ASSESSMENT OF PER- AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES IN MOLLUSCS FROM OGBESE RIVER, ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) represent a large group of synthetic chemicals with strong carbon-fluorine bonds, making them highly resistant to environmental degradation. They mostly enter the environment through industrial waste, wastewater treatment effluents, and atmospheric deposition. Bulinus species, known for its ecological and public health importance, was selected as the bioindicator organism due to its benthic and filter-feeding characteristics as well as its high potential to bioaccumulate persistent contaminants. This study assessed the concentrations of PFAS in Bulinus species in Ogbese River. Samples of Bubble snails (Bulinus spp) were collected from Ogbese River for three months (December 2024 - February 2025) and transported to the Animal and Environmental Biology laboratory for identification and analysis. Seven PFA compounds were assessed in the mollusc tissues. The results showed perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPA) and perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) recorded the highest levels of concentration among others, with PFBA ranging from 4.08ng/g to 8.42ng/g. At the same time, PFPA had higher values ranging from 16.74ng/g/g to 20.76ng/g/g. Based on these findings, it is concluded that the Ogbese River ecosystem is burdened with PFA contamination, dominated by PFPA and PFBA, which may compromise aquatic biodiversity and threaten community health through dietary exposure. The research therefore recommends that governmental and environmental agencies should implement systematic and periodic PFAs monitoring in rivers. Regulatory bodies, such as NESREA and the State Ministry of Environment, should develop National guidelines for PFAS levels in water, biota, and sediments based on WHO and EPA standards. Also, community sensitisation on the potential risks of consuming contaminated Bulinus species is crucial. Furthermore, advanced research is recommended on the bioaccumulation dynamics of PFPA and PFBA in Bulinus species and other aquatic organisms of Ogbese River to understand their long-term ecological and toxicological impacts and to develop integrated management strategies for controlling PFA pollution in the freshwater environment.