Seasonal and sexual variations of trace-metal elements (Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Fe) in muscle and eggs of the deep-water Pandalid shrimp Plesionika edwardsii (Brandt, 1851) from Northeast Algeria

The level of trace metal elements (TME) (Cd, Pd, Cu, Zn, Fe) was determined according to the seasons and the sexes in the muscle and the eggs of the deep-water pandalid shrimp Plesionika edwardsii (Brandt 1851) of the east coast of Algeria. Using the inductively coupled atomic plasma emission spectrometry method (ICP AES), the distribution of trace metals shows a significant fluctuation according to the seasons and the sex. Throughout the annual sampling, the order of heavy metal concentrations in female and male muscle, as well as in eggs were Cd < Cu < Fe < Zn < Pb, Cd < Cu < Zn < Pb < Fe, Cd < Cu < Fe < Zn < Pb respectively. In this work the heavy metal concentrations in target tissues are below the permissible limits set by the international standard except for Pb, mainly in summer, autumn and spring, exhibiting alarming levels.