High bioaccumulation of cadmium and other metals in Patagonian edible gastropods

ABSTRACT

High concentrations of metals are accumulated by edible marine resources, affecting human health. Marine gastropods have been commercially captured and consumed in Argentina for decades without official regulations or studies to guarantee their safety. In this study, metals (cadmium, aluminium, iron, zinc, copper and lead) were analysed for the first time in the edible marine gastropods Buccinanops globulosus, Adelomelon ancilla and Trophon geversianus and their surrounding sediments. Taking into account the maximum levels recommended by national and international regulations for food safety, we recommend consuming only the foot of these gastropod species. We recommend not consuming these gastropods from harbour areas due to concentrations of lead in sediments and tissues. Though the target hazard quotient (THQ) of cadmium was not high for the local community, it could be higher for other populations who consume molluscs more frequently, indicating a potential health risk of chronic exposure. Monitoring of these and other contaminants should be performed in order to ensure food safety of these marine resources.

RESPONSIBLE EDITOR:

• Sharon Hook

KEYWORDS:

• Cadmium
• human risk
• marine pollution
• Neogastropoda
• Patagonia

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Carmen Marinho from Centro para el Estudio de los Sistemas Marinos (CESIMAR) for her assistance with sample processing. Ricardo Vera, Fabián Quiroga, Néstor Ortiz and Julio Rúa helped with sampling. This is publication No. 82 of the Laboratorio de Reproducción y Biología Integrativa de Invertebrados Marinos (LARBIM).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research was partially supported by the projects PICT 1232, PICT 2929, PICT 2709, PICT 1491, PICT 1476, PIP 067 and the PADI foundation.