In this paper we explored the heavy metal bioaccumulation (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) in Procambarus clarkii, a crayfish
recently suggested as a potential bioindicator for metals pollution in freshwater systems. The present study is focused
on crayfishes populations caught in a heavily polluted industrial and in a reference sites (Central Italy),
though the results are generalized with a thorough analysis of literature metadata. In agreement with the literature,
the hepatopancreas (Hep, detoxification tissues) of the red swamp crayfish showed a higher concentration
of heavy metals in comparison to the abdominal muscle (AbM, not detoxification tissues) in the sites under scrutiny.
Hep/AbM concentration ratio was dependent on the specific metal investigated and on its sediment contamination
level. Specifically we found that Hep/AbM ratio decreases as follows: Cd (11.7) N Cu (5.5) N Pb (3.6) N Zn
(1.0) and Pb (4.34) N Cd (3.66) N Zn (1.69) N Cu (0.87) for the industrial and reference sites, respectively.