Heavy metal bioaccumulation in Puerto Rican blue crabs (Callinectes spp.)

Crabs of the genus Callinectes (Crustacea: Portunidae) are the basis of a s ignificant commercial harvest and recreational fishery in the Caribbean. C. sapidus and C. bocourti are commonly found in coastal lagoons and estuarie s. This paper describes variations in concentrations of copper, cadmium, le ad and mercury, between species, sexes, tissues and sites in C. sapidus and C. bocourti in Puerto Rico. Digested samples were analyzed using an Induct ively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometer (ICP-AES). Results were a nalyzed using analyses of variance. Significantly higher copper concentrati ons were found in female crabs from Santiago River. Copper concentrations w ere higher than other metals in the hepatopancreas of crabs from Mandry Cha nnel and Santiago River; and significantly higher overall in C. bocourti. H igher concentrations of cadmium were observed in C. bocourti from Mandry Ch annel and Blanco River. Lead concentrations were higher in the hepatopancre as of crabs from Mandry Channel. Cadmium levels were overall higher in the hepatopancreas. No significant differences were observed for mercury concen trations. This study indicates bioaccumulation of heavy metals in Puerto Ri can blue crabs (Callinectes spp.) is highly variable between sexes (copper) , tissues (copper, cadmium, lead), sites (copper, cadmium, lead), and speci es (copper, cadmium).