Determination of heavy metals concentrations (Ni, Cd, Zn, Pb) in muscle and hepatopancreas of white shrimp (Metapenaeus affinis) in the north-west Persian Gulf

Heavy metals pollutants are not biodegradable and they can bioaccumulated by marine organisms. Heavy metals are persistant pollutants which the persistance of high concentrations of them in ecosystems can be harmful to organism. In this study concentration of total Ni, Cd, Zn and Pb in muscle and hepatopancreas tissues of Metapenaeus affinis shrimp was estimated. For shrimp samples using trawl bottom during autumn (2013). Shrimps were collected from Mahshahr creek and Bahrekan Bay. For determination heavy metals (Ni, Cd, Pb and Zn), samples after preparation and drying were digested, then concentration of heavy metals in tissues of shrimp measured by Atomic absorption. In this study, the concentration of heavy metals (Ni, Cd, Pb and Zn) in shrimps in Mahshahr creek were higher than Bahrakan bay (Pmuscle). The arrangement concentrations of heavy metals are Zn>Pb>Ni>Cd, in both stations. The mean heavy metals concentration in hepatopancreas and muscle showed significant difference (P