Abstract

This study assesses heavy metal (As, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, Hg) concentrations in giant African snails (Achatina fulica) from a location close to an open dumpsite, local market, and snail farm to assess their potential health risk implication. Sixty snail tissue samples underwent inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) analysis. The Research evaluated health risks linked to snail consumption using estimated daily intake (EDI), total hazard quotient (THQ), and incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR). The study finds that significant variations in heavy metal concentrations exist, notably between the snails obtained around the dumpsite and snail-farm samples. Dumpsite snails exhibited elevated levels of arsenic, lead, cadmium, chromium, mercury, and nickel, exceeding WHO guidelines. Samples obtained from the Market and snail farm samples all fell within the permissible limits, except for lead (0.15). Heavy metal concentration order in the snail tissues varied by location: around the dumpsite (Ni > Cd > As > Cr > Pb > Hg), market (Pb > Ni > Cd > As > Cr > Hg), and snail farm (Ni > Pb). The evaluated EDI values for dumpsite snails surpassed reference doses for arsenic and cadmium, suggesting substantial health risks. Toxicity assessments (HI, THQ) for dumpsite snails indicated a high potential for adverse health effects, especially from cadmium and arsenic. Moreover, ILCR values for snails obtained around the dumpsite and market samples exceeded acceptable thresholds, indicating significant carcinogenic risk. This study highlights how A. fulica can serve as a reliable indicator of environmental pollution. It also emphasizes the importance of regularly monitoring sold food especially shellfish, in conventional markets and public places to protect food safety and public health.

Key words: Achatina fulica, Asaba, estimated daily intake, total hazard quotient, incremental lifetime cancer risk.