Today, the abundance of personal care product (PCP) ingredients and UV filters (UVFs) in coastal marine environments is a growing concern worldwide. In addition, mussels are the most commonly used sentinel organisms in bio-monitoring programs. In the current study, we collected mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) (over 6 months) from three seawater sites in Tunisia (Monastir, Sousse, and Mahdia). Analysis of the samples by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) revealed the presence of 13 compounds among the 18 PCP ingredients and UVFs investigated. Avobenzone (AVO) and tert-butyl hydroxyphenyl benzotriazole (TBHPBT) were the most frequently observed, ranging from 121.076 ± 1.6 to 193.481 ± 5.5 ng g⁻¹ and 20.987 ± 0.7 to 26.704 ± 1.7 ng g⁻¹, respectively, with maximum values in the city of Sousse. 4-Hydroxybenzophenone (4HB) and benzophenone-1 (BP1) were also found in all mussel samples with levels in the range of 26.745 ± 0.4 ng g⁻¹ and 12.53 ± 0.5 ng g⁻¹, respectively. We observed a positive correlation with the chemical characterization of the contaminated seawater. The environmental hazards of PCP ingredients were estimated with the aim of performing a preliminary risk assessment at the environmental level. For this purpose, the estimated daily intake (EDI) of a substance was calculated. The results obtained revealed a high value of up to 68.36 ng kg body-weight⁻¹ day⁻¹. The high concentration observed in the samples reported for the target PCP ingredients could be partly attributed to their inefficient removal before being released into the sea. We now know that PCP ingredients and UVFs cause irreparable damage to coastal ecosystems and pose the greatest risk to the aquatic organisms tested.

This study investigates the environmental and health impacts of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in solid and liquid wastes from phosphate beneficiation and fertilizer production in the Mdhilla area, Gafsa Basin, Tunisia. Solid wastes, including phosphate tailings (PTs) and phosphogypsum (PG), and associated industrial effluents from phosphate beneficiation (PBE) and fertilizer production (PFE), were characterized using physicochemical analysis, ICP-MS, SEM–EDX, and ion chromatography. Single and integrated pollution indices, along with conservative human health risk assessments, were applied to evaluate cumulative contamination and potential risks. PT exhibited near-neutral pH (7.64) and high PTE enrichment (Zn 350 mg kg⁻¹, Cr 329 mg kg⁻¹, Cd 38.8 mg kg⁻¹), whereas PG was strongly acidic (pH 3.13) and comparatively depleted in metals, reflecting process-dependent partitioning. Despite neutral pH, PBEs contained markedly higher metal concentrations than PFEs, with Fe (163 mg L⁻¹), Cr (3.09 mg L⁻¹), Cd (0.49 mg L⁻¹), and Pb (0.71 mg L⁻¹) exceeding discharge limits. Pollution indices indicated severe to extreme contamination, with PBE showing an exceptionally high contamination degree (C_deg = 63,659) compared to PFE (C_deg = 12,815), and elevated Toxic Element Pollution Index (PTEPI) values confirmed stronger cumulative pollution in PBE. Potential ecological risk indices (PERI > 600) revealed very high ecological risk for both effluents, primarily driven by Cd, Co, and Tl. Although dermal contact may represent the most frequent exposure route, risk assessment results indicated that accidental oral ingestion is the dominant pathway contributing to both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks, with children being particularly vulnerable. Non-carcinogenic risk thresholds (HQ > 1) were exceeded for PBE, while total carcinogenic risks approached or exceeded regulatory limits (10⁻⁶–10⁻⁴), mainly due to Cd and Cr. Overall, phosphate beneficiation was the primary source of cumulative metal loading and associated ecological and health risks, while fertilizer production partially reduced contamination. These findings underscore the urgent need for improved management and mitigation of phosphate-processing wastes in industrial regions.