Lobster Contaminants
Title
Screening the Levels of Lead, Cadmium, Arsenic, Chromium, Zinc, Mercury, and Thallium in the Traditional Food-Lobster of Eel River Bar First Nation
Description
The purpose of this project was to examine the concentrations of heavy metal contaminants: cadmium, lead, arsenic, and mercury as well as chromium, thallium and zinc within the lobster traditionally consumed by the Mi’gmaq of Eel River Bar, New Brunswick.
A total of 44 lobsters we tested, where 22 were cooked and 22 were raw. Due to high laboratory analysis costs, a decision was made to test both lobster meat and tomalley together for each lobster.
The mean concentrations for all 44 lobsters were found to be lower than the maximum allowed levels according to International standards for arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. However, when observing the levels of heavy metals in individual lobsters, five (5) lobster had levels of cadmium that were in excess of its respecting International standard of 0.5 mg/kg set by the Commission of the European Communities. There were no International standards identified for chromium, thallium and zinc in lobster. There was no observed correlation on the concentrations of heavy metals between raw and cooked lobster.
Project Details
- Year: 2011-2012
- Status: Complete
- Project Funding Source: Health Canada – RFNCP
Files:
GMRC Cleans Listuguj Shoreline
Happy Halloween From GMRC
The staff at GMRC want to wish everyone a happy and safe halloween.
Learning about Lumpfish at Exploramer
Staff from the Gespe’gewagi Mi’gmaq Resource Council gathered around the aquarium watching thick, round fish with a short head and rounded snout swim through the eel grass. They travelled to Exploramer, an aquarium located in Sainte-Anne-Des-Monts, to gain more knowledge about lumpfish for their ongoing research. Lumpfish are “threatened” species according to COSEWIC. It’s a species that is often caught as bycatch in lobster traps. During spawning, the male changes colour and turns red. Next to the adult lumpfish, was a smaller aquarium housing baby lumpfish, smaller than a button. The team learned about how the young lumpfish will attach itself to floating seaweed and feed on plankton. They watched in awe as the juvenile lumpfish were given some plankton in the aquarium. GMRC staff and Exploramer are looking at ways to collaborate with one another on outreach projects in the future.
