Heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) in two species of limpets (Patella rustica and Patella candei crenata) in the Canary Islands, Spain

Abstract

Nowadays, indigenous molluscs are being utilized more and more as biomonitors. Thus, in order to assess the concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in the Canarian Archipelago (Spain), we have utilized two species of limpets (Patella rustica and Patella candei crenata). We also tested the relationship between the metal levels and biometric parameters such as size and weight. The mean total concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn in P. rustica were 0.37 ± 0.05, 1.77 ± 0.09, 1.27 ± 0.07 and 8.84 ± 0.71 µg g -1 dry wt. (mean ± S.E.) respectively; whereas P. candei crenata as follows; 0.71 ± 0.10, 2.94 ± 0.11, 0.09 ± 0.01 and 33.74 ± 1.15 µg g -1 dry wt. (mean ± S.E.). We found significant differences for metal concentrations between the eastern islands and the western islands for both species. We did not observed evidences that more inhabited islands (Tenerife and Gran Canaria), had the highest metal concentration levels. Natural inputs from the upwelling region and other factors like size, food availability and/or excretion could have contributed to the variability. P. rustica presented negative correlations between metal concentrations and body weight and size, whereas, P. candei crenata showed negative correlations with Pb and with the biometric parameters. P. candei crenata revealed also positive correlation between Cd concentration and size.

Shellfish consumption preferences in an oceanic archipelago

“…Thus, an adult weighing approximately 60 kg (FAO/ WHO, 2004) can consume up to 150 g of limpets edible parts, with the maximum legislated cadmium content. Nonetheless, the cadmium content in limpets depends on different factors, including geographic location (Collado et al, 2006;Reinecke et al, 2012), season (Reinecke et al, 2012), type of substrate on which it feeds (Mbandzi et al, 2021) and size of the limpet (Cubadda et al, 2001). Therefore, the tolerable weekly quantity of limpet soft tissue should not be considered linearly, since the cadmium content in certain batches may overwrite the maximum legislated content reaching, in some cases, 3 times this maximum content (Pedro et al, 2021).…”

Active and passive biomonitoring of trace elements, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and polychlorinated biphenyls in small Mediterranean harbours

“…The origin of the organisms can also affect contaminant bioaccumulation since sampled populations may exhibit adaptative responses to a chronic contamination or environmental conditions, and distinct initial physiological status (Lacroix et al 2015;Mersch et al 1996;Silva et al 2018). Relationship between contaminant levels in soft tissues and body size have been investigated on species of the genus Patella, notably for metal contamination (Bebianno et al 2003;Collado et al 2006;Cravo et al 2004;Cubadda et al 2001;Nakhlé et al 2006;Ramelow 1985). The results obtained by these studies differed according to the metal and the species studied and no clear pattern was observed in the variations in body levels of metals with body size (Reguera et al 2018).…”

Heavy Metals Analysis of the Limpet Cellana Karachiensis (Winckworth 1930) from Two Rocky Shores of the Karachi Coasts of Pakistan

“…In particular, the limpet such as Patella sp. of rocky shores in Greek coasts, have an excellent ability to accrue metals, generally in their soft tissues (Collado et al, 2006). The true limpet (Cellana karachiensis) is commonly found in almost all rocky shores of Sind and Baluchistan coasts of Pakistan.…”