Monteiro, Francielli Casanova, Carreira, Renato da Silva, Gramlich, Kamila Cezar, de Pinho, Júlia Vianna, Massone, Carlos German, Vianna, Marcelo, and Hauser-Davis, Rachel Ann
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination is ubiquitous and comprises a significant worldwide concern in ecological and Public Health frameworks. Many aquatic biota representatives have been reported as contaminated by these toxic compounds, including one of the most threatened vertebrate groups, elasmobranchs (sharks and rays). Although elasmobranchs play important ecological roles and provide significant ecosystem services, they are highly consumed and comprise a cheap source of protein for humans globally. Studies concerning elasmobranch PAH contamination are, however, notably lacking. A systematic review was, thus, conducted herein to assess PAH elasmobranch contamination and discuss potential human health risks following the Preferred Reporting Item Statement Guidelines for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines applying the Population (P), Intervention (I), Comparison I, and Outcome (O) (PICO) strategy. A total of 86 published papers were retrieved by this method and analyzed. Only nine studies of this total concerned PAH elasmobranch contamination, assessed in 10 shark species and one ray species, with only one study calculating human health risks. A significant knowledge gap is, thus, noted for this subject, indicating the need to monitor PAH elasmobranch contamination in consumed shark and ray species worldwide. • PAH contamination in elasmobranchs is poorly studied. • Human health risks from elasmobranch PAH contamination are mostly neglected. • A systematic literature review retrieved 86 studies on fish PAH contamination. • Only nine concerned elasmobranchs, and only one calculated human health risks. • Efforts to monitor PAH contamination in elasmobranchs are clearly paramount. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]