PMID- 36149869 OWN - NLM STAT- MEDLINE DCOM- 20220928 LR - 20220930 IS - 1932-6203 (Electronic) IS - 1932-6203 (Linking) VI - 17 IP - 9 DP - 2022 TI - Chemical contaminant levels in edible seaweeds of the Salish Sea and implications for their consumption. PG - e0269269 LID - 10.1371/journal.pone.0269269 [doi] LID - e0269269 AB - Despite growing interest in edible seaweeds, there is limited information on seaweed chemical contaminant levels in the Salish Sea. Without this knowledge, health-based consumption advisories can not be determined for consumers that include Tribes and First Nations, Asian and Pacific Islander community members, and recreational harvesters. We measured contaminant concentrations in edible seaweeds (Fucus distichus, F. spiralis, and Nereocystis luetkeana) from 43 locations in the Salish Sea. Metals were analyzed in all samples, and 94 persistent organic pollutants (POPs) (i.e. 40 PCBs, 15 PBDEs, 17 PCDD/Fs, and 22 organochlorine pesticides) and 51 PAHs were analyzed in Fucus spp. We compared concentrations of contaminants to human health-based screening levels calculated from the USEPA and to international limits. We then worked with six focal contaminants that either exceeded screening levels or international limits (Cd, total Hg, Pb, benzo[a]pyrene [BaP], and PCBs) or are of regional interest (total As). USEPA cancer-based screening levels were exceeded in 30 samples for the PCBs and two samples for BaP. Cadmium concentrations did not exceed the USEPA noncancer-based screening level but did exceed international limits at all sites. Lead exceeded international limits at three sites. Because there are no screening levels for total Hg and total As, and to be conservative, we made comparisons to methyl Hg and inorganic As screening levels. All samples were below the methyl Hg and above the inorganic As screening levels. Without knowledge of the As speciation, we cannot assess the health risk associated with the As. While seaweed was the focus, we did not consider contaminant exposure from consuming other foods. Other chemicals, such as contaminants of emerging concern (e.g., PFAS, pharmaceuticals and personal care products), should also be considered. Additionally, although we focused on toxicological aspects, there are cultural and health benefits of seaweed use that may affect consumer choice. FAU - Hahn, Jennifer L AU - Hahn JL AD - Department of Environmental Studies, Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington, United States of America. FAU - Van Alstyne, Kathryn L AU - Van Alstyne KL AUID- ORCID: 0000-0002-7023-5521 AD - Shannon Point Marine Center, Western Washington University, Anacortes, Washington, United States of America. FAU - Gaydos, Joseph K AU - Gaydos JK AUID- ORCID: 0000-0001-6599-8797 AD - The SeaDoc Society, Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center - Orcas Island Office, University of California Davis, Eastsound, Washington, United States of America. FAU - Wallis, Lindsay K AU - Wallis LK AD - Department of Environmental Sciences, Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington, United States of America. FAU - West, James E AU - West JE AD - Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, Olympia, Washington, United States of America. FAU - Hollenhorst, Steven J AU - Hollenhorst SJ AD - Department of Urban and Environmental Planning and Policy, Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington, United States of America. FAU - Ylitalo, Gina M AU - Ylitalo GM AD - Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, Seattle, Washington, United States of America. FAU - Poppenga, Robert H AU - Poppenga RH AD - California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, Davis Branch, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America. FAU - Bolton, Jennie L AU - Bolton JL AD - Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, Seattle, Washington, United States of America. FAU - McBride, David E AU - McBride DE AD - Washington Department of Health Office of Environmental Health Assessments Olympia, Washington, United States of America. FAU - Sofield, Ruth M AU - Sofield RM AUID- ORCID: 0000-0002-2498-9955 AD - Department of Environmental Sciences, Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington, United States of America. LA - eng SI - figshare/10.6084/m9.figshare.19149026.v1 PT - Journal Article DEP - 20220923 PL - United States TA - PLoS One JT - PloS one JID - 101285081 RN - 0 (Dibenzofurans) RN - 0 (Fluorocarbons) RN - 0 (Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers) RN - 0 (Pesticides) RN - 0 (Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins) RN - 0 (Water Pollutants, Chemical) RN - 00BH33GNGH (Cadmium) RN - 2P299V784P (Lead) RN - 3417WMA06D (Benzo(a)pyrene) RN - DFC2HB4I0K (Polychlorinated Biphenyls) RN - FXS1BY2PGL (Mercury) SB - IM MH - Benzo(a)pyrene MH - Cadmium MH - Dibenzofurans MH - Environmental Monitoring MH - *Fluorocarbons MH - Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers MH - Humans MH - Lead MH - *Mercury/analysis MH - Persistent Organic Pollutants MH - *Pesticides/analysis MH - *Polychlorinated Biphenyls/analysis MH - *Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins MH - *Seaweed MH - *Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis PMC - PMC9506624 COIS- The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. EDAT- 2022/09/24 06:00 MHDA- 2022/09/28 06:00 PMCR- 2022/09/23 CRDT- 2022/09/23 13:34 PHST- 2021/12/07 00:00 [received] PHST- 2022/05/18 00:00 [accepted] PHST- 2022/09/23 13:34 [entrez] PHST- 2022/09/24 06:00 [pubmed] PHST- 2022/09/28 06:00 [medline] PHST- 2022/09/23 00:00 [pmc-release] AID - PONE-D-21-38712 [pii] AID - 10.1371/journal.pone.0269269 [doi] PST - epublish SO - PLoS One. 2022 Sep 23;17(9):e0269269. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269269. eCollection 2022.