Contents of heavy metal and mineral matter of the pasteurized blue crab meat (Callinectes sapidus, Rathbun, 1896) caught off Akyatan lagoon (Karataş/Adana)

ABSTRACTMSc THESISCONTENTS OF HEAVY METAL AND MINERAL MATTER OF THEPASTEURIZED BLUE CRAB MEAT (Callinectes sapidus, RATHBUN, 1896)CAUGHT OFF AKYATAN LAGOON (KARATA*/ADANA)Aygül KÜÇÜKGÜLMEZDEPARTMENT OF FISHERIESTHE INSTITUTE OF NATURAL AND APPLIED SCIENCESUNIVERSITY OF ÇUKUROVASupervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet ÇEL KYear: 2005, Pages: 70Jury: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet ÇEL KAssoc. Prof. Dr. Nuri BA USTAAss. Prof. Dr. Bahar TOKURIn this study, the heavy metal concentrations and mineral contents of differentedible tissues of the pasteurized blue crab which is caught abundantly from theAkyatan lagoon in the North Eastern Mediterranean, and offered for domestic andforeign markets were investigated. Heavy metal concentrations and mineral contentswere measured by Atomic Absorption Spectrofotometry (AAS). Significantdifferences between tissues were detected for all metals (p<0,05). The heavy metalsin all tissues were, in decreasing order, zinc, copper, iron, lead, cadmium andmercury. It was found that the concentrations of analysed heavy metals in the edibletissues of the blue crab were below the limits proposed by Ministry of Agricultureand Rural Affairs in Turkey and FAO. Mineral contents varied significantlydepending on different tissues. Sodium was predominant element among mineralsanalysed. In present study, it is displayed that blue crab has sufficient mineral matteraccording to the healt criteria determined by Food and Nutrition Board.Key Words: North East Mediterranean, C. sapidus, blue crab, heavy metal, mineralmatter