Examination of lead levels in the American lobster, Homarus americanus, from three sites in Maine

Bioaccumulation of lead in marine organisms has been a concern of researche rs, government, and other food safety. The feeding habits of the American L obster, Homarus Americanus, prior to recruitment into the fishery, gives ri se to its potential accumulator of environmental contaminants. Three sites indicative of common lobster fishing areas were selected along the coast of Maine to assess and establish baseline level for lead contamination. From each of these sites, lobsters averaging in weight between 450 and 550 g, we re collected and samples were taken from the gills, meats (mixture of tail and claw meat), and the hepatopancreas to be analyzed for lead concentratio n. Lead levels ranging from 20 to 101 ppb were found. Levels were higher in the hepatopancreas and meats than in the gills. There were interactions be tween location and body portion resulting from the higher levels in the hep atopancreas and meats. The levels found were significantly below the FDA/EP A limits on edible portions.