Studies on the distribution of heavy metals like copper, cadmium, zinc, lead and mercury in deep sea prawns Pandalus borealis in the Oslofjord region showed that those collected from inner and middle fjord contained higher levels of heavy metals than those from the outer fjord. Their content in the edible portions, viz., tail muscle, was less compared to other organs. In terms of metal concentration copper and zinc are present in significant quantities in Pandalus borealis

Neelakantan, B.

Aquatic Commons

STRIBUTIO 
ORTHER 
OF HEAVY ETALS IN THE 
SHRIMP PANDALUS BOREALIS 
FROM THE OSLOFJORD 
B. NEELAKANTAN* 
Institute of Marine Biology, University of Oslo, Norway 
Studies on the distribution of heavy metals like copper, 
cadmium, zinc, lead and mercury in deep sea prawns Pandalus 
borealis in the Oslofjord region showed that those collected 
from inner and middle fjord contained higher levels of heavy 
metals than those from the outer fjord. Their content in the 
edible portions, viz., tail muscle, was less compared to other 
organs. In terms of metal concentration copper and zinc are 
present in significant quantities in Pandalus borealis. 
INTRODUCTION Pandalus borealis is a commercially . 
important species of deep sea prawn 
fished in the Oslofjord. Little is known 
regarding the concentrations of trace 
metals in this species. The present study 
was undertaken as an attempt to deter-
mine the levels of copper, cadmium, lead, 
zinc and mercury in Pandalus borealis 
from different locations in the Oslofjord. 
Studies on the distribution of heavy 
metals such as copper, cadmium, lead, 
zinc and mercury in marine organisms 
have gained considerable importance in 
recent years as a result of widespread 
public concern over the levels of certain 
metals, particularly mercury, in food 
stuffs. Hence, such a base-line study was 
initiated in this laboratory to ascertain 
the naturally occurring concentrations of 
heavy metals in marin~ organisms (And-
ersen, Dommasnes & Hesthagan, 1973; 
Andersen & Neelakantan, 1974). 
MATERIAL AND METHODS 
Pandalus borealis were collected fresh 
from the commercial catches at six stations 
(Fig. 1) during the months January to 
*Present address: Marine Biology Division, Department of Zoology, 
Karnataka University, Dharwar-3, India. 
20 Fish. Techno!. 
Neelaftantan: Vistrioution of tieavy metals in Pandalus oorealis 
OSLO 
ORAMMEN 
~\ Hamangunnen 
Fig. 1 
Locations of the sampling stations 
in the Oslofjord 
March 1973 and stored at -2ooc until 
they were prepared for analysis. The 
·samples were sorted on the basis of sex 
and again to different length groups. 
The total length was measured from the 
•tip of the rostrum to the posterior edge 
-of the telson. Fifteen individuals of the 
<Same size and sex group were selected 
<to represent each sample. Whenever 
:berried females were found in the samples, 
the eggs were separated and analysed for 
heavy metals. Approximately 100 shrimps 
V-oL 13 No. 1 1976 
from a bulk sample were dissected out 
and used for the determination of heavy 
metals. 
All the samples were carefully dried 
to constant weight, homogenised, and 
250 mg. was used for each analysis except 
for hepatopancreas, gills and eggs, in 
which case only 100 mg. was used. The 
concentrations of copper, cadmium, lead 
and zinc were measured using the method 
described by Andersen, Dommasnes and 
Heshtagan (1973) and mercury was 
estimated following the procedure described 
by Andersen & Neelakantan (1974). 
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 
The concentrations of heavy metals 
in different length groups and sexes of 
one sample from Elle are given in 
Table I. Table II gives the concentrations 
of metals in whole prawns from different 
locations in the Oslofjord. The heavy 
metal levels in the different tissues and 
eggs of prawn sample collected at 
Holmestrandsfjord are given in Table III. 
Copper 
Table I shows that the sample of 
P. borealis from Elle did not show any 
apparent vanatwn in copper content, 
either sex or size-wise. However, the 
samples from different places in the 
Oslofjord showed marked differences. The 
copper concentration ranged from 78flg.jg. 
to 127 flg.jg. (Table II). The prawns 
from Holmstrandsfjord recorded the highest 
values of copper and the lowest were 
observed from Torbjornskjaer. The range 
of values obtained for P. borealis from 
the Oslofjord closely agree with the 
results of Halcrow, Mackay & Thornton 
(1973) for the nL1ted species Pandalus 
montagui from Firth of Clyde, and of 
2l 
Neela~antan: VistrifJution of f'reavy metals in ~1andalus 6orealis 
TABLE I 
Concentrations of copper, cadmium, lead, zinc and mercury in the different 
length groups of Pandalus borealis from Station Elle. 
Size group Sex %water Concentration in fig/g. dry material 
m mm. content 
---cu ______________ cct ---------------P-5---------··----::z-n--------------Irg-------
90- 100 male 75.5 92 1.1 4.1 127 0.3 
101 - 110 male 76.1. 89 Ll 3.0 120 0.4 
111 - 120 male 78.5 87 1.2 5.4 132 0.3 
130- 155 female 75.1 82 1.3 2.6 164 0.5 
130- 140 female* 76.8 81 2.1 4.1 127 0.3 
* with external eggs 
TABLE II 
Concentrations of Cu, Cd, Pb, Zn and Hg in Pandalus borealis 
from different locations in the Oslofjord 
Place of 
collection 
Length Sex % water Concentration in flg./g. dry material 
in rnm. content --Cu Cd Pb~~Zn-Hg 
Mokkalasene 
Elle 
100-110 
130-155 
Holmstrandsfjord 120-! 30 
Bolarne 110-120 
Torbjornskjaer 100-110 
Faerder 90-100 
Average 
male 80.2 
female 75.1 
female 77.1 
male 78 1 
female* 75.5 
female 75.6 
106 
82 
127 
97 
78 
79 
95 
1.7 
1.3 
0.4 
0.6 
0.8 
0.6 
0.9 
5.4 
2.6 
1.4 
2.6 
2.3 
2.1 
2.7 
155 
164 
84 
58 
75 
80 
103 
0.7 
0.5 
0.5 
0.3 
0.5 
0.3 
0.4 
*with external eggs 
Bryan (1968) for decapod crustaceans 
from Plymouth area, which have copper 
in the range of 20 to 30filg.j g. wet 
weight. 
Among the different tissues, the 
hepatopancreas recorded the highest levels 
of copper (Table HI). This indicates 
that the hepatopancreas is capable of 
22 
concentrating and storing copper. SeveraE 
·studies have been made on the copper 
content of hepatopancreas of crustaceans 
(Kerkot, Moritz & Munday, 1961; Bryan, 
1968 and Djangmah & Grove, 1970). 
Their results aU indicated that the cru-
stacean hepatopancreas liS remarkably 
efficient in storing· high amounts of 
copper. Apart from the hepatopancreas, 
Fish. Techno!. 
Neelakantan: Vistri/Jution of fieaoy metals in 'Pandalus oorealis 
TABLE 
Concentrations of Cu, Cd, Pb, Zn and Hg in the tissues and eggs of 
Pandalus borealis from Holniestrandsfjord. 
Tissue % water 
content Cu 
Exoske1eton 60.9 66 
Muscle 79.1 31 
GiU 81.2 440 
Hepatopancreas 55.0 565. 
Egg 84.4 26 
Whole prawn 77:1 127 
the gills also contain relatively high 
amounts of copper (Table III), and this 
is possibly due to the blood contained 
in the gills (Kerkut et al., 1961). The 
exoskeleton and the abdominal flexor 
muscles have comparatively less copper 
similar to those found in Crangon vulgaris 
(Djangmah & Grove, 1970). Bryan (1968) 
believes that most of the copper present 
in the crustacean muscles 1s due to 
contamination by blood. 
Cadn,ium 
In the different sizes of shrimps, the 
cadmium concentration shows very little 
variation except in females with external 
eggs. The high content of cadmium in 
this group may be due to the external 
eggs, as these eggs contained an appreciable 
amount of cadmium (Table III;. The 
samples from Mokkalasene recorded the 
highest values of cadmium when compared 
to other areas. The average concentration 
of cadmium (0.9f-lg./g.) obtained for 
P. borealis from the Oslofjord, is com-
paratively lower than Crangon crangon 
from British Channel as observed by 
Portman & Yardley (1972). The gills 
VoL 13 No. 1 1976 
Concentration 111 p.g.jg. dry material 
Cd Pb Zn Hg 
0.4 1.2 39 0.2 
0.2 0.9 42 0.2 
2.f\ 6.0 126 0.8 
3.0 4.2 264 1.3 
3.4 2.6 114 0.2 
0.4 1.4 84 0.5 
and hepatopancreas recorded higher 
amount of cadmium than the exoskeleton 
and muscles (Table III). Topping (1973) 
also has recorded high values of cadmium 
in the giUs and hepatopancreas of the 
lobster, ·Eomarus vulgaris, from Scottish· 
waters. Muscles recorded the lowest 
concentration of cadmium. 
Lead 
The concentration of lead appears to 
vary in different size groups and sexes. 
Highest concentrations are observed in 
larger males (Table l). From various 
locations in the Oslofjord, the samples 
contain varying amounts of lead in the 
range of 1.4 to 5.4/.tg.jg. with an average 
of 2.7P.g jg., which is relatively lower 
than that of Crangon vulgaris from the 
coasts of England (Portman & Yardley, 
1972). H is interesting to note that the 
lead concentration in the prawns gradually 
increases from the outermost station, i. e. 
Faerder towards the head of the Oslofjord. 
However, the lowest values are observed 
for prawns from Holmestrandsfjord 
(Table II). Gills contained the highest 
amount of lead, foUowed by bepatopan-
23 
Neelafiantan: VistritJution of tieavy metals in 'Pandalus 6orealis 
creas, exoskeleton and muscles. The lead 
content of the order of 0.9flg.jg. for 
the tail muscles of P. borealis is comparable 
with that recorded (less than 0.2 p.p.m. wet 
weight) by Topping (1973) for the tail meat 
of lobsters from Scotland. 
Zinc 
Zinc is present in abundant quantities 
in the prawn, P. borealis (Table I). There 
appears to be wide variation in zinc 
content in different sizes of prawns. 
The samples from Elle and Mokkalasene 
are observed to contain very high con-
centration of zinc (Table II) which is 
about twice the levels found in samples 
from other stations. These high con-
centration of zinc in the samples from 
Mokkalasene and Elle (both lying in the 
innerfjord) may be related to high zinc 
values of sea water (Andersen et al. 1973). 
There is a uniformity in distribution of 
zinc in the samples from the last 
four stations, the samples from 
Bolarne recording the lowest value. 
The concentration of zinc in the 
tissues varies markedly (Table III). High 
concentrations are seen in the hepato-
pancreas and low concentrations in the 
gills. Bryan (1968) has also found high 
concentrations of zinc in- · the hepato-
pancreas of the lobster, Homarus vulgaris 
and this may be due to the ability of 
hepatopancreas to store excess zinc. 
Bryan (1968) .has reported that the zinc 
content of hepatopancreas increased when 
the animal was exposed to sea water 
having high concentration of zinc. The 
occurrence of appreciable amounts of 
zinc in the gills may indicate that the 
gills are the possible sites of absorption 
and loss of zinc. 
24 
Mercury 
The levels of mercury in different 
sizes and sexes do not show any significant 
variation (Table I). The samples from 
Mokkalasene lying in the innerfjord, 
which is closest to the city of Oslo, 
recorded highest concentration of mercury. 
Williams & Weiss (1973), working on 
the mercury content of pelagic food 
chain, found that the peeaeid decapods 
from the depth of 600 m. off San Diego 
contained only about 0.3 p.p.m. mercury 
on dry weight. Similar values are also re-
corded in the present study for prawns from 
the outer Oslofjord. These results support 
the view that the animals from the coastal 
areas contain more trace metals than the ones 
from the open sea. Just like the other metals 
mercury is present in high concentrations in 
the hepatopancreas (Table III). Gills also 
recorded high values of mercury, and this 
indicates that the gills represent the princi-
pal organ of uptake and release of mercury 
in P. borealis. Similar role has been suggested 
for the gills of the marine crab, Maia squin-
ado (Corner, 1959). The exoskeleton and 
the tail muscles recorded the lowest 
concentration of mercury. 
The external eggs contain higher 
concentration of all the metals except 
copper. The cadmium and zinc values 
are as high as in the gills. Bryan (1968) 
has also reported high concentrations of 
zinc in the eggs of decapod crustaceans. 
The reason for the occurrence of high 
amounts of heavy metals in the eggs is 
not clear; it may be as a result of free 
exposure of eggs to the surrounding 
medium. 
AcKNOWLEDGEME"l'TS 
I am highly indebted to Prof. Ernst 
Foyn, Dr. Thorvin Andersen and Mr. 
Fish. Techno[. 
Neelatiantan: Vistri6ution of lieauy metals in Pandalus 6orealis 
Are Dommasnes for their encouragement, 
to Mr. F. Waiving, Director of the 
Biological Station, Drobak, for his help 
in the collection of samples and Nor-
wegian· Agency for International Develop-
ment (NORAJ) for financial support. 
REFERENCES 
Andersen, A. T., A. Dommasnes and 
I. H. Heshtagan, 197 3. Aquaculture; 
2: 17. 
Andersen, A. T. and B. Neelakantan. 
1974. Norw. J. Zoo!, 22: 231. 
Bryan, G. W. 1968. J. mar. biol. ass. 
U. K., 48 : 3U. 
VoL 13 No. 1 1976 
Corner, E. D. S. 1959. Biochem. Pharmacal., 
2: 121. 
Djangmah, J. S. and D. J. Grove, 1970. 
Comp. Biochem. Physiol., 32 : 733. 
Halcrow, W., D. W. Mackay and I. 
Thornton 1973. J. mar. biol. ass. 
u. K., .53 : 721. 
Kerkut, G. A., P.M. Moritz and K. A. 
Munday. 1961. Cah. Biol. Mar., 2: 399. 
Portman, J. E. and J. D. Yardley. 1972. 
I C. E. S. C. M., 1972/K. 12. 
Topping, G. 1973. Aquaculture., I: 379. 
Williams~ P. M. and H. V. Weiss, 1973. 
J. Fish. Res. Bd Canada., 30: 293. 
25 


Distribution of heavy metals in the northern shrimp Pandalus borealis from the Oslofjord

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Distribution of heavy metals in the northern shrimp Pandalus borealis from the Oslofjord

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