Heavy metal concentrations in some benthic organisms (callinectes amnicola) from ebrie lagoon, abidjan Côte d’ivoire

Samples of crabs (Callinectes amnicola) were collected in six bays of Ebrie lagoon in Abidjan city, and the level of heavy metal (As, Cd, Cr, Pb, Zn) in crabs was investigated using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The mean concentrations of heavy metals in crabs were follows: Arsenic: 3.09 ± 1.19 mg/kg; cadmium: 0.91 ± 0.24 mg/kg; chromium: 12.95 ± 3.08 mg/kg; lead: 3.80 ± 1.63 mg/kg and zinc: 150.01 ± 39.88 mg/kg. So, metals bioaccumulation in the crabs entire is in Zn > Cr > Pb > As > Cd order. From the analysis point of view, crabs sampled from Ebrie lagoon may be considered unsafe for human consumption, because of the Cr and Pb high concentrations in these organisms, compared to WHO standard for aquatic foods, even if the concentrations of Cd, As and Zn were acceptable according to WHO recommendations. Therefore, special attention should be given to the water quality and bioaccumulation of metals (arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead and zinc) in crab, Callinectes amnicola from Ebrie lagoon.