Determination of the hygienic quality of Astacus leptodactylus captured from Haft Barm lakes, Fars Province (Iran) in terms of trace metals accumulated in the product

< p >Regards the economic potential in extensive rearing of Narrow-clawed crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus) in Haft Barm lakes, Fars Province (Iran), and considering the chain value and global marketing, we need to monitoring programs on hygienic quality of this export product in terms of heavy metal accumulation. For this purpose, crayfish specimens were captured with 45 total samples from three permanent lakes and transported to the laboratory. Preparing of their tail meat as the edible parts and measuring of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) have been accomplished via the wet digestion method and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), respectively. Results showed that Cd (0.004±0.003) and Zn (2.61±0.747 µg/g DW) were the minima and maximum concentrations in the tail meat of Haft Barm’s crayfish. Since the concentrations of all measured trace elements were within the permissible limits of hygienic standards (WHO and FAO) and based on health risk assessment (daily intake index), Haft Barm’s crayfish have admissible health in terms of their accumulation. Hence, daily and continuous consumption of these aquatic products by consumers has been thoroughly safe, and there is no risk for them in this regard.