Occurrence and risk assessment of endocrine-disrupting compounds in fish muscle: The case study of the Douro River estuary (North East Atlantic Ocean)

This work was focused on evaluating the occurrence of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) in fish muscles, such as bisphenol analogues, personal care products, including some UV-filters and musk fragrances, and selected pesticides. A total of 238 muscle samples of three fish species (Platichthys flesus, Mugil cephalus, and Dicentrarchus labrax) of an important estuary ending in the North East Atlantic Ocean (Douro River estuary, Portugal), in different seasons of the year, was analysed. M. cephalus was the species with a greater occurrence of contaminants, mainly in fishes collected during the spring. Bisphenol A was the main bisphenol analogue detected with an average content of 23.1 μg/kg wet weight (w.w.). Among chemicals used in personal care products, galaxolide, tonalide, and 2-ethylhexyl salicylate, were the most often found, being present in 15.9% (2.2-538.4 μg/kg w. w.), 4.6% (1.1-57.8 μg/kg w. w.) and 3.4% (3.9-56.1 μg/kg w. w.) of the samples, respectively. About 14% of the samples contained residues of at least one pesticide, being alachlor, aldrin, p,p'-DDT, permethrin, and prochloraz the main chemicals observed, varying from 0.1 μg/kg w. w. (p,p'-DDT) to 37.8 μg/kg w. w. (prochloraz). The daily intake estimates of the most frequent EDCs found in the fish muscles suggested that there are no health concerns, based on the recommended weekly consumption of fish for adults.

Survey on endocrine-disrupting chemicals in seafood: Occurrence and distribution

Currently, the presence of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the marine environment pose а potential risk to both wildlife and human health. The occurrence of EDCs in seafood depends of several factors such as source and amounts of EDCs that reach the aquatic environment, physicochemical features of EDCs, and its accumulation in trophic chain. This review highlights the occurrence and distribution of EDCs along the seafood in the last 6 years. The following EDCs were included in this review: brominated flame retardants (PBDEs, PBBs, HBCDDs, TBBPA, and novel flame retardants); pharmaceuticals (paracetamol, ibuprofen, diclofenac, carbamazepine), bisphenols, hormones, personal care products (Musk and UV Filters), and pesticides (organochlorides, organophosphates, and pyrethroids). Some of them were found above the threshold that may cause negative effects on human, animal, and environmental health. More control in some countries, as well as new legislation and inspection over the purchase, sale, use, and production of these compounds, are urgently needed. This review provides data to support risk assessment and raises critical gaps to stimulate and improve future research.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers and their methoxylated congeners in Douro river estuary biota: Seasonal occurrence and risk assessment

Especially added on many industrial and domestic products as flame retardants (FRs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are among the chemicals of high environmental concern because of their potential harmfulness for environmental and human health. Seafood consumption is considered the main source of PBDEs and their methoxylated congeners (MeO-BDEs) for humans. The present study aims to investigate the seasonal occurrence of six PBDEs and eight MeO-BDEs congeners using Douro river biota (different trophic levels) as sentinels, as well as to evaluate the human exposure risk to PBDEs through seafood consumption. Biota samples (n = 273) were collected from one of the most important Portuguese estuaries in the north-western coast of Portugal at four different seasons (2019-2020). The analyses were performed by an environmental-friendly extraction procedure followed by Gas Chromatography coupled to a triple quadrupole detector (GC-MS/MS). PBDEs were detected in all seafood samples analysed, with means ranging from 0.02 ng g^-1 ww (flounder in autumn) to 3.75 ng g^-1 ww (mussel in winter). Levels of lower-brominated PBDE congeners were significantly higher than higher-brominated ones in all seasons (p < 0.01). MeO-BDEs ranged from 0.001 ng g^-1 ww (grey mullet in summer) to 5.66 ng g^-1 ww (green crab in spring). Crabs and mussels presented the highest means of PBDEs and MeO-BDEs. Regarding the health risk assessment of the studied PBDE congeners (47, 99, and 153), consumption of Douro river fish is not a case of concern for consumers.

Equatorial Atlantic pelagic predators reveal low content of PBDEs in contrast to MeO-BDEs: An analysis of brominated diphenyl ethers in blue shark and yellowfin tuna

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and their methoxylated analogues (MeO-BDEs) are widely distributed in the environment. The main concern about the presence of PBDEs and MeO-BDEs in fish is due to their potential endocrine disruption effects in the specimens, and their potential risk to the health of human consumers. Considering these concerns, the goal of this study was to investigate the occurrence of PBDEs and MeO-BDEs in muscle tissues of blue shark (BSH), Prionace glauca, and yellowfin tuna (YFT), Thunnus albacares, caught in the Equatorial Atlantic Ocean (EAO), North-eastern Brazilian waters, and to evaluate the potential risk of human exposure by consumption. Muscle tissues of YFT and BSH were extracted using a Soxhlet apparatus and an Accelerated Solvent Extractor (ASE), respectively. PBDEs and MeO-BDEs were analysed by GC-NCI-MS. Concentrations of PBDEs ranged from not detected (nd) to 10 ng g^-1 lipid weight (lw) in YFT muscle samples, while PBDE levels in BSH muscle samples ranged from <LOQ to 34 ng g^-1 lw. Regarding MeO-BDEs, the concentration ranged from 55 to 578 ng g^-1 lw and from <LOQ to 263 ng g^-1 lw in YFT and BSH muscle samples, respectively. MeO-BDE congeners contribution in both YFT and BSH indicated a predominance of 2'-MeO-BDE-68, which is associated to the sponges or sponge-microbiota metabolites. ∑PBDE were statistically similar between YFT and BSH, as well as observed for ∑MeO-BDE. PBDEs and MeO-BDEs in YFT and BSH represent a low potential risk of human exposure through the consumption of edible tissues. Further studies are necessary for a complete assessment of human safety and species conservation.