Bioaccumulation of heavy metals, lipid profiles, and antioxidant status of snails (Achatina achatina) around cement factory vicinities

Abstract

Some snails ( Achatina spp) can be used as a biosensor of heavy metal poisoning. This study thus estimated some heavy metal levels, antioxidant markers, and lipid profiles of snails handpicked around cement factory vicinities in Ogun State, Nigeria. Snails and soil samples were collected from Oke, Ewekoro, Papalanto, and Mowodani Imeko-Afon (control site). Lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As) levels were estimated in the soil, snail foot, hemolymph, and shell using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. Triacylglycerol (TAG), phospholipids (PHOL), cholesterol (CHOL), malondialdehyde (MDA), and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, as well as glutathione- S-transferase (GST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and arylesterase (AR) activities in the hemolymph, were estimated spectrophotometrically. The snails collected from the Oke site had the highest foot Pb (274.66 ± 13.50 mg/g tissue), CHOL, TAG, PHOL levels, and GST activity when compared with other sites. Snails collected from Papa had the highest Cd levels (1.79 ± 0.74 mg/kg), As (1206 ± 18.87 mg/g tissue) in the foot, and LDH activity, while Ewekoro snails had highest MDA levels and AR activities but the lowest GSH levels. Additionally, there were negative correlations between the heavy metal levels and the activities of GST and AR as well as GSH levels, while positively correlating with LDH activity and MDA level. Workers and the general public around cement factories are at a greater risk of heavy metal-induced pathologies. More so, consumption of snails around these sites may be deleterious to health.

Standardized experimental model for cement dust exposure; tissue heavy metal bioaccumulation and pulmonary pathological changes in rats

“…In the case of this study, the heavy metal-loaded dust removed from the lungs may have found its way to the GIT where they stimulate similar pathophysiological mechanisms. Similar evidence was recently reported by [ 31 ] who found significantly high levels of heavy metal in visceral organs of rats co-exposed to cadmium and lead, and [ 32 ] who similarly found significantly high levels of heavy metals in various tissues of snails picked around cement factory. Also, in plant physiology, similar evidence has been reported where heavy metallic constituents of cement dust have been demonstrated to leach into the soil around cement factory site causing a significantly higher proportion of toxic metal within the factory neighborhood [ 2 , 33 , 34 ].…”

Flavonoid-rich fractions from Clerodendrum volubile and Vernonia amygdalina extenuates arsenic-invoked hepato-renal toxicity via augmentation of the antioxidant system in rats

“…3). The increment is consistent in studies involving heavy metals intoxication [56,57,5], and might be due to arsenic-induced increased free radicals production [5]. Indeed, lipid peroxidation due to electron abstraction by free radicals is common during heavy metals toxicity [5,58,59].…”

“…Therefore, reductions in liver, kidney, and plasma thiol levels, as observed in this study, might be due to the irreversible binding of the metabolized arsenicals to the SH-group of the liver and kidney proteins [43]. Because these xenobioticdetoxifying enzyme depends on and requires the electron-donating potential of reduced glutathione (a thiol-containing tripeptide), and other thiol-rich compounds for their effects, their activity is impaired by lack of substrate [5]. Regardless, flavonoid fractions of C. volubile and V. amygdalina (FCV and FVA) either singly or, in combination, reversed the decrements of total thiol levels in the plasma, liver and kidneys.…”

“…Biotransformation of xenobiotics occurs exclusively in the liver. The kidney is responsible for elimination of waste products of metabolism, acid-base balancing, osmotic, and redox status maintenance [40,5]. These metabolic roles of the kidney and liver predispose them to heavy metal toxicity due to accumulation.…”

“…Human exposure to the inorganic and organic forms of arsenic might be through contaminated water, air, or soil or consumption of exposed marine animals and plants [4]. The trivalent form of the inorganic arsenic appeared to be the most toxic due to its tendency to deplete the glutathione level by forming bonds with its thiol group [1,6,11], thereby inducing oxidative stress and causing tissue damage [5]. Human exposure to arsenic from groundwater is currently the one of the biggest environmental health problem worldwide, putting an estimated hundred million people at risk of arsenic-induced ailments [6,7].…”