Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), Current Use Pesticides (CUPs) and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in edible marine invertebrates from a Patagonian harbor

Abstract

Despite their global ban in 2001, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) remain detectable in marine species, posing ongoing environmental and health risks. Current use pesticides (CUPs) like chlorpyrifos and chlorothalonil, along with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), also contaminate coastal areas, affecting human health. This study assessed POPs, CUPs and PAHs in bivalves, gastropods, polychaetes, crustaceans, and echinoderms from an Atlantic Patagonian harbor. Concentrations of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) ranged from <LOD to 22, 7.6, and 5.2 ng.g−1 ww, respectively, with endosulfan, PCB #44, 66, 118, 138, and PBDE #47 as the most prevalent. PAHs ranged from <LOD to 2626 ng.g−1 ww, with Indeno[1,2,3-c,d]pyrene and Benzo[g,h,i]perylene as the highest. Most contaminants were below permissible limits, except PAHs in sea urchins. These findings highlight the need for long-term monitoring of pollutants in marine environments and regulation of edible species to safeguard health.