Biological responses in edible crab, Callinectes amnicola that could serve as markers of heavy metals pollution

Responses of lagoon crab, Callinectes amnicola were explored as useful biological markers of heavy metal pollution. The toxicity level of the metals based on the 96-h LC50 values showed that copper with LC50 value of 0.018 mM was found to be two times more toxic than Lead (0.041 mM) against the lagoon crab, C. amnicola. The exposure of the lagoon crab to sublethal concentrations (1/100th and 1/10th of 96-h LC50 values) of Cu and Pb compound, respectively, resulted in the bioaccumulation of the test metals to varying degrees in the selected organs that were dependent on the type of metal and concentration of metal compound in the test media. The degree of metal (Cu and Pb) accumulation was generally in the following order: gills > muscle > heptopancrease. Exposure of the crabs to sublethal concentrations of the metals also caused pathological changes such as the disruption of the gill filaments and degeneration of glandular cells with multifocal areas of calcification in the hepatopancreas. A reduction in the weight of the exposed animals over a 14-day period of observation was also recorded. The significance of these results and the usefulness of the biological endpoints in monitoring programmes aimed at establishing the total environmental level of heavy metals in aquatic ecosystems were discussed.