Abstract
The levels of vanadium, rubidium and potassium were determined in Octopus vulgaris caught during commercial fishing activities at three locations (Cascais, Santa Luzia and Viana do Castelo) in Portugal in autumn and spring. We determined the concentration of these elements in digestive gland, branchial heart, gills, mantle and arms in males and females. At least five males and five females were assessed for each season/location combination. Elemental concentrations were determined by Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE). Vanadium was detectable only in digestive gland and branchial heart samples. Its concentration was not correlated with total weight, total length or mantle length. There were no differences in concentrations of V, Rb and K between sexes. There were significant differences in vanadium concentrations in branchial hearts in autumn between samples from Viana do Castelo and those from the other two sites. We found a significant positive relationship between the concentration of vanadium and those of potassium and rubidium in branchial hearts. Branchial hearts appear to play an important role in decontamination of V.
Highlights
Vanadium is an element that, in recent years, has attracted considerable environmental and scientific interest because of its wide industrial applications, large releases into the environment and complex chemistry (Nriagu, 1998)
The concentration of dissolved vanadium in seawater is typically 0.001-0.003 mg/l (WHO, 1988, 2001) and both marine animals and plants play an important role in its transfer
The present study examines levels of two poorly documented metals, vanadium and rubidium, both potentially toxic, in O. vulgaris from the Portuguese coast
Summary
Vanadium is an element that, in recent years, has attracted considerable environmental and scientific interest because of its wide industrial applications, large releases into the environment and complex chemistry (Nriagu, 1998). Ascidians are known to accumulate vanadium in their blood cells (vanadocytes) in concentrations of 106 to 107 times those found in seawater (Kanda et al., 1997; Michibata and Kanamori, 1998) and they have proteins, vanabins, which bind vanadium ions (Ueki et al, 2003). The reason for this accumulation is not known (Nielsen and Uthus, 1994). Vanadium concentrations in benthic invertebrates such as annelids, crustaceans, echinoderms and molluscs are generally low, with levels varying from 1 to 4 mg/kg dry weight (Miramand and Fowler, 1998)
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