Hosseini et al., J Marine Sci Res Dev 2014, 4:1 Marine Science http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2155-9910.1000145 Research & Development

ResearchResearch Article Article OpenOpen Access Access The Levels of Toxic Metals in Blue segnis from Persian Gulf Mehdi Hosseini1*, Seyed Mohammad Bagher Nabavi2 Jamileh Pazooki1 and Yaghoob Parsa2 1Department of Marine Biology, Faculty of Biological Science, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran 2Department of Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Science, Khoramshahr University of Marine Science and Technology, Iran

Abstract Levels of heavy metals) Ni, Co, Cd and Pb( in muscle, gill and hepatopancreas of blue swimming crab P. segnis and relationship with its food source from Persian Gulf, were investigated. In this study, there was a direct relationship between heavy metals levels in tissues with organisms that feeding on them. Female crabs feed on plant and detritus and are close to bottom sediment and receive more sediment associated metals. Also, there was a positive correlation between metal concentrations in tissues with size of food items. Heavy metal concentrations were highest in female hepatopancreas whereas lowest in the muscle of all crab species. From the human consumption point of view, Heavy metals concentrations were below the admissible limits except for hepatopancreas of female crabs. Thus, precautions should be taken on account of higher content of metals as well as in other organs that could be affected by industrial pollution.

Keywords: Heavy metal; Monitoring; Portunus segnis; Persian Gulf and gills) of blue swimming crab Portunus segnis, from northwest of the Persian Gulf, were studied. Introduction Materials and Methods Heavy metals can be classified as potentially toxic elements such as cadmium, lead and mercury and essential elements such as copper, Sampling area was selected along the Persian Gulf (Figure 1). The zinc and iron. Toxic metals naturally occur in aquatic environments in Persian Gulf lies on the south Iran, between longitudes 48°25’ and very low concentrations, but their concentration levels have increased 56°25” East, and latitudes 24°30” and 30°30’ North. It has an estimated due to anthropogenic pollutants over time. Industrial activities as well area of 260 km2 and extends 600 km offshore to a depth average of about as agriculture and mining create a potential source of metals pollution in aquatic environment. Accumulation of metals in the organisms depends on various biological and environmental factors such as size, age, feeding habit, temperature and dissolved oxygen [1]. However, feeding habit plays a significant role in the accumulation of metals in organism’s tissues [2]. Because metals have tendency to be biomagnified through food chains [3]. Most aquatic food chains begin from invertebrates. However, ability of invertebrates to accumulate contaminants from water varies from species to species. Thus biomagnification of contaminants entered aquatic food chains is, significantly affected by invertebrate species. It is known that certain forms of metals can readily accumulate within tissues at much higher levels than those in the water column and in sediment [1]. The blue swimming crab Portunus segnis belongs to the phylum; arthropoda which make up about three quarters of living species. For the fauna, the species most studied are the benthic macroinvertebrates, particularly those with low mobility, which Figure 1: Map of Persian Gulf showing sampling sites and the study area. accumulate larger concentrations of metals compared to that live in open water. Among the most-studied are the crab which has important characteristics that allow the study of bioaccumulation: they feed mainly on a wide variety of fish, bivalves, plant, *Corresponding author: Mehdi Hosseini, Department of Marine Biology, Faculty and benthic animals [4], as well as the sediment itself [5] and they have of Biological Science, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran, Tel: +98 21 29901; a slow growth rate and long life cycle [4]. Therefore, this crab species E-mail: [email protected] is especially appropriate for use in studies of environmental impact by Received December 01, 2013; Accepted January 21, 2014; Published January metals from an ecosystemic. 28, 2014 The Persian Gulf is a shallow and semi-enclosed sea that its Citation: Hosseini M, Nabavi SMB, Pazooki J, Parsa Y (2014) The Levels of Toxic environment is changing rapidly [6]. The discovery of oil in this sea led Metals in Blue Crab Portunus segnis from Persian Gulf. J Marine Sci Res Dev 4: 145. doi: 10.4172/2155-9910.1000145 to a massive increase in anthropogenic activities in the area. In general, the agricultural use of fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, petrochemical Copyright: © 2014 Hosseini M, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits and oil industries are the major sources of pollution in this area [6]. unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the Therefore, levels of Ni, Co, Cd and Pb in tissues (muscle, hepatopancreas original author and source are credited.

J Marine Sci Res Dev ISSN: 2155-9910 JMSRD an open access journal Volume 4 • Issue 1 • 1000145 Citation: Hosseini M, Nabavi SMB, Pazooki J, Parsa Y (2014) The Levels of Toxic Metals in Blue Crab Portunus segnis from Persian Gulf. J Marine Sci Res Dev 4: 145. doi: 10.4172/2155-9910.1000145

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30-40 m. This area is a sandy-muddy habitat that provides a suitable Scientific name Sex Mean Weight (g) Food type ecosystem for a lot of marine organisms such as crab, shrimp and fish Shrimp; Fish; Mol- Portunussegnis Female (n = 122) 170 ± 0.10 [7]. Major sources of contamination in this area include the agricultural lusca; Plant; Detritus use of fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, hazardous substance spills Male (n = 107) 151 ± 0.02 from various refineries, petrochemical and oil industries. Sampling Table 1: Sex, food type, and weight (Mean ± SE) of the blue swimming crab was performed by trawl net. The samples placed on ice, immediately Portunussegnis. transported to the laboratory on the same day and stored at -20°C until analysis [8]. Metal Sex Gill Hepatopancreas Muscle Ni Male 15.4 ± 0.05 20.4 ± 0.02 14.5 ± 0.06 Each species was properly cleaned by rinsing with distilled water to Female 20.2 ± 0.01 31.9 ± 0.01 17.3 ± 0.05 remove debris, planktons and other external adherent, and the sex of each Pb Male 1.1 ± 0.02 2.2 ± 0.02 0.43 ± 0.03 individual was determined according to morphological characteristics. Female 1.5 ± 0.05 2.5 ± 0.05 0.71 ± 0.02 Male crabs are bright blue and their abdomens (womb area) are narrow Co Male 0.63 ± 0.06 0.91 ± 0.01 0.53 ± 0.06 and in the form of a spear, while female crabs are green–brown and Female 0.71 ± 0.02 1.2 ± 0.03 0.62 ± 0.01 have round abdomens [9]. The samples were dissected with sterilized Cd Male 0.43 ± 0.01 0.61 ± 0.01 0.15 ± 0.04 scissors and tweezers to remove samples of two tissues (muscle, gill Female 0.51 ± 0.03 0.88 ± 0.02 0.38 ± 0.02 and hepatopancreas), in standardized locations: (i) muscle of the chelar Table 2: Metal concentrations (µg g-1) in the gill, hepatopancreas and muscle of propodus, due to higher metal accumulation verified by Chen et al. male and female of blue swimming crab P. segnis. [10]; (ii) hepatopancreas tissue, which has a particularly high metabolic -1 rate [11] and (iii) gills, because of their osmoregulatory function [11]. It g ) for female, while concentrations in the gill were in the range of (0.19 -1 -1 -1 -1 was then drained under folds of filter, weighed, wrapped in aluminum µg g ) to (0.6 µg g ) for male and from (0.24 µg g 2) to (0.7 µg g ) for foil and then frozen at 10ºC prior to analysis. The tissues were placed in female crabs. The nickel concentrations in the muscle of the male and -1 -1 clean watch glasses and were oven dried at 105ºC for 1 hour and later the female crabs were observed to be between (0.16 µg g ) to (0.5 µg g ) -1 -1 cooled in the desiccators. Each sample of crab was homogenized in an and between (0.21 µg g ) to (0.6 µg g ), respectively. acid-cleaned mortar and 2 g were digested in triplicate in a water bath Pb at 60ºC for 6 h after adding 2.5 mL each of concentrated HNO3 and Lead concentration in the hepatopancreas tissue of crabs ranged H2SO4 [12]. from (0.75 µg g-1) to (2.2 µg g-1) for male and from (0.93 µg g-1) to (2.5 Each sample was analyzed for metals by the mineralization method µg g-1) for female, while concentrations in the gill were in the range of with HNO3 at 65 percent, according to Basset et al. [13]. Analyses were (0.65 µg g-1) to (1.1 µg g-1) for male and from (0.74 µg g-1) to (1.5 µg g-1) optimized by hollow cathode lamps (LCO), according to the metallic for female crabs. The nickel concentrations in the muscle of the male element analyzed, and samples were read using a GBC-932 AA atomic and the female crabs were observed to be between (0.36 µg g-1) to (0.54 absorption spectrophotometer [8]. The equipment was calibrated using µg g-1) and between (0.53 µg g-1) to (0.81 µg g-1), respectively. metal stock solutions (1000 ppm). The recovery means for Ni, Co, Cd and Pb was 99%, 103%, 99% and 102% respectively. Cd All data were tested for normal distribution with Shapiro-wilk Cadmium concentration in the hepatopancreas tissue of crabs normality test. The comparisons of metals levels between muscle, gill ranged from (0.31 µgg-1) to (0.61 µg g-1) for male and from (0.48 µg g-1) and hepatopancreas of crab were carried out by t-test. All concentrations to (0.88 µg g-1) for female, while concentrations in the gill were in the -1 are reported in µg g dry weight and a probability of p<0.01 was set to range of (0.19 µg g-1) to (0.43 µg g-1) for male and from (0.24 µg g-1 2) to indicate statistical significance. (0.55 µg g-1) for female crabs. The nickel concentrations in the muscle Results of the male and the female crabs were observed to be between (0.11 µg g-1) to (0.25 µg g-1) and between (0.15 µgg-1) to (0.38 µg g-1), respectively. Table 1 shows scientific name, sex, the mean body weight and food type for the blue swimming crab Portunus segnis. Metals concentrations Correlation were calculated in microgram per gram wet basis (µgg-1). In order to Correlation analysis also showed relationship between individual check the validity of the measurements, reference material (Multi-4, elements including Co and Ni (r=0.65) and between Cd and Co Merck) was used. The mean concentration and standard error of (r=0.76). Pearson correlation showed that there was no significant studied heavy metals are given in Table 2. correlation among these metals (p>0.05). Ni In our samples, hepatopancreas cadmium concentrations were Nickel concentration in the hepatopancreas tissue of crabs ranged positively correlated with those in gill of the blue swimming crab (r = from (09.2 µg g-1) to (20.5 µg g-1) for male and from (11.2 µg g-1) to (31.1 0.80 P<0.002, Figure 2a). Also, there was a positive correlation between µg g-1) for female, while concentrations in the gill were in the range of lead concentrations in hepatopancreas with those in muscle (r = 0.75 (07.5 µg g-1) to (15.2 µg g-1) for male and from (10.4 µg g-1) to (20.6 P<0.001, Figure 2b) µg g-1) for female crabs. The nickel concentrations in the muscle of the male and the female crabs were observed to be between (7.6 µg g-1) to Discussion (14.1 µg g-1) and between (8.1 µg g-1) to (17.5 µg g-1), respectively. This area is surrounded by many petrochemical units and petroleum refinery. Also, metals concentration may be due to discharge Co of sewage and urban effluents and related to the oil tankers traffic in Cobalt concentration in the hepatopancreas tissue of crabs ranged the area. The fact that total concentration of some petrochemical- from (0.41 µg g-1) to (0.9 µg g-1) for male and from (0.45 µg g-1) to (1.2 µg related metals such as Ni, Co and Cd in the northwest of Persian Gulf

J Marine Sci Res Dev ISSN:2155-9910 JMSRD an open access journal Volume 4 • Issue 1 • 1000145 Citation: Hosseini M, Nabavi SMB, Pazooki J, Parsa Y (2014) The Levels of Toxic Metals in Blue Crab Portunus segnis from Persian Gulf. J Marine Sci Res Dev 4: 145. doi: 10.4172/2155-9910.1000145

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a

b Figure 2: Relationship of cadmium concentrations (µg g-1) between hepatopancreas and gill (a) and lead concentrations between hepatopancreas and muscle (b) in blue swimming crab P. segnis. decreased with distance from Boushehr coasts is strong evidence reflects that the metals in this area were sourced from petrochemical activities, and not from background geological sources. Besides, some main creeks of this estuary flow into two crowded and industrialized cities and consequently receive huge amounts of domestic effluents and urban wastewaters [8]. It is likely that this high concentration of nickel was related to the oil tankers traffic and petrochemical complex in this area [8]. This area is surrounded by some petrochemical complex and petroleum refinery. The high concentration of lead was situated at the boat stations where high boating activities takes place and in located where the pH of the sediment was the lowest. the highest concentration of lead was found in the Turlok Lake when there were high boating activities. The result demonstrated that metals concentrations in the different organs followed the hierarchical pattern H > G > M (Figure 3). Heavy metal accumulation in shrimp organs depend on the physiological role of the organs [14]. Some tissues such as hepatopancreas are considered as target organs for metals accumulation [15]. The very high levels metals in the hepatopancreas in comparison to other tissues may be Figure 3: Comparison of Ni, Cd, Co and Pb concentrations in hepatopancreas, related to the content of metallothionein protein in hepatopancreas gill and muscle of male and female of blue swimming crab P. segnis. tissue. Metallothionein protein that plays a significant role in the

J Marine Sci Res Dev ISSN:2155-9910 JMSRD an open access journal Volume 4 • Issue 1 • 1000145 Citation: Hosseini M, Nabavi SMB, Pazooki J, Parsa Y (2014) The Levels of Toxic Metals in Blue Crab Portunus segnis from Persian Gulf. J Marine Sci Res Dev 4: 145. doi: 10.4172/2155-9910.1000145

Page 4 of 5 regulation and detoxification of metals is produced in high levels in hepatopancreas and gills) of blue swimming crab Portunus segnis and hepatopancreas tissue [16]. This protein contains a high percentage relationship with its food source. There was a positive correlation between of amino group, nitrogen and sulphur that sequester metals in stable metals concentrations in tissues with size of food items. Therefore, we complexes. In general, the accumulation of metals in the hepatopancreas expected to see higher metals levels in tissues of female crabs because could be resulted from the abundance of metallothioneins proteins in they are larger and can eat larger food items. The results of this study these tissues in comparison to gill and muscle. show that highest mean metals level were found in the herbivorous crabs, followed by detritivorous, carnivorous and omnivorous. Plant- Gills usually reflect the concentrations of metals in surrounding eating crab can be used to develop a sensitive bioindicator for ecological water. This organ is directly in contact with water and suspended and human health parameters. One advantage of studies such as this is materials thus could absorb different substances from the surrounding that they provide baseline data which can be used in future to evaluate environment. They also serve a variety of physiological functions such differences within and across specific geographical areas. Without such as osmoregulation and gas exchange. Due to these functions, gills have a database it will be difficult to evaluate and interpret future results remarkable influences on the exchange of toxic metals between a fish from the region, or to identify place with disturbing trends in pollution and its environment. However, the muscle tended to accumulate less levels. Finally, there is a need to develop and refine herbivorous crab mercury in comparison to the liver and gills. This finding may reflect model to serve as a sentinel of ecosystem health, to help provide early the low concentration of metallothioneins in the muscle tissue. warning indications for possible human exposure. The result also showed that there are differences in metal Acknowledgement concentration in the samples collected from different station. The indicated variability of metal concentration in the same species depends Financial support was carried out by Shahid Beheshti University and Environment Protection institute and Environmental project, Iran. on their habitats [15] because chemical reactions, bioavailability of metals, and sources of pollution that potentially could affect the References accumulation of metals are different between stations. 1. Beltrame MO, Marco SGD (2010) Influences of sex, habitat, and seasonality on heavy-metal concentrations in the burrowing crab (Neohelice granulate) from a There have been several studies on accumulation of heavy metals in coastal lagoon in Argentina. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 58: 746-756. crustacean species, yet few studies have taken into account the effect of 2. Karadede Hl, Oymak SA, Unlu E (2004) Heavy metals in mullet, Liza abu, sexual changes with respect to the metal accumulation and distribution and catfish, Silurustriostegus, from the Ataturk Dam Lake (Euphrates), Turkey. among tissues. We found that metals values were larger in tissues of Environ Int 30: 183-188. female of the species than the males. Differences in accumulation 3. Dalman O, Demirak A, Balci A (2006) Determination of heavy metals (Cd, Pb) between the genders have been mainly attributed to differences in diet and trace elements (Cu, Zn) in sediments and fish of the Southeastern Aegean or differences in habitat [17]. Sea (Turkey) by atomic absorption spectrometry. Food Chemistry 95: 157-162. The male crab more feed on fish and bivalvia and females crab more 4. Williams MJ (1981) Methods for analysis of natural diet in portunid crabs feed on shrimp, plant and detritus [4]. Plants have relationship with (Crustacea: : Portunidae). J Experimental Marine Biol Ecol 52: 103-113. sediment and receive more sediment associated metals. The roots of 5. Prasad PN, Neelakantan N (1988) Food and feeding of the mud crab Scylla plants have an important role in depurating the water and the sediment, serrata (Forskal) (Decapoda: Portunidae) from Karwar waters. 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(2012) reported as a vector of the transfer of mercury element to top marine Distribution of Metals in the Tissues of Benthic, Euryglossaorientalis and predators of the food chains. Therefore, female crabs more feed on Cynoglossusarel., and Bentho-Pelagic, Johniusbelangerii., Fish from Three shrimp and plant and receive high levels of metals (Figure 3). Estuaries, Persian Gulf. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 89: 489-494. 9. Potter IC, Lestang SD (2000) Biology of the blue swimmer crab Since larger organisms generally exhibit higher contaminant level Portunuspelagicus in Leschenault Estuary and Koombana Bay, south-western in their bodies [8] and crabs that are higher on the food chain also Australia. J R Soc West Aust 83: 443-458. accumulate more contaminants when comparing to crabs that eat a 10. Fu CT, Wu SC (2005) Bioaccumulation of polychlorinated biphenyls in mullet range of different foods or eat smaller organisms. We expected to see fish in a former ship dismantling harbour, a contaminated estuary, and nearby higher metals levels in tissues of female crabs because they are larger coastal fish farms. Mar Pollut Bull 51: 932-939. and can eat larger food items. In general metal levels have been shown 11. MourenteG (1996) In vitro metabolism of 14C-polyunsaturated fatty acids in to increase with size and age of the ingested crab and it tends to be midgut gland and ovary cells from Penaeuskerathurus Forskal at the beginning higher in species that occupy higher trophic levels [19], based on this of sexual maturation. Comp Biochem Physiol Part B Biochem Mol Biol 115: 255-266. logic we predicted that there should be higher levels of metals in the larger predators. Gewurtz et al. [20] have shown that higher metals 12. Athanasopoulos N (1993) Flame methods manual for atomic absorption. GBC Scientific Equipment PTY Ltd, Victoria. levels in female fish were due to the increased consumption of food, relative to males, to meet the increasing demands of reproduction. 13. Basset J, Denney RC, Jeffery GH, Mendhan J (1981) Vogel: AnaliseInorganica Quantitativa, fourthed. Guanabara SA, Rio de Janeiro.

Conclusions 14. Uysal K, Emre Y, Köse E (2008) The determination of heavy metal accumulation ratios in muscle, skin and gills of some migratory fish species by inductively The chief purposes of current investigation were to determine to coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) in Beymelek Lagoon be biomagnification of Ni, Co, Cd and Pb in three tissues (muscle, (Antalya/Turkey). Microchemical J 90: 67-70.

J Marine Sci Res Dev ISSN:2155-9910 JMSRD an open access journal Volume 4 • Issue 1 • 1000145 Citation: Hosseini M, Nabavi SMB, Pazooki J, Parsa Y (2014) The Levels of Toxic Metals in Blue Crab Portunus segnis from Persian Gulf. J Marine Sci Res Dev 4: 145. doi: 10.4172/2155-9910.1000145

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15. Yilmaz AB, Yilmaz L (2007) Influences of sex and seasons on levels of heavy de folhas das especies do manguezal do estuario do Rio Sao Mateus, Espırito metals in tissues of green tiger shrimp (Penaeussemisulcatus). Food Chem Santo, Brasil. Rev Bras Bot 29: 689-699. 101: 1664-1669. 19. Phillips GR, Lenhart TE, Gregory RW (1980) Relation between trophic position 16. Sen A, Semiz A (2007) Effects of metals and detergents on biotransformation and mercury accumulation among fishes from the Tongue River reservoir. and detoxification enzymes of leaping mullet (Liza saliens). Ecotoxicol Environ Environ Res 22: 73-80. Saf 68: 405-411.

17. Beckvar N, Field J, Salazar S, Hoff R (1996) Contaminants in aquatic habitats 20. Gewurtz SB, Bhavsar SP, Fletcher R (2011) Influence of fish size and sex at hazardous waste sites: mercury. NOAA, Seattle. on mercury/PCB concentration: importance for fish consumption advisories. Environ Int 37: 425-434. 18. Bernini E, Silva MAB, Carmo TMS (2006) Composicaoquımica do sediment e

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J Marine Sci Res Dev ISSN:2155-9910 JMSRD an open access journal Volume 4 • Issue 1 • 1000145