12 examined elements (zinc, manganese, copper, aluminum, cadmium, lead, nickel, iron, chromium, lithium, selenium and mercury) Toxic Elements and Mineral Content of Different Tissues of Endemic Edible Snails . The general mean concentration of cadmium in the examined snail tissues exceeded the maximum allowable level

Foods, Vol. 9, Pages 731: Toxic Elements and Mineral Content of Different Tissues of Endemic Edible Snails (Helix vladika and H. secernenda) of Montenegro:

Foods, Vol. 9, Pages 731: Toxic Elements and Mineral Content of Different Tissues of Endemic Edible Snails (Helix vladika and H. secernenda) of Montenegro

Foods doi: 10.3390/foods9060731

Authors:
Vesna Vukašinović-Pešić
Bogumiła Pilarczyk
Tymoteusz Miller
Monika Rajkowska-Myśliwiec
Joanna Podlasińska
Agnieszka Tomza-Marciniak
Nada Blagojević
Nevzeta Trubljanin
Andrzej Zawal
Vladimir Pešić


The objective of the present study is to determine the differences between the mineral content of various organs of Helix vladika and H. secernenda, the two most abundant edible snail species in Montenegro. The bioaccumulation of 12 examined elements (zinc, manganese, copper, aluminum, cadmium, lead, nickel, iron, chromium, lithium, selenium and mercury) was determined in the hepatopancreas, albumen gland, digestive tract, reproductive system, mantle, foot and shell from three sampling sites (Biogradska Gora, Nikšić and Malesija). The examined populations of H. vladika and H. secernenda showed a significant difference in their lithium and selenium contents. The levels of the most examined metals (Zn, Mn, Cu, Al, Cd, Pb, Se and Hg) varied significantly among organs. The digestive tract and hepatopancreas tend to bioaccumulate selenium and cadmium. The general mean concentration of cadmium in the examined snail tissues exceeded the maximum allowable level at the Biogradska Gora and Malesija sites. Therefore, the use of the Montenegrin edible snails collected from the wilderness for human consumption seems to be limited by their higher bioaccumulation capacity for toxic elements such as cadmium.