INCIDENCE OF TRACE-METALS IN SCYLLA-SERRATA, AN EDIBLE CRAB FROM ASHTAMUDI ESTUARY, INDIA

Trace metals such as zinc, copper, iron, lead, nickel and cadmium in d ifferent tissues like gills, hepatopancreas, gonads, chelate and abdom inal muscles of different sizes and sexes (juveniles, subadults, adult males and females) of Scylla serrata were analyzed. All the five meta ls (except zinc) showed the maximum deposition in the gills followed b y hepatopancreatic tissue. Concentration of zinc was highest in the ed ible muscles. Another equally important finding is that the incidence of non-essential metals such as nickel and cadmium were minimum in juv eniles and maximum in adults.