Determination of Toxic Metal Accumulation in Shrimps by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS)

Abstract

The study was carried out to assess the levels of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), and mercury (Hg) in different shrimp species. Atomic absorption spectrometry was used to estimate and evaluate the levels of these metals from 11 shrimp samples. The results of this study showed that the average concentrations detected were ranged from <0.1 to 0.202, <0.1 to 0.416, <0.1 to 0.156, <0.1 to 0.21 and <0.1 to 0.28 mg/kg for Pb, Cd, As, Cr and Hg, respectively in river shrimps. In case of Gher, it was ranged from <0.1 to 0.267, <0.1 to 0.166, <0.1 to 0.156, <0.1 to 0.21 and <0.1 to 0.228 mg/kg for Pb, Cd, As, Cr and Hg, respectively. The results show that Pb concentration for both river and Gher samples lies between EU and IAEA limits, Cd concentration in river samples are higher than both EU and IAEA limits. Arsenic is observed only in one river sample that was also below the recommended level. Hg concentration for both Gher and river samples are less than the EU permissible limit. Our study highlights those toxic metals are found to be below the recommended tolerable levels in shrimp of Bangladesh and may not constitute a health hazards for consumers.