High levels of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Date Mussel (Lithophaga lithophaga) from Bizerte coast (northern Tunisia): Sources and human health risk implications

The date mussel Lithophaga lithophaga is protected by law in Tunisia. Still, illegal consumption of this luxury seafood has increased over time due to high demand and high prices, which have made the species regularly available in the seafood market of Bizerte, putting wild stocks at risk of decline. To raise public awareness of the risks to human health associated with the consumption of this bivalve, 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were quantified in the soft tissue of the species, which was collected from two sites of high fishery pressure in the bay and lagoon of Bizerte. Total PAHs concentrations differ significantly between the studied sites ranging from 0.45 to 546.05 μg g−1 d.w., and were associated with port activity and the petroleum industry. The benzo(a)pyrene toxic equivalent factor and excess cancer risk showed both high values exceeding permissible limits in the polluted site. These findings provide valuable information regarding the distribution of PAHs in mussels from wild ecosystems that could be useful to prevent consumer intoxication and improve awareness against illegal harvesting of this species.