Accumulation of Heavy Metals in the Vannamei Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and Pond Environment

This study investigated the accumulation of heavy metals cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), and lead (Pb) in the environment and body parts of Litopenaeus vannamei cultured in traditional shrimp ponds in Sidoarjo, Indonesia. Water, sediment, and shrimp samples (cephalothorax and abdomen) were collected from three representative ponds and were analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma–Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES). The highest concentrations of Pb (10.975ppm) and Cd (1.463ppm) were found in sediment and water, respectively. Heavy metal content was notably higher in the cephalothorax than in the abdomen, indicating a greater accumulation in organs responsible for filtration and metabolism. Contamination Factor (CF) analysis classified Cd as moderate and other metals as low in contamination. The Heavy Metal Evaluation Index (HEI) indicated a low pollution level across all ponds. Lifetime Cancer Risk (LCR) values for Cd in one pond exceeded the 10⁻⁶ threshold, suggesting an acceptable but non-negligible carcinogenic risk. Overall, the findings highlight the potential health risks of heavy metal bioaccumulation in traditionally farmed shrimp and emphasize the need for continued environmental monitoring in aquaculture systems.