Cadmium, copper, mercury, and zinc concentrations in tissues of the King Crab (Pseudocarcinus gigas) from southeast Australian waters

The concentrations of cadmium, copper, mercury, and zinc were determined in muscle (body, claw, and leg), hepatopancreas, and gill tissues of Pseudoca rcinus gigas, an exceptionally large, long-lived, and deep-dwelling crab sp ecies. The accumulation patterns observed are discussed in terms of both in tra- and interspecies variations, with particular attention to the possible consequences of the extreme size and depth range of P. gigas. Metal concen trations did not depend significantly on sex of the crab. Significant diffe rences between tissues were detected for all metals, and the distribution o f metal between the tissues was different for each metal. Significant corre lations were found between metal concentrations in the various tissues and crab size, and these are discussed and rationalised. The concentrations of mercury and zinc in muscle tissue increased with crab size and were high co mpared to other crab species. The concentrations of cadmium and copper pres ent in edible tissues were not especially high compared to other crab speci es, but the concentration of cadmium in the hepatopancreas is of dietary co ncern. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.