Determination of Metals in Seafood and Fish in Southwest Louisiana

This review presents results of concentrations of various metals in seafood such as shrimp, oysters, alligators, crayfish, and crabs. The majority of results are presented from the authors' area of interest, namely southwest Louisiana. This area is typical and fairly representative of many areas around the world where the seafood industry and industrial chemical plants co-exist. Inclusion of organics and near by areas of southwest Louisiana as well as selected results from around the world are presented for completeness. Heavy and toxic metals including Hg, Pb, and Cd have attracted the most interest. Concentrations of metals in seafood are often higher than expected. Studies on soil and sediments have allowed extrapolation of toxicity in seafood.