Heavy Metal Content in Muscles of the Indian White Shrimp (Fennerpenaeus indicus)

Heavy metal (HMs) pollution of aquatic environment has become a great concern in recent years. Commercial aquatic animals, such as shrimp, are highly consumed by human being and may accumulate large amounts of metals from the water, therefore, it is important to determine the concentration of HMs in them. This study was conducted to determine the distribution of several types of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) in the muscle of Indian white shrimp (Fennerpenaeus indicus) caught in Bandar-e Mahshahr which is located in the north western Persian Gulf Coast of Iran. The mean concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were 0.405, 0.694, 18.9, 17.1, 0.413, 0.748, 0.663, 3.71 and 33.2 µg g‑1 respectively. Our results indicated that all analyzed HMs in Indian white shrimp were lower than the threshold values described in literature (i.e., WHO).