Anatomical distribution of cadmium in Argopecten purpuratus: effects of evisceration on industrial processes to reduce the metal concentration in scallops used for human consumption

A. purpuratus is one of the most important commercial species in Chile. As other bivalve species it can accumulate heavy metals to high levels, even in aquaculture areas free of anthropogenic contamination. In the past, Cd... [ view full abstract ]

A. purpuratus is one of the most important commercial species in Chile. As other bivalve species it can accumulate heavy metals to high levels, even in aquaculture areas free of anthropogenic contamination. In the past, Cd concentration in all tissues has exceeded the regulatory limit (1 mg kg-1 of wet tissues). To determine the concentration and the anatomical distribution of Cd, samples were taken from aquaculture facilities in Tongoy Bay. Individuals were dissected in edible tissues: adductor muscle (Mu) and Gonad (Go) and in non-edible tissues: digestive gland (Dg), gill (Gl), kidney (Kd) and mantle (Ma). The total body weight of individuals ranged from 23.18 to 23.50 g and the studied body frations contributed to the total body weight in different proportions: Mu 37%, Go 15% and non - edible tissues 48%. The total Cd burden ranged from 0.12 to 0.2 mg per individual and the relative contributions to the total burden were Mu 10%, Go 3% and non - edible tissues 87%. As the contribution of each organ to the concentration is a function of both its weight and its burden, the concentration was dominated by the non-edible tissues (94%), while the Mu and the Go contributed with 2.5 and 3.5%, respectively. Taking this into account, the elimination of the non-edible tissues by means of selective evisceration would substantially reduce the metal concentration and therefore could be used in an industrial process aimed at improving their quality for human consumption.