TITLE:
Accumulation of Copper, Lead, Chrome, Cadmium in Some Tissues of Procambarus clarkii in Rharb Region in Morocco
AUTHORS:
Ikram El Qoraychy, Mohamed Fekhaoui, Abdellah El Abidi, Rachid Benakame, Abdelkbir Bellaouchou, Ahmed Yahyaoui
KEYWORDS:
Procambarus clarkii, Heavy Metals, Merja Zerga, Nador Canal, Morocco
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.3 No.8,
October
27,
2015
ABSTRACT: Different
concentrations of four metals namely copper, lead, chrome and cadmium were
evaluated in crayfish Procambarus clarkii tissues (carapace, flesh) for a six-month period, from March to August 2013 in
the Rharb of Morocco (Lagoon Merja Zerga and Nador canal). The determination of heavy metals
was carried using atomic absorption spectroscopy Varian VV20. The results
obtained revealed a metal’s contamination of Procambarus clarkii in both sites. Concentrations of heavy metals
examined Procambarus clarkii carapace ranged as follows: Merja
Zerga (Pb 2.07 - 6.7 μg/g; Cu 2.9 - 9.97 μg/g; Cr 0.89 - 14.22 μg/g dry weight)
and Nador canal: (Pb 0.08 - 7.8 μg/g; Cu 3.40 - 9.3 μg/g ; Cr 0.87 - 3.5 μg/g
dry weight). Concentrations of heavy metals found in flesh were as follows:
Merja Zerga (Pb 0.02 - 5.25 μg/g; Cu 9.58 - 23.59 μg/g; Cr 0 - 2.71 μg/g dry
weight) and Nador canal (Pb 0.06 - 6.81 μg/g; Cu 9.5 - 37.20 μg/g; Cr 0 - 3.23
μg/g dry weight). The distribution of those metals in Procambarus clarkii shows high levels of contamination for lead, copper
and chrome with an absence of cadmium in both sites (Merja Zerga and Nador
canal). The concentrations differed in carapace and flesh.