APPLICATION OF THE CHEMICAL SANITARY SURVEY FOR CADMIUM CONTROL ON MUSSELS PRODUCTION AREAS

Mussels can bio-concentrate heavy metals presents in the surrounding waterare thorugh their filter feeding activity. To ensure public health harvesting areas have to be periodically sampled and monitored. Frequency of sampling... [ view full abstract ]

Mussels can bio-concentrate heavy metals presents in the surrounding waterare thorugh their filter feeding activity. To ensure public health harvesting areas have to be periodically sampled and monitored. Frequency of sampling and geographical distribution of sampling point are chosen by Competent Authority but, unlike during faecal bacteria monitoring, the plan of a sanitary survey is not a legally requirement for chemical contaminants. This could determine an incorrect chemical sampling and monitoring of harvesting areas and a waste of public resources. This study apply the concept of sanitary survey on cadmium control on Mytilus galloprovincialis harvesting areas. The process to discover the most representative areas to control the Cd pollution in mussels is shown. The process was applied in the Marche region (Italy) mussels harvesting areas . Five main risk factors for Cd contamination in the environment were studied. Coast distance, presence of rivers, type of Industrial activity, annual rainfall and agriculture land use were compare with the historical Cd contamination in mussels in the years 2009-2015. All the factors were confirmed as risk factors for Cd contamination. The sanitary survey concept is applicable for the control of Cd in Mytilus galloprovincialis harvesting areas.