The concentrations of trace metals Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Zn and V were measured in gills, muscle and hepatopancreas of G. cruentata caught from South of Bahia in order to assess the potential health risk by the consumption of mangrove crabs. The highest metal concentrations in gills, and hepatopancreas were Cu, and Zn in muscles, while the lowest metal concentration in three tissues was Cd and Mo. With the results, it is possible to suggest that the high concentrations of some elements, especially of the Cu, may present risks to the Aratu consumers of the mangrove areas studied, or to other populations where these animals may be transported, same for other cities. The mean concentration of Pb in gills in Una and Jequitinhonha is above the value allowed by the legislation, 3,08 μg g-1 and 3,49 μg g-1, respectively. The concentration of Mn in the females in the three estuaries studied was 1.5 to 4.2 times higher than in the males. In general, detected mean metal concentrations in crab tissues were (in decreasing order) gills > hepatopancreas > muscles. Through the PCA analysis, differentiation between the tissues studied was observed due to its elemental composition. The target hazard quotient (QR) of all trace metals in muscle was less than 1.0 of the provisional tolerable daily intake (IDE) adopted by the USEPA. These results imply that G. cruentata caught from South of Bahia do not have an adverse impact on the consumer health.
Keywords:
Aratu; health risks; gills; hepatopancreas; muscles
