Cadmium contamination in Pilot Whales Globicephala melas: Source and potential hazard to the species

Among marine mammals, pilot whales (Globicephala melas) are characterized by high levels of tissular cadmium (Cd). In this species, squids are used as a major food item, inducing an important Cd intake. In a significant fraction of the mammal population sampled in the vicinity of the Faroe Islands, blood and urine Cd concentrations are higher than minimum adverse-effect levels established for human beings. However, the frequency-at-age data have not shown anomalies likely to reveal a major toxic problem, suggesting a remarkable tolerance of this species to heavy metals.