A comparative assessment of the heavy metals lead and nickel in Litopaeneus vanammei in the vicinity of crude oil and two dispersants

The aim of this study was to evaluate the heavy metals (nickel and lead) that has accumulated in Litopenaeus vannamei in vicinity of two types dispersants, Naft roob (Iranian dispersants) and Radiogreen OSD (foreign dispersant). For this study, a control group and 5 treated with different concentrations and combinations and each with three replications were considered. Shrimp samples exposed to crude oil and combination of crude oil and two dispersants for 48 hours. The accumulated heavy metals were then measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. Results showed that the highest average concentration of nickel in shrimp, was found to be in the combined treatment of Naft roob at 4.484 ppm,. The highest average concentration of Pb was found in L. vannamei, which was exposed to foreign oil dispersant, Radiogreen OSD, at 2.443 ppm. Finally, it was found that by increasing crude oil and dispersant concentration, higher levels of heavy metals were absorbed by the shrimp in vicinity of crude oil and crude oil combined with dispersants. Nickel was also found to be accimulated at much higher concentrations compared to lead in shrimp exposed to crude oil and crude oil combined with dispersants.