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Plasticizers and Bisphenols in Sicilian Lagoon Bivalves, Water, and Sediments: Environmental Risk in Areas with Different Anthropogenic Pressure
Summary
This study measures concentrations of plasticizers (phthalates) and bisphenols in bivalve tissue, water, and sediment collected from lagoon ecosystems in Sicily, Italy. Detected levels are mapped across sites to identify contamination hotspots and assess bioaccumulation in shellfish consumed by humans. The findings contribute to understanding chemical pollution burdens in Mediterranean coastal environments and the associated food safety implications.
Plasticizers and bisphenols are contaminants of concern in the environment, particularly in aquatic ecosystems. Bivalve molluscs are effective bioindicators due to their benthic nature, their ability to filter water, and their capacity to bioaccumulate persistent pollutants. This study analyzes plasticizers and bisphenols in three native clam species (Ruditapes decussatus, Cerastoderma glaucum, and Polititapes aureus) from two Sicilian lagoons under different levels of anthropogenic pressure: the urbanized Capo Peloro lagoon (Ganzirri Lake) and the less impacted Oliveri–Tindari lagoon. The clams, together with water and sediment samples, were collected in winter 2023. Both groups of clams from the two sampling areas contained phthalates such as DMP, DEP, DiBP, and DEHP, as well as non-phthalate plasticizers such as DEHT, DBA, DEA, and DEHA. The sum of non-phthalate plasticizers (NPPs) was consistently higher than the sum of phthalates in all clam samples, confirming the emerging trend of NPPs. This trend was also observed in the water and sediment samples, regardless of the sampling area. The presence of structural analogues of bisphenol A (BPA) highlights the growing prevalence of BPA-like structures in aquatic environments. Given the increasing evidence of widespread and persistent contamination of aquatic environments by plasticizers and bisphenols, it is evident that these substances pose a significant threat to ecosystems and human health.