Toxic and essential trace elements bio-accumulation in muscles and shells of crab, (Potamon persicum) in Kakareza River, Lorestan, Iran

The present study was carried out to investigate accumulation of eleven toxic and essential trace elements in muscle and shell of Potamon persicum from Kakareza River in Lorestan Province (Iran) collected in summer and autumn, 2011. The elements level were analyzed by Perkin Elmer 4100 Zl atomic absorption and data were analyzed statistically using one-way ANOVA and Duncan’s test by SPSS17. The results showed that the highest and lowest concentration of Hg, Cd, As, Fe, Co and P were in shell collected in autumn and muscle collected in summer, respectively. Also, the highest and lowest concentration of Pb, Zn, Ca and K were observed in shell collected in summer and muscle collected in autumn, respectively. The highest and lowest Cu concentration was measured in the shell and muscle of P. persicum collected in summer, respectively. Concentration of Hg, Cd, As, Pb, Zn, Cu, Fe, Co, Ca, K and P in the shell of P. persicum were higher than the muscle both in summer and autumn. According to the results, concentration of as and Cd in P. persicum muscle were higher than WHO standard limits, while concentration of Hg and Pb were still lower than that limitation.