पॉलिमर विज्ञान खुला एक्सेस

अमूर्त

Bioaccumulation of Perfluoroalkyl Substances and Mercury in Fish Tissue: A Global Systematic Review

Bealemlay Abebe Melakea*, Salie Mulate Endalewa, Tamagnu Sinte Alamerewa

PFASs and Hg are persistent, bio accumulative and toxic substances for living organisms. This study aimed to determine bioaccumulation of PFASs and Hg in fish tissue. Previously done peer reviewed papers were searched and collected in the study. Analysis of the results revealed that higher concentrations of PFASs were recorded in fish liver than in fish muscle which may be due to PFASs being proteinophilic and therefore, known to accumulate more in protein rich tissues. The bioaccumulation of PFASs increases with the increase in the carbon chain length. Findings of this study also illustrated that organic mercury is the most abundant form of mercury in fish tissue. Likewise, Hg may be highly accumulated in fish liver and sometimes in the fish muscle which could be due to the presence of high quantities of cysteine rich molecules and higher concentrations of natural metal-binding proteins or due to the active metabolic liver function which requires it to be a well-perfused organ. A higher level of PFASs and mercury was found in piscivorous fish which may due to bio magnification principle. Similarity between PFASs and Hg bioaccumulation may indicate that both might have similar transport, trophic level bioaccumulation pattern, route of exposure or factor and/or source of pollution. The presence of Hg actions may also enhance the adsorption of PFASs. Therefore, monitoring of PFASs and Hg is important, as, for example, an increase in PFASs and Hg contamination in developing countries is expected due to the increased modernization and importation of PFASs and Hg containing consumer products. Future studies can also include novel PFASs which are currently produced, and PFAS precursors to investigate their global distribution in aquatic ecosystems, and the pathways that cause PFASs and Hg pollution in the aquatic ecosystem.