Abstract
The control strategies for any marine invasive species that is edible may include their use as food for human consumption. The potential and realized use of the invasive Indo-Pacific green mussel, Perna viridis (Linnaeus, 1758) for food in Jamaica, from wild populations in Kingston Harbour, underscored the importance of investigating the potential public health risks to consumers from mussels fished from different areas of Kingston Harbour. Levels of bacterial coliforms and heavy metals were examined during this investigation due to the nature of pollutants already documented in Kingston Harbour. Bacterial coliforms showed high levels (15 – >16,000 MPN/100mL) at five stations during the investigation, with the highest values at the station located adjacent to the Hunts Bay Power station (HBPS). Heavy metals, especially chromium and cadmium were also high (43.3–70.3 mg/kg (chromium) and 17–60 mg/kg (cadmium)), with highest value at the station GC (Goodbody’s Channel) for chromium and Station DT (Kingston Waterfront) for cadmium. The risks to public health through consumption of these green mussels, Perna viridis from Kingston Harbour are significant. If consumption of wild populations from Kingston Harbour is to be promoted to reduce the population number of this invasive species, then depuration of the mussels prior to consumption should be carried out.
Highlights
The first documented sighting of the green mussel in Jamaica, presumed to be Perna viridis (Linnaeus, 1758), was in February 1998
The highest value was seen at Station Hunts Bay Power station (HBPS) of >16000 Most Probable Number (MPN)/100ml and 5000 MPN/100ml for total and faecal coliforms respectively
The two categories of contaminants examined in this investigation, coliform bacteria and heavy metals showed varying but important findings
Summary
The first documented sighting of the green mussel in Jamaica, presumed to be Perna viridis (Linnaeus, 1758), was in February 1998. This sighting was made during routine collection activities by the Department of Life Sciences University of the West Indies in the Port Royal Mangroves. Prior to its discovery in Jamaica in 1998, Perna viridis had been documented in Trinidad in 1990 (Agard et al 1992) and Venezuela in 1993 (Rylander et al 1996). One year after its discovery in Jamaica, P. viridis was discovered in the Tampa Bay area, Florida in 1999 (Ingrao et al 2001)
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