Heavy metal concentrations in two populations of crayfish.

To monitor the environmental contamination of heavy metals in Tuskegee Lake (TL) and National Forest Creek (NFC), Tuskegee, Alabama, adult crayfish muscle and exoskeleton and sediment samples were collected and analyzed for Hg, Pb, Cd, Cu, Co, Ni and Zn. In both TL and NFC crayfish Cu and Zn were not different in muscle and exoskeleton; however, Pb and Cd were significantly different. The Pb in exoskeleton and the Cu and Zn in muscle and exoskeleton of TL crayfish were significantly higher than that of NFC crayfish; however, Cd and Ni were not different between tissues or crayfish sources. Levels of Hg and Co were not detectable.