Environmental organic contaminant body burdens and GC-MS based untargeted metabolomics in mediterranean mussels from Port Phillip Bay, Australia

Mussels were collected from four coastal sites around Port Phillip Bay, Australia in Mar and Apr 2021). Body burdens of Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were measured and the possible sources of toxicants discussed. In addition, a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) based untargeted metabolomics analysis was performed using the mantle tissues of mussels. Correlations between the results of contaminant body burdens and metabolic variations were investigated. The results demonstrated that high accumulations of low-molecular-weight PAHs were found in mussels. High body burdens of PCBs and OCPs were only found at mussels from the site close to the river mouth. Some of the metabolic pathways were correlated with the accumulation of PAHs. No correlations were found between PCB and OCP accumulations and metabolic abundances. According to the food and environmental standards of the European Union (EU), the PAH, PCB, and OCP accumulation in mussels in this study are a serious food safety concern.

Automated summary

Mussels collected from coastal sites in Port Phillip Bay, Australia were analyzed for the presence of PAHs, PCBs, and OCPs. Metabolomics analysis using GC-MS was performed on mantle tissues of the mussels to investigate metabolic variations. The results showed high accumulation of low-molecular-weight PAHs in the mussels, while high body burdens of PCBs and OCPs were only found in mussels from the site close to the river mouth. The accumulation of PAHs was correlated with certain metabolic pathways, but no correlations were found for PCBs and OCPs.