Level of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon in Fish Samples Smoked with Different Combustible Materials

The determination of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) in smoked fish samples were studied using six combustible materials, such as tyres, lubricating oil, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), plastics, iroko (chlorophoraexcelsa) wood and black velvet (dialiumguineense) wood.  The result of the analysis indicates high TPH of mean value 0.8172g for fish sample smoked with tyre. The low TPH of mean value 0.0679g was obtained from fish sample smoked with iroko wood. This study established the formation of TPH during incomplete combustion of combustible materials used during smoking of fish samples. The associated health hazard of smoked fish were examined. Keywords: Fish samples, Total petroleum hydrocarbon, Combustible materials, Toxicity. DOI: 10.7176/JEES/9-2-0