigstone Cree Nation in Alberta, Canada

摘要

Rising global demand for energy promotes extensive mining of natural resources, such as oil sands extractions in Alberta, Canada. These extractive activities release hazardous chemicals into the environment, such as polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs), which include the parent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), alkylated PAHs, and sulfur-containing heterocyclic dibenzothiophenes (DBTs). In areas adjacent to industrial installations, Indigenous communities may be exposed to these PACs through the consumption of traditional foods. Our objective was to evaluate and compare the concentrations of total PACs (Sigma PAC), expressed as the sum of the 16 U.S. EPA priority Sigma PAHs (Sigma PAH), 49 alkylated PAHs (Sigma alkyl-PAH), and 7 DBTs (Sigma DBT) in plant and animal foods collected in 2015 by the Bigstone Cree Nation in Alberta, Canada. We analyzed 42 plant tissues, 40 animal muscles, 5 ribs, and 4 pooled liver samples. Concentrations of Sigma PAC were higher in the lichen, old man's beard (Usnea spp.) (808 +/- 116 ng g(-1) w.w.), than in vascular plants, and were also higher in smoked moose (Alces alces) rib (461 +/- 120 ng g(-1) w.w.) than in all other non-smoked animal samples. Alkylated-PAHs accounted for between 63% and 95% of Sigma PAC, while the concentrations of Sigma PAH represented 4%-36% of Sigma PAC. Contributions of Sigma DBT to Sigma PAC were generally lowest, ranging from 1% to 14%. While the concentrations of benzo(a)pyrene (B [a]P) and Sigma PAH4 (Sigma benzo[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, and B[a]P) in all samples were below guideline levels for human consumption as determined by the European Commission, guideline levels for the more prevalent alkylated PAHs are not available. Given the predominance of alkylated PAHs in all food samples and the potentially elevated toxicity relative to parent PAHs of this class of PACs, it is critical to consider a broader range of PACs other than just parent PAHs in research conducted close to oil sands mining activities. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.