MINERALS AND XENOBIOTIC RESIDUES IN THE EDIBLE TISSUES OF WILD AND POND‐RAISED LOUISIANA CRAYFISH1

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe popularity of Cajun cuisine has promoted the consumption of Louisiana crayfish, Procambarus clarkii. Tail meat and hepatopancreatic tissues of crayfish captured from two locations in the Atchafalaya River Basin and four open ponds were analyzed separately for xenobiotic metal and mineral composition using an inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometer (ICP) and chlorinated hydrocarbons by gas chromatograph (GC) with electron capture detector. Less than 3 mg/kg of toxic xenobiotic metals were found in the tail meats and less than 5 mg/kg in the hepatopancreatic tissues. Mineral concentrations were similar to those reported for other crustacean species. Occasional trace amounts of DDD and DDE were found present in tissue samples.