Department of Applied Biology and Biochemistry, National University of Science and Technology, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Research Article
Trace metal levels and oxidative stress biomarkers in land snails, Achatina fulica, exposed to soils from a coal mining area in Zimbabwe
Author(s): Donald Ndebele*
The aim of the study was to evaluate biological effects of snail exposure to soil collected from a coal mining area in Zimbabwe. Land snails, Achatina Fulica, collected from a relatively pristine environment and reared under laboratory conditions (for 1 year) were exposed for 45 days to the soils collected from four different sites. Heavy metals were assayed in soils and sail tissues whilst stress enzyme activities were assayed in snail tissues. Levels of cadmium and zinc measured in the soils were found to be 0.92 ± 0.21 mg/kg and 193.50 ± 79.83 mg/kg respectively above the world health organization maximum permissible limits of 0.8 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg. Cadmium and zinc were found to be approximately 4 fold higher in snail tissues exposed to the soil compared to snail tissues exposed to reference soils. The activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathio.. View More»
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