Heavy metal concentrations (Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Fe) in Giant Red Shrimp (Aristaeomorpha foliacea Risso 1827) from the Mediterranean sea

Abstract

This study was carried out to detect concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Fe) in the muscle and liver of female and male specimens of commercially important giant red shrimp (Aristaeomorpha foliacea) obtained from the Mediterranean Sea. Samples of species were collected in summer and winter. The results show that the concentrations of heavy metals in liver for male and female shrimps were higher than those in muscle. Also, the average Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, and Fe concentrations in both liver and muscle for male shrimp were slightly higher than the average levels of female shrimp. Significant differences were observed only for Cu in liver and for Fe in muscle (p<0.05). The comparison of our results with the International Standards showed that the concentrations of Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, and Fe in the muscle tissue is less than the authorized range of WHO and FDA standards.