Bioaccumulation and distribution of heavy metals (Se, As and Pb) in muscle, gill and hepatopancreas of blue crab Portunus pelagicus, Bushehr Coast, Persian Gulf

Bioaccumulation and distribution of heavy metal (Se, As and Pb) in muscle, gill and hepatopancreas of blue crab Portunus pelagicus from Bushehr coast, north part of the Persian Gulf, were investigated. Analyses of samples were by a GBC-932 AA Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The average concentrations of Se, Pb and As in all tissues of crab were 0.485, 1.89 and 0.615 µg g-1 respectively. The linear regression analysis showed there were a positive correlation between heavy metal levels and crab size. Also, there was a direct relationship between heavy metals levels in tissues crabs with feeding habitat. Comparison between male and female indicated that the average of heavy metal concentrations in female crabs were higher than those in the male crab, because female crabs feed on benthic animal that are close to bottom sediment and receives more sediment associated metals.