CONTRIBUTION TO THE ASSESSMENT OF PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS (POPS) IN MARINE ORGANISMS: THE CASE OF SAROTHERODON MELANOTHERON (RUPPELL, 1852) AND MUGIL BANANENSIS (PELLEGRIN, 1928) IN THE SALOUM DELTA

Abstract

It is known that the consumption of seafood has several health benefits for humans. However, the accumulation of organic pollutants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), in their flesh could pose public health problems. Thus, the concentrations of PCBs and OCPs in edible fish species (Mugil bananensis, Sarotherodon melanotheron) from the Sine Saloum Estuary located in central-western Senegal are investigated in order to assess the potential risks of these contaminants to human health. After analysis, PCB52 and chlordane show the highest concentrations in the edible flesh of these two species. The concentration of PCB52 is almost identical in these two species, while that of chlordane is higher in S. melanotheron. Regarding the distribution of PCBs and OCPs in M. bananensis, the highest concentration is found in Fimela for PCBs and in Sokone for OCPs. For S. melanotheron, the highest concentration is found in Toubacouta for PCBs and in Felir for OCPs. The cancer risk values obtained after calculation do not reveal any serious risk because they do not exceed the threshold value established by the U.S. EPA (2005) which is 1×10-4. However, it is recommended to the populations a moderate consumption because of the phenomenon of bioaccumulation.