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The most consumed squid species worldwide were characterized regarding their concentrations of min-erals, fatty acids, cholesterol and vitamin E. Interspecific comparisons were assessed among species and geographical origin. The health benefits derived from squid consumption were assessed based on daily minerals intake and on nutritional lipid quality indexes. Squids contribute significantly to daily intake of several macro (Na, K, Mg and P) and micronutrients (Cu, Zn and Ni). Despite their low fat concentration, they are rich in long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, particularly docosahexaenoic (DHA) and eicosapentanoic (EPA) acids, with highly favorable x-3/x-6 ratios (from 5.7 to 17.7), reducing the significance of their high cholesterol concentration (140-549 mg/100 g ww). Assessment of potential health risks based on minerals intake, non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks indicated that Loligo gahi (from Atlantic Ocean), Loligo opalescens (from Pacific Ocean) and Loligo duvaucelii (from Indic Ocean) should be eaten with moderation due to the high concentrations of Cu and/or Cd. Canonical discriminant analysis identified the major fatty acids (C14:0, C18:0, C18:1, C18:3x-3, C20:4x-6 and C22:5x-6), P, K, Cu and vitamin E as chemical discriminators for the selected species. These elements and compounds exhibited the potential to prove authenticity of the commercially relevant squid species.

Pharmaceuticals, as a contaminant of emergent concern, are being released uncontrollably into the environment potentially causing hazardous effects to aquatic ecosystems and consequently to human health. In the absence of well-established monitoring programs, one can only imagine the full extent of this problem and so there is an urgent need for the development of extremely sensitive, portable, and low-cost devices to perform analysis. Carbon-based nanomaterials are the most used nanostructures in (bio)sensors construction attributed to their facile and well-characterized production methods, commercial availability, reduced cost, high chemical stability, and low toxicity. However, most importantly, their relatively good conductivity enabling appropriate electron transfer rates—as well as their high surface area yielding attachment and extraordinary loading capacity for biomolecules—have been relevant and desirable features, justifying the key role that they have been playing, and will continue to play, in electrochemical (bio)sensor development. The present review outlines the contribution of carbon nanomaterials (carbon nanotubes, graphene, fullerene, carbon nanofibers, carbon black, carbon nanopowder, biochar nanoparticles, and graphite oxide), used alone or combined with other (nano)materials, to the field of environmental (bio)sensing, and more specifically, to pharmaceutical pollutants analysis in waters and aquatic species. The main trends of this field of research are also addressed.

This work describes the study of a nanostructured pencil graphite electrode (PGE) with immobilized glucose oxidase (GOx) having enough robustness to encompass amperometric detection inside microfluidic manifolds. The procedure starts with activation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and sequent mixture with GOx. Further addition of ammonium sulfate promoted the precipitation of the enzyme in the vicinity of the nanotubes afterwards stabilized through cross-linking with adding of glutaraldehyde. The obtained solid was then suspended in a nafion solution and finally deposited over the surface of a PGE previously modified with reduced graphene. The approach enabled high and constant enzyme activity, improved stability of the biofilm coating over PGE surface and its use under flow regimen inside microfluidic platforms. In this last condition, the sensitivity achieved corresponded to 35 μA mM −1 cm −2 in a three order of magnitude analytical range up to 39 mM glucose and with a detection limit of 14.9 μM. The biosensor was also applied for the competitive detection of cadmium through an inhibitory effect on GOx, providing the sensitivity of about 1.0 μA mM −1 .

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are persistent pollutants that have been raising global concern due to their carcinogenic and mutagenic properties. A total of 18 PAHs (16 USEPA priority compounds, benzo(j)fluoranthene and dibenzo(a,l)pyrene) were assessed in the edible tissues of raw octopus (Octopus vulgaris, Octopus maya, and Eledone cirrhosa) from six geographical origins available to Portuguese consumers. Inter- and intra-species comparison was statistically performed. The concentrations of total PAHs (∑PAHs) ranged between 8.59 and 12.8 μg/kg w.w. Octopus vulgaris caught in northwest Atlantic Ocean presented ΣPAHs significantly higher than those captured in Pacific Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, as well as than the other characterized species from western central and northeast Atlantic Ocean. PAHs with 2-3 rings were the predominant compounds (86-92% of ∑PAHs) but diagnostic ratios indicated the existence of pyrogenic sources in addition to petrogenic sources. Known and possible/probable carcinogenic compounds represented 11-21% of ΣPAHs. World and Portuguese per capita ingestion of ∑PAHs due to cephalopods consumption varied between 1.62-2.55 × 10 and 7.09-11.2 × 10 μg/kg body weight per day, respectively. Potential risks estimated for low and high consumers according to USEPA methodology suggested that a regular consumption of raw octopus does not pose public health risks.

Octopus vulgaris, Octopus maya, and Eledone cirrhosa from distinct marine environments [Northeast Atlantic (NEA), Northwest Atlantic (NWA), Eastern Central Atlantic, Western Central Atlantic (WCA), Pacific Ocean, and Mediterranean Sea] were characterized regarding their lipid and vitamin E composition. These species are those commercially more relevant worldwide. Significant interspecies and interorigin differences were observed. Unsaturated fatty acids account for more than 65% of total fatty acids, mostly ω-3 PUFA due to docosahexaenoic (18.4-29.3%) and eicosapentanoic acid (11.4-23.9%) contributions. The highest ω-3 PUFA amounts and ω-3/ω-6 ratios were quantified in the heaviest specimens, O. vulgaris from NWA, with high market price, and simultaneously in the lowest graded samples, E. cirrhosa from NEA, of reduced dimensions. Although having the highest cholesterol contents, E. cirrhosa from NEA and O. maya from WCA have also higher protective fatty acid indexes. Chemometric discrimination allowed clustering the selected species and several origins based on lipid and vitamin E profiles.