| Summary: | Farmed crustaceans are an important component in addressing the rising animal protein demand. The present study determined the concentrations of fourteen elements (Ag, As, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Sn, Pb, and Zn) in the edible abdominal muscle of cultured freshwater crayfish species (Faxonius virilis; Procambarus acutus acutus) from Missouri. Also, this paper describes the dietary intake and the human health risks from the consumption of crayfish muscle in the adult population. Overall, 172 animals were captured between February 2017 and January 2018 for assessment. Concentrations of metals (Ag, Be, Cd, Cu, Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sn, Mo, and Zn) and metalloid (As) in the muscle tissue were determined after microwave-assisted acid digestion by ICP - OES. Health indices (EDI/EWI: estimated daily/weekly intakes; THQ: target hazard quotient; TTHQ: total target hazard quotient; ILCR: incremental lifetime cancer risk; and ∑ILCR: cumulative lifetime cancer risk) were calculated and compared to thresholds. Of all samples, the highest concentrations (mg kg −1 wet weight) of metal(loid)s in muscle were Ag (0.11), As (3.15), Be (0.21), Cd (0.11), Co (0.32), Cr (1.22), Cu (107), Fe (23.0), Mn (8.54), Mo (0.62), Ni (2.65), Pb (1.76), Sn (5.91), and Zn (19.2). In both species, the average As, Cd, and Zn concentrations were below the legal limits. However, the levels of Cu, Pb, and As, in some samples, were in exceedance of the maximum levels. In both species, a significant correlation (p < 0.05) was observed between the carapace length (CL) and animal body weight (BW). In P. acutus, CL, BW, and animal total length were homogenous (p > 0.05) among the sexes. Non-parametric Kruskal–Wallis test results indicated significant differences (p < 0.05) in the levels of As, Be, and Zn in F. virilis, and Be and Cr in P. a. acutus among the genders. Significant inter-species differences (p < 0.05) were observed in the levels of Be, Ni, and Pb and the growth factors. The EDI/EWI values were below the permissible limits. THQ and TTHQ values, being below 1.0, indicated no probabilistic health risk. Regarding carcinogenic risk, only As and Ni indicated cancer risk (ILCR >10−5 and ∑ILCR >10−5) to the adult population. High metals/metalloid exposure from crayfish muscle consumption posed potential health hazards to the adult population.
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