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Occurrences and patterns of residual organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in cultured Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) in China: concentrations, sources, and a human health risk assessment

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Abstract

Seventy Chinese mitten crab samples, encompassing a total of 2100 individuals, were collected from the main production areas in China. The objective was to assess the occurrences and patterns of 23 selected organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the edible tissues and assess the associated dietary risk. Concentrations of total residual OCPs in the mitten crabs ranged from 0.72 to 51.51 μg kg−1, which was comparable to other global aquatic species. Dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethanes (DDTs) and hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) were the two main contributors of total OCPs, with the detected values ranging from 0.14 to 30.89 μg kg−1 and 0.23 to 4.04 μg kg−1, respectively. Source analysis indicated the coexistence of both residual and recent DDT inputs, while there was no indication of HCH usage in the main production area of mitten crab. In terms of dietary risk, at least eight individual mitten crabs per day are permissible for consumption by local residents, indicating low risk from consumption. The results presented herein should guide the production and consumption of mitten crab, as well as promote the sustainable development of aquaculture in China.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the constructive comments of the anonymous reviewers.

Funding

This work was supported by the Central Public-Interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund, CAFS (No. 2018HY-ZD0605), the National Quality and Safety Project of the Aquatic Products of China (GJFP201800903), and the special fund for agro-scientific research in the public interest (No. 201503108).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control & Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, People’s Republic of China

    Chao Song & Xiaowei Zhang

  2. Key laboratory of Control of Quality and Safety for Aquatic Products, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi, People’s Republic of China

    Cong Zhang & Jingwei Zhang

Authors
  1. Chao Song
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  2. Cong Zhang
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  3. Jingwei Zhang
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  4. Xiaowei Zhang
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Correspondence to Xiaowei Zhang.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Song, C., Zhang, C., Zhang, J. et al. Occurrences and patterns of residual organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in cultured Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) in China: concentrations, sources, and a human health risk assessment. Environ Sci Pollut Res 26, 4952–4960 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-3981-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-3981-z

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