TITLE:
Trace Metals Levels in African Giant Land Snails (Achatina achatina) from Selected Local Government Areas in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
AUTHORS:
Ishaq S. Eneji, Raymond A. Wuana, Utibe J. Akpan
KEYWORDS:
Trace Metals, Achatina achatina, Bioaccumulation, Akwa Ibom, Anthropogenic, Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.3 No.3,
March
29,
2016
ABSTRACT:
Trace metals (As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Pb and Se) in African giant land snails from
selected Local Government Areas (LGA) in Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria were analysed
using atomic absorption spectrophotometric (AAS) technique. Results showed that
the mean levels of Cr (399 ± 195 mg/kg) and Se (51.6 ± 31.3 mg/kg) were significantly
higher (P Se > Pb > Cd >
As > Hg. The results showed that As and Hg fell within their permissible safe
levels; but Cd, Cr, Pb and Se were significantly above safe levels for human consumption.
The high concentration of trace metals in the snail samples may be related to anthropogenic
activities taking place in the areas studied.