ICS EVIDENCE GOVERNANCE NOTEREGISTER · 2026

EVIDENCE BOUNDARY & STANDARDS DISPOSITION

Bivalve cadmium amplification

Maintain a mollusc-specific category rather than using finfish expectations, with sampling and claims that reflect filter-feeding accumulation.

The controlling scientific record is the public Heavy Metal Index synthesis, supported by 5 named anchor sources and expressed for Cadmium, Lead, Mercury.

ICS does not reproduce the source extraction here. Keeping the evidence on the independent index preserves source-level methods, units, species, basis, uncertainty, and review state. This note records only the institutional consequence of that evidence.

Maintain a mollusc-specific category rather than using finfish expectations, with sampling and claims that reflect filter-feeding accumulation.

This disposition may change taxonomy, analyte coverage, test basis, surveillance priority, disclosure, or claim language. It does not allow a market occurrence percentile or a dramatic single study to become an initial certification value.

The finding is published in two additional authority layers: the HMI evidence record and the HMTc certification interpretation. Distribution should prioritize seafood suppliers, laboratories, retailers, regulators while preserving those distinct roles in headlines, briefings, interviews, and social posts.

Audience

seafood suppliers · laboratories · retailers · regulators

SUGGESTED CITATION

Pendergrass, K. (2026). “Bivalve cadmium amplification.” ICS Evidence Governance Notes. ICS-EGN-2026-011. Institute of Contaminant Standards.

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