Imposex phenomenon in Gastropods ( Turbo crassus) in Lamongan Regency, East Java, and the implication on food safety

The Kemantren Beach area, located in Lamongan Regency, East Java Province, is influenced by diverse maritime, industrial, fisheries, and tourism activities that contribute to coastal pollution. Among the most concerning contaminants are tributyltin and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals from ship anti-fouling paints, which bioaccumulate in marine organisms, particularly gastropods. These pollutants are linked to endocrine disruption, hormonal imbalance, intersex conditions, and imposex, the development of male sexual characteristics in female gonochoristic gastropods, often resulting in sterility or mortality. To investigate this phenomenon, imposex analysis in gastropods was conducted using morphometric, anatomical, and histological methods. This study aimed to determine the severity of imposex in gastropods based on morphometry, anatomy, and histology, assessing the suitability of gastropods in the study region. The results revealed an imposex prevalence of 46.6%, with a Relative Penis Length Index (RPLI) of 84.4% and a Relative Penis Size Index (RPSI) of 59.3%. It was concluded that the Turbo crassus population at Kemantren Beach exhibits a significant prevalence of imposex. Our brief review indicates that the imposex phenomenon has implications for the food chain and food safety, potentially affecting other organisms and humans.