The Pharmaceutical and Chemical Journal, 2019, 6(5):91-102 The Pharmaceutical and Chemical Journal 91 Available online www.tpcj.org Research Article ISSN: 2349-7092 CODEN(USA): PCJHBA Incidence of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Smoked-Dried Fish Samples and Their Public Health Implications in Benin City Lucy N. Ubaka* 1 , Barry A. Omogbai 1 , Usifoh O. Cyril 2 1 Department of Microbiology, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, +234, Nigeria 2 Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, +234, Nigeria *Corresponding Author: E-Mail: lucynda.uba@gmail.com (Lucy Njideka Ubaka), 08129529612 Abstract Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are synthetic chemicals that have an intrinsic resistance to natural degradation processes, and are therefore environmentally persistent. The introduction of POPs into the environment from anthropogenic activities resulted in their widespread dispersal and accumulation in soils and water bodies, as well as in human and ecological food chains, where they are known to induce toxic effects. Due to their ubiquity in the environment and lipophilic properties, there is mounting concern over the potential risks of human exposure to POPs. POPs include organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs).Smoked fishes were obtained from three markets in Benin City. The fishsamples were identified as Oreochromis aureus (Blue tilapia), Scomber scombrus (Atlantic mackerel) and Gymnarchus niloticus (Trunk fish). They were blended to obtain powdered samples and stored in ultra-freezer at 4 ºC. The powdered samples were extracted by Soxhlet extraction procedure using dichloromethane (200ml) POP residues were determined using Soxhlet extraction method and column chromatography for solvent elution. Eluate analysis was by Gas Chromatography (GC) tandem Mass Spectrophotometer (MS) technique. Concentration of persistent organic pollutants such as lindane, aldrin, endosulfan, heptachlor, dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls were not detected in the fishes. However, Gymnarchus niloticus from Oluku was found to contain oxirane (0.0362mg/L), tridecyl phthalates (0.0469mg/L) and naphthalene (0.0469mg/L) which are endocrine disruptor and polychlorinated aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH). Similarly, Gymnarchus niloticus and Oreochromis aureus from Aduwawa contained titanium dioxide, 1-chlorooctadecane (SCCP) (0.0214mg/L) and Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (0.0321mg/L) respectively. Although these levels of organic pollutants were low when compared with the maximum limit of Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA), however, continuous exposure can be harmful if the trend is not checked. Keywords Organochlorine, Persistent, Chromatography, Extraction, Pesticides Introduction Environmental xenobiotic are synthetic chemical compoundsthat are both persistent and bioaccumulative, with potential for long-range transportation across boundaries where they have never been used induce adverse effects on human health [1]. These organic pollutants are made up of complex molecules which do not breakdown easily in the environment; hence the name "persistent" [2]. The ecotoxicological effects of POPs in the aquatic environment are