Determination of the Bioaccumulative Potential Risk of Emerging Contaminants in Fish Muscle as an Environmental Quality Indicator in Coastal Lagoons of the Central Mexican Pacific

Abstract

This research proposes an environmental quality indicator to detect, predict and scientifically evaluate the environmental impact generated by chemical substances within the pollutant group of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that are categorized as emerging contaminants (ECs) with endocrine disruptive action. The present study was carried out in two coastal lagoons affected by wastewater produced by urban and rural settlements in the states of Colima and Jalisco. Four pharmaceutical compounds were analyzed: diclofenac, ibuprofen, ketorolac and naproxen. The muscle tissues of 14 fish species were analyzed; all had measurable concentrations of the four contaminants. The presence of the ECs was confirmed in all the samples collected. The bioaccumulative potential risk (BPR) of the ECs is estimated by calculating the environmental risk factors and the potential risks to human health, evaluating the concentration and assessing the risk involved in the incorporation of the pollutants into the environment. The BPR indicates the potential impact of NSAIDs on the ecology of these coastal lagoons, and predicts whether a contaminant is likely to act and persist in the environment and bioaccumulate in organisms. Additionally, it estimates the possibility of contamination and risks to human health caused by residues of the chemical contaminants.