Decontaminating molluscs at four times the speed

Researchers at the Universitat Jaume I (UJI) and the Spanish Research Council (CSIC) have patented a method to remove organic pollutants, such as pesticide residues, from bivalve molluscs.

The technique can double or even quadruple the current rate of removal of organic compounds, depending on the type of pollutant.

Bivalve molluscs obtain their food by filtering seawater, retaining the organic particles it contains. Together with nutrients, molluscs also accumulate other suspended particles — such as organic pollutants, which are ingested later by human consumers.

The cultivation of bivalve molluscs in shallow waters close to urban, industrial and agricultural areas may cause these organisms to accumulate organic pollutants, including pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, furans and endocrine disruptors.

Studies show chronic exposure to pesticides and other aforementioned pollutants is associated to a higher risk of developing cancer and certain neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease. Moreover, endocrine disruptors may interact with the metabolic system and deteriorate a variable number of developmental functions.

Currently, decontamination consists of filtering with sterilised water, or applying hydrostatic pressure at high temperatures for 48 hours.

However, complete removal of pesticides from the tissues of the bivalve molluscs takes several days, so the conventional treatment may not be sufficient.

“The method that we have developed allows us to improve this process and means that pesticides can be removed from the tissues of molluscs twice or even four times as quickly, depending on the type of pollutant,” said co-author Roque Serrano, from the University Institute of Pesticides and Waters at UJI.

“It also increases tolerance to oxidative stress,” he said.