Bioaccumulation of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), mercury, methyl mercury, and arsenic in blue crab Portunus segnis from Persian Gulf.

Abstract

Bioaccumulation of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), mercury (Hg), methyl mercury (MMHg), and arsenic (As) in the hepatopancreas and muscle of blue swimming crab Portunus segnis from Bushehr shore, north Part of Persian Gulf, were investigated. In addition, the relationships between crab size (carapace width) and PCBs, PAH, Hg, MMHg, and As levels in tissues were investigated by linear regression analysis. There were significant correlation between pollutants levels and crab size which were positive. The pollutants' concentrations were highest in hepatopancreas whereas lowest in the muscle of all crab species. The mean concentrations were 0.51 ng g(-1)PCB 16, 0.64 ng g(-1) PCB 99, 1.2 μg g(-1) Hg, 0.81 μg g(-1) MMHg, and 0.14 μg g(-1) As. Also, mean concentrations of different PAHs were 0.31 ng g(-1) Acenaphthylene, 0.51 ng g(-1) Acenaphthene, and 0.71 ng g(-1) Anthracene. Comparison between male and female indicated that the average PCBs, PAH, Hg, MMHg, and As concentrations in tissues of male crab were found to be significantly higher than those found in the female crab.