Trace metals in certain crustaceans from Lebanon - a review

Abstract

Pachygrapsus transveraus, Eriphia verrucosa, Palaemon elegans, Penaeus japonicus and Scyllarides latus, collected from various locations on the coast of Lebanon between July 1977 and May 1978, were analyzed for trace elements. Cadmium, copper and zinc concentrations in all were similar to levels reported in species from other areas, whereas nickel, lead and chromium appeared to be higher. Of the five crustaceans, the prawns had the highest average copper levels. In fact, copper was generally higher in the prawns than in any of the organisms which were analyzed at different times during this series of studies, including other invertebrates, fish and algae.

The metal levels seen in these crustaceans suggest that some contamination might exist here and warrant further more extensive studies of this nature in the eastern Mediterranean area.