Bioaccumulation and sources of typical emerging pollutants via farming activities: Insight from risk assessment and mitigation

Abstract

Emerging contaminants are increasingly and ubiquitously found in both aquatic and terrestrial farms. However, their sources poorly understood, which results in limited capacity to manage and control the ecological and human health risks. The targeted pollutants such as hormones, antibiotics, and phenols were analyzed in farming water, surrounding rivers, feed, biota and feces in the present study. In farming water, the phenols were more prevalent contaminants in aquatic farms, whereas antibiotics were predominant in terrestrial farms, which was partially attributable to the distribution of targeted pollutants in used feed. Notably, the sewage treatment system of terrestrial farms effectively reduced hormones (removal rate: 98.38%) and antibiotics (removal rate: 91.98%), but showed poorly in removing phenols, with their concentrations actually increasing by 37%. This raised significant concerns, as phenols from treated wastewater into rivers posed a threat to aquatic organisms such as fish and daphnia. Moreover, daily pollutant exposure was higher for females than for males, with the highest exposure resulting from the consumption of Penaeus vannamei. The higher exposure to emerging contaminants among females aged 18–29, the critical reproductive phase, warrants special attention due to the potential risks to both their maternal health and fetal development. Overall, this study can propose guidance for all stakeholders to control emerging pollutant emissions from farming and ensure food safety, which is the crucial element for managing the ecological environment and preventing risks.