Mercury levels in selected tissues of shrimp penaeus merguiensis from persian gulf

Abstract

Levels of mercury in tissues of Penaeus merguiensis from the Persian Gulf, was investigated. This study assessed the relationship between mercury levels in hepatopancreasn tissue, muscle and gonads with sex and season. Mercury content varied with type of size and sex. Results showed that hepatopancreas accumulate higher levels of the mercury in comparison to muscle and gonads. There was significant difference (p<0.05) in mercury levels between P. merguiensis sexes, higher mercury levels found in female than in males. There was significant difference (p<0.05) in mercury levels between different seasons, higher mercury levels found in July (summer season). The variation in mercury levels among the tissues is likely to have resulted from metal bioavailability, changes in tissue composition, organism size, sex and season.