Cephalopods as a vector for the transfer of cadmium to top marine predators in the north-east Atlantic Ocean

Three hundred and fifty individuals of 12 species of cephalopods which differed in their feeding habitats were sampled from the French Atlantic coast to the sub-Arctic region (Bay of Biscay, English Channel, west Irish coast and Faroe Islands) and analysed for their cadmium contents. Comparison of the Cd levels of the cephalopods showed that those from the sub-Arctic area contained very high Cd concentrations compared to those from lower latitudes such as along the French Atlantic coast. High Cd levels in cephalopods from the sub-Arctic zone correspond closely to the reported high Cd concentrations in the tissues of top vertebrate predators from the same area. Comparison of the weekly Cd intakes for the Faroe Island pilot whales with the 'Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake' for humans recommended by the World Health Organisation, showed that top vertebrate predators are often subjected to Cd doses far in excess of those recommended for humans. Our limited survey results suggest that cephalopods constitute an important source of Cd for cephalopod predators, and that this bioaccumulation effect is most evident at high latitudes. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.