Abstract
The present study was conducted to estimate and compare the concentration of (Zn, Fe, Co, Cu, Pb, Cd, Ni and Cr) in the edible muscles of commercially important species of male and female crustaceans (Portunus pelagicus, Portunus sanguinolentus, Charybdis feriata and Scylla serrata). It also evaluated the bioaccumulation progression of the various elements based on Metal Pollution Index (MPI). It’s an attempt to use these organisms as biomonitor species of heavy metals pollution, ensure for the seafood safety. The obtained result showed significant intersexual variations of Zn, Fe, Co, Cu, Pb, Cd, Ni and Cr levels in the edible muscles of each investigated species of crabs. The procured data also, be evidence for the higher MPI factor of essential metals than the toxic and borderline heavy metals in all studied crab species. Moreover, MPI values suggested that P. pelagicus and S. serrata have a greater competence for metal bioaccumulation than C. feriata and P. sanguinolentus. The P. pelagicus and S. serrata are more vulnerable to metal pollution than the other studied species. Therefore, it is suggested that P. pelagicus and S. serrata can be used as biomonitoring species of metal pollution
