Accumulation of mercury in the tissues of the common octopus Octopus vulgaris (L.) in two localities on the Portuguese coast

Abstract

Mercury concentrations were measured in tissues of 12 individuals of Octopus vulgaris, captured by the commercial fishery at two points along the Portuguese coast, Viana do Castelo and Cascais, in spring 2002. Concentrations were determined in six tissues (digestive gland, branchial hearts, gills, mantle, arms, and gonads). Correlations between mercury concentrations in different tissues were examined as were correlations between mercury levels and total length, mantle length, weight, gonadosomatic index, digestive gland index, and state of maturation. Differences between sexes and localities were analysed.The concentration of mercury in the digestive gland (Viana, 0.58F0.08, and Cascais, 3.43F2.57 mg/kg dry weight) was higher than in the other tissues, and values were generally similar to those recorded in previous studies on octopods. Arm muscle contained most of the mercury with 56% of the total body burden followed by the digestive gland with 31%, mantle with 11%, gills with 0.8%, gonad with 0.5%, and branchial heart with 0.2%. In all tissues, mercury concentrations were slightly higher in samples from Cascais than in Viana do Castelo, which is consistent with higher concentrations recorded in seawater at Cascais. Levels of mercury determined in octopus were within the range of values legally defined as safe for human consumption. D

Total lead and its stable isotopes in the digestive gland of Octopus vulgaris as a fingerprint

“…River flow regime and pyrite belt location were invoked as major factors influencing these differences. A similar geographic contrast was found for Zn, Pb, Cd and Hg concentrations in the digestive gland of Octopus vulgaris (Raimundo et al 2004, Napoleão et al 2005, Seixas et al 2005: enhanced levels of Pb, Hg, and Zn were found in individuals from the south coast and higher accumulation of Cd was found in specimens captured in NW stations.…”

“…Miramand & Bentley 1992, Nessim & Riad 2003, Seixas et al 2005, Bustamante et al 2008. Furthermore, accumulated Pb levels appear to depend on the availability of Pb in water and food (Bustamante et al 1998, Raimundo et al 2004, Napoleão et al 2005.…”

Biomagnification of mercury through the food web of the Santos continental shelf, subtropical Brazil

“…The crabs of the Santos shelf showed the same pattern: larger species had higher δ 15 N values and were more contaminated than were smaller species. In cephalopods, Hg mostly accumulates in muscle; the degree of contamination is related to the size and sex of Loliginidae squid (Bustamante et al 2006 (Seixas et al 2005). For polychaetes, feeding modes and depth position in sediment are stronger predictors of Hg contamination than trophic position; burrowing deposit-feeding polychaetes bioaccumulate more MeHg than carnivores do (Sizmur et al 2013).…”

Comprehensive Comparison of Trace Metal Concentrations in Inhaled Air Samples

“…The available information is very limited. Alkoxyalkyl compounds are absorbed by inhalation and by ingestion more efficiently than inorganic mercury salts (88). The distribution and excretion patterns of absorbed mercury follow those of inorganic mercury salts.…”