Measurement of non-essential metal levels in blue crabs (callinectes sapidus) that collected from Turkey's south east coast

This study was performed to determine the levels of some heavy metals that were gathered from Turkey's South East Coast blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus). In study, from districts of Hatay that include Iskenderun, Dörtyol, and Samandağ a total of 30 blue crabs (C. sapidus), 10 from each station, were used. Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Arsenic (As), Nickel (Ni), and Mercury (Hg) heavy metal levels in the muscle, hepatopancreas, and gill tissues of crabs were measured and evaluated by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) device. While the Dörtyol station Hg level was higher than the other two stations (p <0.05), there was no difference between the stations in terms of other metal levels. Cd levels in hepatopancreatic tissue, As and Ni levels in gill tissue and Hg levels in muscle tissue were found higher compared to the other tissues (p<0.05). Pb was detected only in the gill tissues of blue crabs taken from Döryol and İskenderun stations. While As levels detected in blue crab tissues were higher than acceptable heavy metal limits for bivalve mollusks, Cd, Pb, and Hg levels were determined to be lower than the limits. As a result, it was evaluated that it is important to monitor the natural and nutritious blue crabs regularly in terms of heavy metal pollution in order not to risk the ecosystem and human health in the future. Key words: Heavy metal, Blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, AAS, Hatay