Concentrations and Potential Human Health Risks of Trace Metals (Cd, Pb, Hg) and Selected Organic Pollutants (PAHs, PCBs) in Fish and Seafood from the Senegalese Coast

Abstract

The presence of Cd, Pb, Hg, PAHs and PCBs was investigated in the edible flesh of six marine species of the Senegalese coastal waters. Samples were collected from five sites in 2013. Variations in pollutant concentrations were recorded both among species and among sites. The mussels (Perna perna) contained the highest concentrations of Cd (0.394 ± 0.634 mg kg−1 ww) and Pb (0.185 ± 0.213 mg kg−1 ww), the highest level of Hg was recorded in Tilapia (Sarotherodon melanotheron, 0.019 ± 0.014 mg kg−1 ww), and sardines (Sardinella aurita) presented the highest level of PAHs (0.019 mg kg−1 ww). While P. perna and S. aurita did not accumulate measurable PCBs, the concentrations of PCBs remained low in other species (between 0.001 and 0.008 mg kg−1 ww). For most species, samples collected near human-impacted sites had the highest pollutant concentrations. For most species studied here, the pollutant concentrations were below the limits for human consumption defined by the European Union (EU). However, at the more polluted sites 50% of the mussels from Soumbedioune presented values above the EU limit for Cd (1 mg kg−1 ww), and all sardines from Rufisque contained PAHs above the EU guideline value (0.03 mg kg−1 ww). The target hazard quotients (THQ) for metals were <1 and thus did not indicate a danger to the local population. Calculations of the cancer risk (CR) indicated that for PAHs and for PCBi (PCB indicator), 90% of CR values were in excess carcinogenic risk. For dl-PCB, all CR values are well below the guideline value. We suggest that potential risk of human health exists when consuming high quantity of seafood originating from polluted areas.