Human Consumption of Non-Native Species in a Circular Economy: Determination of Persistent Organic Pollutants in the Invasive Signal Crayfish from a Baltic Coastal River and Its Assessment for Consumption

Aldona Dobrzycka-Krahel (), Michał E. Skóra and Marika Malek
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Aldona Dobrzycka-Krahel: Business Faculty, WSB Merito University in Gdańsk, Al. Grunwaldzka 238 A, 80-266 Gdańsk, Poland
Michał E. Skóra: Professor Krzysztof Skóra Hel Marine Station, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, University of Gdansk, Morska 2, 84-150 Hel, Poland
Marika Malek: Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, University of Gdansk, Al. Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 9, 1-14

Abstract: A circular economy aims at decoupling value creation from waste generation and resource use. The signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus is kept worldwide in aquaculture and after escaping into the wild, may further be used for human consumption rather than eradicated and used for purposes such as fertilizing fields. The level of contamination by two groups of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), in non-native signal crayfish from a Baltic coastal river, was measured in two locations (under anthropogenic pressure and semi-natural pressure) to understand whether its consumption might be a threat to human health. Concentrations of indicators and total compounds of POPs in the edible parts of crayfish (muscular tissue of crayfish) with potential human health risks were determined. The levels of concentrations of POPs meet the requirements of Regulations (EU) No. 836/2011 and No. 1259/2011 for the consumption of crustaceans. Our results also indicate no significant public health risk caused by consumption of the signal crayfish (hazard quotients (HQ) < 1). The results show that the bioaccumulation of POPs depends on the species’ traits and environment.

Keywords: human health risk assessment; circular economy; consumption pattern; invasive alien species management; food security (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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