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Field evaluation of metal bioaccumulation in the gastropod Helix aspersa at agricultural and industrial sites in Lebanon

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment volume 195, Article number: 197 (2023) Cite this article

Abstract

Juvenile Helix aspersa Müller exposed in field microcosms were used to assess the spatial and temporal bioaccumulation of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn at two agricultural and two industrial sites in Lebanon. The study was performed over a 12-week period where caged snails were sampled once every 3 weeks and assessed for metal bioaccumulation and partitioning between soft tissue and shells. Results showed that metal bioaccumulation by snails was site dependent, with Fe and Cd being the greatest and least accumulated metals, respectively. Significant differences between bioaccumulation in each of the matrices (soft tissue and shells) were also observed. Time-dependent bioaccumulation results showed an increasing accumulation trend at both agricultural sites, while a slight decline was observed at the end of the sampling campaign for the industrial sites. The study of the bioaccumulation factors (BAF) revealed that tested H. aspersa were macroconcentrators for Zn and Cd (BAF > 2) and deconcentrators for all other analyzed elements (BAF < 1). The high partitioning factor values obtained for Cu and Zn indicate an affinity of these two elements for the soft tissues of the snails. The results of this field study indicate that H. aspersa are well suited for active biomonitoring and could provide reliable information on metal pollution and bioavailability.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Civil Engineering Department, Lebanese American University, 309 Bassil Building, Byblos, Lebanon

    Josephine Al-Alam, Moustapha Harb & Mahmoud Wazne

  2. Institute of Chemistry and Processes for Energy, UMR 7515 Group of Physical Chemistry of the Atmosphere, Environment and Health ICPEES, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France

    Maurice Millet

  3. Department of Natural Sciences, Lebanese American University, 1102-2801, Chouran Beirut, Lebanon

    Elias Akoury & Sima Tokajian

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Al-Alam, J., Millet, M., Harb, M. et al. Field evaluation of metal bioaccumulation in the gastropod Helix aspersa at agricultural and industrial sites in Lebanon. Environ Monit Assess 195, 197 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-10791-5

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Keywords

  • Helix aspersa
  • Microcosms
  • Partitioning factors
  • Soft tissues
  • Shells