Analysis of heavy metals in African giant land snail (<i>Archachatina marginata</i>): A comparison between wild and domesticated species

Abstract

This study examined the level of heavy metal in meat, shell and haemolymph of wild and domesticated African Giant Land Snail (Archachatina marginata). A total of fourteen (14) African Giant Land Snail were used for the study, seven (7) of which were purchased from Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta’s Wildlife domestication unit and the other seven (7) were sourced and handpicked from the institution’s premises. Data obtained were subjected to descriptive statistics and least significant difference was done to separate the means. The results showed that in the meat, shell and haemolymph of wild and domesticated African Giant Land Snail, the concentration of Arsenic (As) ranged from 0.002 to 0.003 while chromium (Cr) had mean value of 0.001 to 0.002. Also, Cadmium (Cd) and Lead (Pb) had the mean value of 0.001 to 0.002 respectively. Nickel (Ni) was too low to be detected in all the samples collected. Furthermore, the correlation between the meat, shell and haemolymph from wild and domesticated snail shows that the haemolymph of wild and domesticated snail was significant. The study concluded that the present levels of heavy metal in both wild and domesticated snail samples has no adverse effects since the metals are below WHO recommended levels. It is therefore recommended that proper monitoring of heavy metals in snail on regular basis should be encouraged in order to cater for the safety of the consumer’s health.