Assessment of heavy metals concentration Cu, Ni and Zn in Acanthopleura vaillantii in the coast of Chabahar Bay

According to importance of Chabahar Bay as one of the marine strategic areas and need to learn about pollution of this area, in this study, Cu, Ni and Zn concentration was investigated in the soft tissue of chiton Acanthopleura vaillantii from 5 stations in the coast of Chabahar Bay at autumn of 1394. For this purpose, samples were collected and transferred to the laboratory, then after preparation and chemical digestion process, concentration of heavy metal was measured in soft tissue of Chiton by Atomic Absorption spectrophotometer. The results showed that the mean of concentration of heavy metals in soft tissue of Chiton had a pattern just Zn> Ni> Cu. Statistical analysis showed that all stations had significant differences (P<0.05). Concentrations average of Cu, Ni and Zn in 5 stations were measured 5.45 ± 0.12, 15.59 ± 0.22 and 21.25 ± 0.19(µg/g dry wt.) respectively, that chitons of station 1 (Shahid Kalantari pier) was observed the highest and station2 (beach of Maritime University) lowest concentrations of heavy metals. Comparing the results with US FDA, FAO and Iran Standard Institution standards, was showed low accumulations of Cu and Zn metals rather than allowed end of standards, but accumulations of Ni was excessive from allowed end of standards and this pollution can be for human activities such as maritime trade, shipping, municipal and industrial wastewaters and so on.