An Overview of Heavy Metal Bioaccumulation in Major Shrimps Species in Indonesia

Abstract

Shrimps, as the key component of not only the aquatic ecosystem but also the local fisheries economy, are prone to accumulating toxic metals such as cadmium, mercury, lead, and arsenic from the surrounding water and sediments. Indonesia’s shrimp exports in 2024 reached a value of more than USD 1.68 billion with a volume of 1,134,017 tons. The shrimp production can decrease due to heavy metal pollution. The goal of this study is to compile information from several studies about the bioaccumulation of heavy metals in the tissues of different shrimp species in aquatic habitats or shrimp farms that were carried out in various regions of Indonesia. This studies include Macrobrachium rosenbergii, Acetes sp., Penaeus merguiensis, Litopenaeus vannamei, and Fenneropenaeus merguiensis from various locations in Indonesia. The results are Whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) are the most researched shrimp species in Indonesia due to their high production volume. The most investigated heavy metal in Indonesian shrimp is lead that can cause various health problems in humans including nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and even death in severe cases. Chromium and cadmium levels was found too and the levels exceed permissible food safety thresholds. Another heavy metals that accumulated in Indonesian Shrimp are mercury, copper, zinc, and arsenic. Physicochemical and biological method can be use for reducing heavy metal in water.