Evaluate of heavy metal Bioaccumulation in muscles of the Ghost Crab (Ocypode rotundata) from the Intertidal Habitat of Kharkou National Natural Monument Area in Persian Gulf

Abstract

Introduction: In this research, the concentration of heavy metals lead (Pb), nickel (Ni) and vanadium (V) in the muscles of ghost crabs (Ocypode rotundata) collected from the intertidal habitat of Kharkou National Natural Area in the Persian Gulf was investigated. Materials & Methods: Generally, 120 ghost crabs (Ocypode rotundata) samples were randomly sampled from 6 stations from february 2021 to february 2022. The concentration of heavy metals in the samples after transfer to the laboratory and preparation and wet chemical digestion by nitric acid were measured using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). Results: The average results of lead, vanadium and nickel metal (mg/g dry weight) calculated in males and females respectively showed that; The concentration of lead is 5.3 and 2.8 mg/g dry weight, vanadium is 0.7 and 0.34 mg/g dry weight, and nickel is 0.15 and 0.1 mg/g dry weight. The average metal concentration of lead, vanadium and nickel in all 6 stations was higher in males than in females (P≤ 0.05). Conclusion: The results showed that the amount of concentration of lead and vanadium (mg/g dry weight) in the muscle tissue of male and female ghost crab (Ocypode rotundata) in comparison with the standard of the WHO, FAO, US FDA, NHMRC and UKMAFF were higher.