Cadmium contamination in American lobster, Homarus americanus, near a coastal lead smelter: use of multiple linear regression for management.

Abstract

In 1980 cadmium (Cd) concentrations in digestive gland from American Lobster (Homarus americanus), captured at Belledune Harbour, New Brunswick, Canada were found to range 47.6-372 mg/kg wet weight. Since the digestive gland is commonly eaten the harbor fishery was closed. The adjacent area was decreed a controlled fishery zone. The cadmium source was a lead smelter on the harbor shore. The company installed an aqueous effluent treatment plant and improved handling procedures within the plant area. Aqueous Cd discharges were subsequently reduced by more than 95%. Cadmium levels in lobsters have been monitored annually since 1980 by sampling in early spring, immediately after the lobsters emerged from their overwintering locations. The results from the 1981-1985 monitoring program were used to model the system, analyze the data and predict the years in which certain changes to the management plan might be implemented.