Assessment of Selected Heavy Metals (Zn, Mn, Pb, Cd, Cr and Cu) in Different Species of Acetes Shrimp from Malacca, Johor and Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia

This study was conducted to evaluate selected heavy metals on four different species of Acetes shrimp, family Sergestidae namely Acetes indicus, A. intermedius, A. vulgaris and A. serrulatus. The study aimed to determine the concentrations of heavy metals namely Zn, Mn, Pb, Cd, Cr and Cu in the tissue of these shrimp in three different sites (Malacca, Terengganu and Johor) on the west and east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Samples were collected and frizzed, dried and digest in the lab to determine the concentrations of heavy metals by Inductively Coupled Plasma- Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results showed that in general, the heavy metals concentrations in of Acetes shrimp species depend significantly upon the period of taking the samples, specie and location. The highest concentration level for Cr was 1.34±0.24 μg g-1 (dry weight) dw, Zn 46.34±11.10 μg g-1 d.wt. Cu 56.09±8.69 μg g-1 d.wt. were recorded in Terengganu on February 2011. There was no significant difference on concentration of chromium. Results showed concentration of Cd was 0.76±0.13 μg g-1 d.wt. . Whereas result recorded in Terengganu on April 2011 showed the highest concentration level for Pb of 0.59±0.13 μg g-1 d.wt. was in Johor on February 2011. The highest concentration level for Mn of 1.77±0.42 μg g-1 d.wt. was recorded in Johor on April 2011. Concentrations of heavy metals of Acetes shrimp collected from all study areas showed safe and permissible levels for the human consumption and public health.