Panaji: Govt is seeking a detailed scientific assessment from the National Institute of Oceanography (CSIR-NIO) on reported elevated levels of cadmium and mercury in oysters along the state’s coast and is preparing a health advisory for consumers.The move follows a recent NIO study, ‘Distribution, Bioaccumulation and Human Health Risk of Mercury and Cadmium in Coastal Sediments and Oysters along the Goa Coast, India’, which detected cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, in oysters and raised concerns about possible risks associated with seafood consumption.Responding to an unstarred LAQ tabled by MLA Vijai Sardesai, fisheries minister Nilkanth Harlankar told the assembly that the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) had received a copy of the study. Officials from the fisheries, health, environment, and pollution-control authorities subsequently met to discuss the way forward.The meeting decided that the directorate of health services should issue an advisory through the media informing the public about the possible health impacts, if any, of consuming oysters.However, govt’s response does not state that oysters sold or consumed in Goa are unsafe. Instead, authorities are seeking further scientific verification before drawing any conclusions.
