Resumo

BOADA, Mélida et al. Heavy Metals (Cu⁺², Cd⁺², Pb⁺², Zn⁺²) in Muscle and Cephalothorax of Wild Shrimp (Litopenaeus schmitti, Farfantepenaeus subtilis, F. notialis and F. brasiliensis) From the Eastern Region of Venezuela.. Rev. Cient. (Maracaibo) [online]. 2007, vol.17, n.2, pp.186-192. ISSN 0798-2259.

In order to evaluate the heavy metal content in wild shrimp Litopenaeus schmitti, Farfantepenaeus subtilis, F. notialis and F. brasiliensis, in Gulf of Cariaco, Gulf of Paria (Sucre State) and Margarita Island (Nueva Esparta State), Venezuela, the concentration (ìg.g-1 dry weight) of Cu⁺², Cd⁺², Pb⁺² and Zn⁺², was determined in muscle and cephalothorax using atomic absorption spectrophotometry technique. Analyses of variance were performed in order to compare the concentrations transformed data of each metal in relation to locality, species, size and organ analyzed, with a previous determination of normality and homocedasticity of the data. The decreasing order of cummulative metal content was as follows: Cephalothorax, Zn⁺² > Cu⁺² > Pb⁺² > Cd⁺², with the exception of F. notialis captured in Gulf of Paria, in which the content of lead was not detected (Zn⁺² > Cu⁺² > Cd⁺²); whereas for F. brasiliensis captured in Margarita Island the decreasing order was Cu⁺² > Zn⁺² > Pb⁺² > Cd⁺². In muscle: Zn⁺² > Cu⁺² > Pb⁺² > Cd⁺², except in F. subtilis and L. schmitti from Gulf of Cariaco, where lead is higher than copper (Zn⁺² > Pb⁺² > Cu⁺² > Cd⁺²). Average values of cadmium concentration were not included in the statistical analyses because the metal was only detected in 25% of the analyzed samples. The concentrations determined are within the maximum allowable international limits for each metal in shrimp.

Palavras-chave : Heavy metals; shrimps; muscle; cephalothorax.