EU regulations establish the cadmium maximum residual levels (MLR) for crab taking into account only concentrations
obtained for crab muscle, mainly from appendages, therefore excluding other organs and tissues.
The objective of the present study was to evaluate cadmium levels in appendages and also in digestive gland,
well-known to be the most site for cadmium storage and detoxification. For this purpose, concentrations of
cadmium were determined in Warty Crab (Eriphia verrucosa) collected from the southern Tyrrhenian Sea by
means of microwave digestion and atomic absorption spectrometry.
Cd concentrations were found very low in all samples of muscle from crab appendages (< LOQ). Digestive
gland showed Cd concentrations ranging between 0.931 and 4.612 mg kg-1 (mean value 3.107 mg kg-1).
Therefore, preliminary results show that cadmium concentrations were largely below the MLR established by
the European Commission for muscle from crab appendages (Reg CE 1881/2006). Digestive gland showed
the highest metal concentration. The observed results highlighted that the consumption of organs and tissues
included in crab body such as abdomen, gonads and, in particular, digestive gland, very probable in certain
populations of Mediterranean region due to the traditional and unusual consumption of raw and whole
crustaceans, substantially increased the cadmium intake up to alarming values
