A Human Health Risk Assessment of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Wild Marine Mussels from the Western Cape Province of South Africa
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are contaminants that pose potential harm to environments and human consumers. Wild mussels (<i>Mytilus galloprovincialis</i>, <i>Choromytilus meridionalis</i>, and <i>Perna perna</i>) were collected from the coastline of the W...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| author | Deborah Caitlin Firth Philip E. Strydom Lutz Auerswald Louwrens Christiaan Hoffman |
| author_facet | Deborah Caitlin Firth Philip E. Strydom Lutz Auerswald Louwrens Christiaan Hoffman |
| author_sort | Deborah Caitlin Firth |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are contaminants that pose potential harm to environments and human consumers. Wild mussels (<i>Mytilus galloprovincialis</i>, <i>Choromytilus meridionalis</i>, and <i>Perna perna</i>) were collected from the coastline of the Western Cape Province of South Africa and analysed for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) via gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. The results showed eleven PAHs at concentrations ranging from NF to 50.3 ng g<sup>−1</sup> d.w., five PCBs at concentrations between 4.1 and 18.6 ng g<sup>−1</sup> d.w., and two OCPs, namely β-hexachlorocyclohexane (NF–7.9 ng g<sup>−1</sup> d.w.) and chlordane (7.2–14.5 µg g<sup>−1</sup> d.w.). A Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA) determined PAH concentrations to pose little health risk to adults and children consuming < 1000 g and 500 g per month (g m<sup>−1</sup>) wild mussel meat, respectively. The HHRA of PCBs found adults and children would experience negative health effects at a consumption rate of 250 g m<sup>−1</sup>. HHRAs determined chlordane concentrations to pose unacceptable health risks for adults and children at all consumption rates (similar results for lindane). To avoid unnecessary POP-related health risks over a lifetime, it is recommended that adults consume < 250 g m<sup>−1</sup> of wild mussels from the Western Cape Province, and children should avoid consuming mussels. This research demonstrates the legacy of POP contamination along the coastline of the Western Cape Province; more monitoring of these contaminants is imperative to protect marine ecosystems and food chains. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6382001a34ff424f81d1fcc1f806861c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2304-8158 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Foods |
| spelling | doaj-art-6382001a34ff424f81d1fcc1f806861c2025-08-20T03:50:20ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582025-06-011413222610.3390/foods14132226A Human Health Risk Assessment of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Wild Marine Mussels from the Western Cape Province of South AfricaDeborah Caitlin Firth0Philip E. Strydom1Lutz Auerswald2Louwrens Christiaan Hoffman3Department of Animal Science, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town 7600, South AfricaDepartment of Animal Science, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town 7600, South AfricaDepartment of Animal Science, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town 7600, South AfricaDepartment of Animal Science, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town 7600, South AfricaPersistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are contaminants that pose potential harm to environments and human consumers. Wild mussels (<i>Mytilus galloprovincialis</i>, <i>Choromytilus meridionalis</i>, and <i>Perna perna</i>) were collected from the coastline of the Western Cape Province of South Africa and analysed for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) via gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. The results showed eleven PAHs at concentrations ranging from NF to 50.3 ng g<sup>−1</sup> d.w., five PCBs at concentrations between 4.1 and 18.6 ng g<sup>−1</sup> d.w., and two OCPs, namely β-hexachlorocyclohexane (NF–7.9 ng g<sup>−1</sup> d.w.) and chlordane (7.2–14.5 µg g<sup>−1</sup> d.w.). A Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA) determined PAH concentrations to pose little health risk to adults and children consuming < 1000 g and 500 g per month (g m<sup>−1</sup>) wild mussel meat, respectively. The HHRA of PCBs found adults and children would experience negative health effects at a consumption rate of 250 g m<sup>−1</sup>. HHRAs determined chlordane concentrations to pose unacceptable health risks for adults and children at all consumption rates (similar results for lindane). To avoid unnecessary POP-related health risks over a lifetime, it is recommended that adults consume < 250 g m<sup>−1</sup> of wild mussels from the Western Cape Province, and children should avoid consuming mussels. This research demonstrates the legacy of POP contamination along the coastline of the Western Cape Province; more monitoring of these contaminants is imperative to protect marine ecosystems and food chains.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/13/2226persistent organic pollutantsmusselsmarineseafoodrisk assessment |
| spellingShingle | Deborah Caitlin Firth Philip E. Strydom Lutz Auerswald Louwrens Christiaan Hoffman A Human Health Risk Assessment of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Wild Marine Mussels from the Western Cape Province of South Africa Foods persistent organic pollutants mussels marine seafood risk assessment |
| title | A Human Health Risk Assessment of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Wild Marine Mussels from the Western Cape Province of South Africa |
| title_full | A Human Health Risk Assessment of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Wild Marine Mussels from the Western Cape Province of South Africa |
| title_fullStr | A Human Health Risk Assessment of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Wild Marine Mussels from the Western Cape Province of South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Human Health Risk Assessment of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Wild Marine Mussels from the Western Cape Province of South Africa |
| title_short | A Human Health Risk Assessment of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Wild Marine Mussels from the Western Cape Province of South Africa |
| title_sort | human health risk assessment of persistent organic pollutants in wild marine mussels from the western cape province of south africa |
| topic | persistent organic pollutants mussels marine seafood risk assessment |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/13/2226 |
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