Life sciences · Journal article

Occurrence, human health and ecological risk assessment of bisphenol A in the estuarine water and the edible fish species from the northwest of the Persian Gulf, Iran (Bandar-e Mahshahr).

Journal of Environmental Health Science & Engineering · July 27, 2026

Preliminary Why this matters to you Expert discussion

Early or partial results. Treat as a signal, not a conclusion.

AI Summary

This cross-sectional environmental survey detected bisphenol A in fish muscle tissue and estuarine water from Bandar-e Mahshahr, Iran, with estimated health and ecological risk quotients below thresholds of concern. The study provides baseline contamination data for a single industrialised coastal region but does not establish temporal trends, causation, or longitudinal health impacts.

What was studied

Cross-sectional environmental survey with chemical analysis and modelled risk assessment. Two edible fish species (Liza abu and Brachirus orientalis) and water from five estuaries in Bandar-e Mahshahr, Khuzestan province, north coast of Persian Gulf, Iran. n = 80. Bandar-e Mahshahr, Khuzestan province, northwest Persian Gulf, Iran (five estuaries: Jafari, Zangi, Ghazaleh, Darwish, and Musa).

Key findings

Mean BPA in Liza abu muscle tissue: 4.15 ± 4.48 µg/kg Mean BPA in Brachirus orientalis muscle tissue: 3.65 ± 2.97 µg/kg Mean BPA in estuary water: 0.035 ± 0.016 µg/L

Safety

Safety was not reported in the material analysed. Check the source before drawing any conclusion about harm.

Who this may help

Clinicians and public health professionals may use this baseline survey to contextualise BPA exposure in this region; however, the risk quotient approach does not quantify absolute health burden or incidence. Regular monitoring is recommended, but no individual-level clinical action is supported by this data.

Plain-language summary

Single-site environmental survey with risk modelling showing detectable BPA in fish and water with estimated low human and ecological risk, but lacking comparison arm, mechanistic validation, or prospective health outcome data.

Study design

As stated by the source record.

MethodsWater and fish muscle tissue samples collected from five estuaries in Bandar-e Mahshahr. BPA concentration measured using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Human health risk assessed using health quotient (HQ) approach; ecological risk assessed using risk quotient (RQ). Statistical comparison of BPA concentration between fish species performed.

DesignCross-sectional environmental survey with chemical analysis and modelled risk assessment

PopulationTwo edible fish species (Liza abu and Brachirus orientalis) and water from five estuaries in Bandar-e Mahshahr, Khuzestan province, north coast of Persian Gulf, Iran

Sample size80

SettingBandar-e Mahshahr, Khuzestan province, northwest Persian Gulf, Iran (five estuaries: Jafari, Zangi, Ghazaleh, Darwish, and Musa)

Reported figures

Quoted from the source exactly as published.

Mean BPA concentration in Liza abu4.15 ± 4.48 µg/kg

Mean BPA concentration in Brachirus orientalis3.65 ± 2.97 µg/kg

Mean BPA concentration in estuary water0.035 ± 0.016 µg/L

p-value for fish species BPA difference0.002

Sample size (water)40

Sample size (fish)40

Human health quotient (HQ)< 1

Clinical bottom line

Caveats

No control or unexposed reference sites; single survey timepoint precludes trend analysis
Risk quotient methodology and reference dose used for HQ calculation not described or justified
No carcinogenic risk assessment reported despite BPA's classification as a potential carcinogen
Bioaccumulation comparison between species stated qualitatively (higher in B. orientalis) but no quantitative bioaccumulation factor (BAF) or comparison to other regions provided

Evidence assessment

Graded across the dimensions that decide whether you should act, each from what the source actually supports. There is no single score, and where a dimension was not assessed it says so.

Study design

limited

Single-location cross-sectional survey without control or comparison sites

Directness

moderate

Measures BPA in edible fish species and water; applies standardised risk quotient methodology

Consistency

insufficient

No comparison to other estuaries or prior surveys of same region reported

Risk of bias

limited

No blinding, no validation of GC-MS method, sampling strategy not detailed

Sample adequacy

moderate

40 water and 40 fish samples across two species from five estuaries

Source abstract

Purpose. This study aimed to determine bisphenol A (BPA) concentration in fish muscle tissue (Liza abu and Brachirus orientalis) and water from five estuaries of Bandar-e Mahshahr, Khuzestan province, Iran.Methods. 40 water samples and 40 fish samples from two species were collected from the north coast of the Persian Gulf, Iran (Bandar-e Mahshahr). After preparing and extracting samples, BPA concentration was measured using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS).Results. The mean concentration of BPA in the muscle tissue of Liza abu and Brachirus orientalis was 4.15 ± 4.48 µg/kg and 3.65 ± 2.97 µg/kg, respectively. The mean concentration of BPA in the estuary's water was equal to 0.035 ± 0.016 µg/L. BPA concentration in both fish species had a statistically significant difference (P = 0.002). The highest BPA concentration was observed in Jafari, Zangi and Ghazaleh estuaries and lowest concentrations were related to Darwish and Musa estuaries. The bioaccumulation of BPA was higher in Brachirus orientalis than in Liza abu. The results of the risk assessment showed that exposure to BPA due to the consumption of fish does not pose a significant risk to the health of consumers (HQ < 1). Considering the mean BPA concentration, the risk quotient (RQ) showed low ecological risk.Conclusion. This study confirmed the presence of BPA in estuarine water and edible fish species of Bandar-e Mahshahr, with higher concentrations detected in Jafari, Zangi and Ghazaleh estuaries. Despite the low non-carcinogenic human health risk and ecological risk, regular monitoring of BPA is essential to prevent further accumulation and to protect both the aquatic ecosystem and public health in this industrialized coastal region.Graphical abstract. Supplementary information. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40201-026-00993-1.

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Ali Akbar BabaeiMaryam DastoorpourSeyed Arsalan DavoodiantalabAfshin TakdastanMahboobeh DehvariSahand Jorfi