Cephalopods and cetaceans as indicators of offshore bioavailability of cadmium off Central South Brazil Bight

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 148; no. 1; pp. 352 - 359
• Main Authors: Dorneles, Paulo Renato, Lailson-Brito, José, dos Santos, Roberta Aguiar, Silva da Costa, Paulo Alberto, Malm, Olaf, Azevedo, Alexandre Freitas, Machado Torres, João Paulo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2007; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; anthropogenic activities; Applied ecology; bioaccumulation; bioavailability; Biological and medical sciences; Brazil; Cadmium; Cadmium - analysis; Cephalopod; Cephalopoda; Cephalopoda - metabolism; Cetacea; Cetacean; digestive system; Digestive System - chemistry; dolphins; Dolphins - metabolism; Ecology; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; environmental indicators; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Food Chain; food webs; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Illex argentinus; indicator species; Invertebrates; Kidney - chemistry; liver; Loligo; Loligo plei; Marine; marine mammals; Mollusca; sexual maturity; Southwest Atlantic Ocean; species differences; Stenella coeruleoalba; urban areas; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; water pollution; Brazil; Atlantic Ocean; South America; Southwest Atlantic; America; ASW, Brazil, South Brazil Bight; Brazil; Cadmium; Cephalopod; Southwest Atlantic Ocean; Cetacean; Pollutant behavior; Bioavailability; Indicator; Heavy metal; Marine environment; Aquatic environment; Cephalopoda; Vertebrata; Offshore; Pollution; Mammalia; Environment; Cetacea; Invertebrata; Mollusca
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2006.09.022

Regarding Brazilian coast, industrial and urban developments are concentrated along Central South Brazil Bight. Samples from inshore and offshore species from the concerned area were analyzed, comprising 24 cetaceans (9 species) and 32 squids (2 species). Cadmium was determined by GFAAS and our results were in agreement with certified values (DOLT-2, NRCC). Mean cadmium concentration (in μg/g, wet weight) observed in the digestive gland of sexually mature Argentine short-finned squids ( Illex argentinus) was 1002.9. To our knowledge this is the highest cadmium level ever reported for a cephalopod. Concerning cetaceans, our results include one of the highest renal cadmium concentrations described for striped dolphins (71.29 μg/g, wet weight). Anthropogenic action, upwelling and cannibalism of Argentine short-finned squid on the studied area are possible reasons for such remarkable cadmium concentrations. Cd levels in ommastrephid squids from Brazil are the highest ever reported for cephalopods.