Variability of cadmium accumulation in cephalopods (Octopus vulgaris, Sepia officinalis, Loligo vulgaris and Todarodes sagittatus) collected in Sardinia in 2008-2012

Abstract

Cephalopods are known to accumulate cadmium and play an important role in its biomagnification. They are an essential link in marine trophic chain and represent an important case in studies on cadmium transfer to man through the food chain. Since cadmium concentration widely varies in different tissues of the cephalopods – mainly accumulating in the hepatopancreas – evisceration represents a recommended preliminary step to reduce cadmium intake in view of cephalopods consumption; yet, the residual concentration in the edible part may still be a risk for public health. This study is intended to assess cadmium levels variability in the muscles of Cephalopoda, considering the different feeding habitats and marine trophic webs. In compliance with EU regulation, a survey on cadmium and other heavy metal levels in various sea food, including cephalopods, was conducted by the Istituto Zooprofilattico of Sardinia in co-operation with local health authorities. During a five-year survey (2008- 2012), 90 samples were collected from the following species: commons octopus (Octopus vulgaris), cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis), European squid (Loligo vulgaris), and flying squid (Todarodes sagittatus), located in different coastal areas and representatives of either benthic or nektonic habitats. Determination of cadmium levels was carried out according to Regulations (EC) No. 882/2004, No. 1881/2006 and No. 333/2007. Analysis of the edible portion (muscle) of fresh homogenised samples was carried out by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results showed a highly skewed distribution of data. No statistically significant differences were observed among four distributions of the natural logs of cadmium levels in the species considered

Metal Concentration in Muscle and Digestive Gland of Common Octopus (Octopus vulgaris) from Two Coastal Site in Southern Tyrrhenian Sea (Italy)

“…Cadmium concentrations in muscle and digestive gland in the present study were comparable with those previously reported by other authors [10,17].…”

Evaluation of mercury, cadmium and lead levels in fish and fishery products imported by air in North Italy from extra-European Union Countries

“…Being this class composed primarily by cephalopods, which is the main species of molluscs imported through BIP of Milan Malpensa, these results agree with those of Bustamante, Caurant, Fowler, and Miramand (1998), Pastorelli et al (2012), Morgano, Rabonato, Milani, Miyagusku, and Quintaes (2014) and Piras, Chessa, Cossu, Rubattu, and Giori (2013); these authors considered cephalopods as a significant Cd source. For O. vulgaris from Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, we obtained a median value of 25 mg kg À1 for Cd, of 20 mg kg À1 for Hg and of 33 mg kg À1 for Pb; very similar concentrations were reported by Chahid, Filali, Benlhachimi, & Bouzid (2014), for the same FAO fishing area (Atlantic Ocean, Morocco): he obtained values of 20 mg kg À1 for Cd, 49 mg kg À1 for Hg and 45 mg kg À1 for Pb.…”

Cadmium, lead, and mercury in two commercial squid species from the north Adriatic Sea (central Mediterranean): contamination levels and health risk assessment

“…The most distinctive feature that become evident from this study was the significantly higher bioaccumulation of Cd in flying squids compared to European squids. The amount of Cd found was in the same order of magnitude as that reported by Piras et al (2013), but, contrary to our results, these authors did find equal concentrations also in muscular tissues of Loligo vulgaris samples. Conversely, higher concentrations (up to 8.5 mg/kg) were measured in Todarodes Sagittatus than in Loligo vulgaris samples by Miedico et al (2015).…”