LEAD IN OCTOPUS (OCTOPUS VULGARIS) IN PORTUGAL: A PRELIMINARY STUDY

摘要

Aquatic organisms are good indicators of environmental variations as they may accumulate natural compounds and pollutants in their tissues and organs depending on their bioavailability in the ecosystem. Anthropogenic activity has contributed to a progressive rise of pollutant levels in es-tuarine and coastal regions. Among these pollutants, lead (Pb) represents a major public health concern due to its high toxicity (Due et al, 1994). Lead is a heavy metal that has deleterious effects in cells, can form relatively long-lasting compounds with organic molecules and accumulate in the food chain (Widdows, 1985). Lead and other toxic elements have always been present in the environment, but the industrial growth altered the relative availability of these compounds and the form in which they are dispersed. Although atmospheric lead has decreased in the last decade significant lead levels in marine organisms seem to be maintained. The importance of cephalopods as a marine resource is reflected in their relative economic status as a high value fishery product in Portugal. Specifically Octopus vulgaris is an abundant species on the Portuguese coast and frequently used for human consumption. The octopus is a versatile benthic animal with a high growth rate and relatively short life cycle, present in a range of marine environments and at different depths. They consume crustaceans, bivalves, fish and other cephalopods and may have potential as a bioindicator organism providing a qualitative approach to environment contamination.