Persistent Organic Pollutants (Pops) And Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (Pfass) in Liver from Wild and Farmed Tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus) from Lake Kariba, Zambia: Levels and Geographic Trends and Considerations in Relation to Environmental Quality Standards (Eqss)
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Date
2023
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ELSEVIER
Abstract
The current study was carried out to investigate a wide variety of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in wild and
farmed tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in Lake Kariba, Zambia, and assess levels of POPs in relation to Environ-
mental Quality Standards (EQSs). Concentrations of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs), polybrominated diphenyls (PBDEs), and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) were determined in liver
samples of tilapia. PFASs compounds PFOS, PFDA and PFNA were only detected in wild fish, with the highest
median PFOS levels in site 1 (0.66 ng/g ww). Concentrations of POPs were in general highest in wild tilapia. The
highest median ∑DDTs (93 and 81 ng/g lw) were found in wild tilapia from sites 1 and 2, respectively 165 km
and 100 km west of the fish farms. Lower DDE/DDT ratios in sites 1 and 3 may indicate relatively recent exposure
to DDT. The highest median of ∑17PCBs (3.2 ng/g lw) and ∑10PBDEs (8.1 ng/g lw) were found in wild tilapia
from sites 1 and 2, respectively. The dominating PCB congeners were PCB-118, -138, 153 and 180 and for
PBDEs, BDE-47, -154, and 209. In 78% of wild fish and 8% of farmed fish ∑6PBDE concentrations were above
EQSbiota limits set by the EU. This warrants further studies.
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This research article was published by ELSEVIER in 2023