Monitoring endocrine-disrupting compounds and risk assessment in the southwest coastal regions of India using black clams (Villorita cyprinoides) as an indicator

Abstract

The presence of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in aquatic food systems presents significant health risks for consumers, highlighting the need for advanced monitoring and remediation solutions. This study provides a comprehensive characterization of the hazards posed by EDCs in the Vembanad Estuary (VE) of India through the biomonitoring of black clams (Villorita cyprinoides), which serve as an indicator organism. Additionally, management strategies such as depuration and cooking were evaluated for their effectiveness in reducing human health risks associated with exposure to these identified EDCs. Comprehensive screening identified 85 potential EDCs, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH — 64.0 %) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs — 13.1 %). The concentration ranges for these contaminants were 5.01–225.00 ng/g and 5.05–58.92 ng/g, respectively. Depuration was achieved using a multi-tank depuration system designed and installed in a coastal village to treat black clams harvested from the estuary as a sustainable management intervention. The depuration process significantly reduced the level of all pollutants to below the limit of quantification (LOQ), while cooking could only slightly reduce the mean concentration of PAHs from 23.67 ng/g to 17.33 ng/g. The human health risk assessment for the pre- and post-cooked clam samples revealed higher hazard index values (>1), indicating immediate risk of dietary exposure. Meanwhile, the depurated samples were safe after the complete removal of these EDCs. These findings highlight the necessity of proper environmental management practices in estuarine ecosystems that might reduce the contaminant loads in aquatic food sources, thereby ensuring both ecosystem conservation and human well-being.