The Chemical and Microbiological Contaminants and Safety of Mussels

For human consumption, mussels are known as an abundant source of nutrients. As for public health, mussels must be cultivated or harvested in clean regions. Because they obtain their food by filtering water, mussels are an excellent indicator of water contamination. Owing to this, they might include a range of chemical and microbiological contaminants that can be found in contaminated waters, including diclofenac, organochlorine pesticides, dioxins, furans, heavy metals, microplastics, nanomaterials, nanoparticles, persistent organic pollutants, polychlorinated biphenyls, perfluoroalkyl substances, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and organochlorine compounds. Mussels should also be processed under appropriate conditions after being harvested from clean waters, and their contamination should be prevented. It is thought that it is necessary to carry out controls continuously at every stage, from harvest to consumption, for consumers to reach healthy and reliable mussels. In addition, as this study reported, it is envisaged that information studies on the chemical and microbiological contaminants of mussels and their safety will be important to prevent the formation of disease risks.