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

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.