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¹ Department of Marine Science, University of Calcutta, Kolkata – 700 019, West Bengal, India
² Fisheries and Aquaculture Division, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata–700 019, West Bengal, India
³ School for Biodiversity & Conservation of Natural Resources, Central University of Orissa, Koraput, Orissa 764020, India DOI : 10.4194/1303-2712-v12_1_07 Viewed : 4330 - Downloaded : 6046 The study, which measured the concentrations of Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd, in muscle tissue of 5 commercially important crustacean species (Penaeus monodon, Penaeus indicus, Penaeus semisulcatus, Penaeus marguensis and Metapenaeus brevicornis) collected from the UNESCO declared world heritage site Indian Sundarbans. The Indian Sundarbans at the apex of Bay of Bengal is recognized as one of the most diversified and productive ecosystems in the world located at the confluence of Hooghli- Matla estuarine complex. However, due to intense industrialization, urbanization and increase of anthropogenic activities in recent era, Indian Sundarbans have been contaminated with heavy metals which vary with seasons and often exhibit pronounced monsoonal effect. Significant variation of heavy metals in muscle tissue of 5 commercially important crustaceans or shrimp species collected from four different sampling stations (2 each in central and western sector) of Indian Sundarbans were observed. The distribution of trace metals accumulated in all the muscle tissues of shrimp species followed the order Zn > Cu> Pb> Cd. The concentration of metals exhibited significant spatial variation and followed the order station 1 >station 2 > station 3 > station 4, which may be related to different degree of contamination in different location (p < 0.01) that indicated the adverse impact of industrialization and urbanization on the edible crustaceans community. Although the concentration of selected heavy metals were within the normal range in all stations, but at station 1 the metal level has exceeded in the muscle of shrimp species as a food source for human consumption. Keywords : Indian Sundarbans, Hooghli-Matla estuarine complex; Penaeus monodon, Penaeus indicus, Penaeus semisulcatus, Penaeus marguensis, Metapenaeus brevicornis