Assessment of Metal Concentrations in Muscles of the Blue Crab, Callinectes danae S., from the Santos Estuarine System

This study determined the concentrations of eleven metals in the blue crab, Callinectes danae, from nine sites in the Santos Estuarine System of Sao Paulo State, Brazil. The results were compared to guidelines established in the United States, Europe and Brazil for the safety of human consumers. Muscles of blue crabs were removed by dissection and concentrations of Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn Ni, Pb and Zn were determined. In general, the concentrations of metals were low, and the crabs were regarded as safe for human consumption. Crabs from a single site (site 4) exceeded the guidelines established by the United States and Europe, but not Brazil, for Pb, with a mean tissue concentration of 1.725 mu g g(-1). With the exception of Al, Fe and Ni, significant differences were noted between sites in the concentrations of each metal in crab tissue.