Crab fluids as indicators of ecosystem health and exposure risk: development and validation of a method for bisphenol analogues detection

Abstract

This study aimed to develop and validate an analytical method for the simultaneous detection of bisphenol analogues in the hemolymph and urine of two estuarine crab species: Ucides cordatus and Cardisoma guanhumi. The selected matrices are rarely explored in environmental studies, yet they provide valuable insight into internal exposure and contaminant bioaccumulation. Sampling was conducted in 2025 in two estuarine regions along the South Atlantic coast of northeastern Brazil: Fortim (Ceará) and Itapissuma (Pernambuco). The analytical method, based on HPLC-FLD, demonstrated high sensitivity, with LODs as low as 0.004 ng/mL. Bisphenol analogues concentrations were significantly higher in hemolymph than in urine, with BPA, BPF, and BPC frequently exceeding the tolerable daily intake (TDI) of 0.004 μg/kg bw/day. The highest levels were observed in Fortim (Ceará), particularly in C. guanhumi, where bisphenol F reached over 200,000 ng/mL. These concentrations pose potential risks to aquatic organisms and human consumers, given that crab meat and cooking liquid are typically ingested together. HPLC-FLD is a reliable and accessible tool for bisphenol analogues monitoring, especially in low-resource environmental studies. Notably, all bisphenol analogues were detected in hemolymph, while some were absent in urine, reinforcing the former as a more representative matrix for chronic exposure. The presence of highly lipophilic and persistent bisphenol analogues, combined with their bioaccumulation potential, highlights the need for broader regulatory attention beyond BPA. This study demonstrates the relevance of crabs as effective bioindicators and supports the inclusion of alternative biological matrices in environmental risk assessment.

Keywords: Analytical protocol; Animal fluid; Endocrine disruption; Environmental risk assessment; Plastic additive.