Distribution of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in cultured mussels from the Croatian coast of the Adriatic Sea

•OCPs and PCB congeners were determined in edible tissue of cultivated mussels.•Contaminants profiles in mussels are seasonally dependent.•The results are discussed in the light of maximum levels permitted by European Union.•Contaminant levels do not show evidence of risk for consumers.

In this study we investigated the distribution of 7 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and 17 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) congeners in the edible tissue of the blue mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) collected at 15 shellfish breeding farms and 1 harvesting area along the Croatian Adriatic coast. All analyzed OCPs were found in all samples (0.011-1.47 ng g−1 w.wt.). Concentrations of PCB congeners in positive samples ranged between 0.007 and 7.66 ng g−1 w.wt. The most abundant compounds were γ-HCH, PCB-138 and PCB-153. Overall levels of PCBs and OCPs were in the lower end of the concentration ranges reported in literature. Significant differences of all contaminants were recorded between seasons, with higher values in the warmer part of the year. Results of the evaluation of the risks to human health associated with consumption of the mussels containing organic contaminants suggest that the levels of these compounds in mussels do not pose any threat for consumers of cultivated mussels.