CEPHALOPODS AS A VECTOR FOR THE TRANSFER OF CADMIUM TO TOP MARINE PREDATORS IN THE NORTHEAST ATLANTIC-OCEAN

Three hundred and fifty individuals of 12 species of cephalopods which differed in their feeding habitats were sampled from the French Atlan tic coast to the sub-Arctic region (Bay of Biscay, English Channel, we st Irish coast and Faroe Islands) and analysed for their cadmium conte nts. Comparison of the Cd levels of the cephalopods showed that those from the sub-Arctic area contained very high Cd concentrations compare d to those from lower latitudes such as along the French Atlantic coas t. High Cd levels in cephalopods from the sub-Arctic zone correspond c losely to the reported high Cd concentrations in the tissues of top ve rtebrate predators from the same area. Comparison of the weekly Cd int akes for the Faroe Island pilot whales with the 'Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake' for humans recommended by the World Health Organisatio n, showed that top vertebrate predators are often subjected to Cd dose s far in excess of those recommended for humans. Our limited survey re sults suggest that cephalopods constitute an important source of Cd fo r cephalopod predators, and that this bioaccumulation effect is most e vident at high latitudes. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights re served.