Comparative and Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Mangrove Forest and Farm - Bred African Giant Snails (Archachatina Marginata)

Snails are good source of protein for different classes of people.  The aim of this work is to compare and assess the health risk of the heavy metals in mangrove forest and farm - bred snails, as sources of protein. Twelve snails (six mangrove forest and six farm - bred) of two sizes (big and small) were sourced from Bayeku mangrove forest and Snail Farm at Second gate of Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH) respectively. The, Fe, Cd, Cr, Ni, Cu, Pb, and Zn concentration of the snails were evaluated using standard analytical methods. The data obtained were subject to differential and inferential statistics using a statistical package (SPSS 22.0 version) and compare with Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) limit. Fe (732.32 - 734.24 mg/kg), Cu (145.17 - 145.19 mg/kg), Zn (62.38 - 62.51 mg/kg) of big snail from mangrove forest were the highest compared with Fe, Cu, and Zn in mangrove forest (small), farm bred (big and small) snail. Cr (77.20 - 77.46), Ni (21.14 – 21.28), and Pb (1.20 - 1.22) mg/kg in small snail (mangrove forest) were the highest.  Cadmium (6.83 - 6.84 mg/kg) of the farm bred (big snail) was the highest. Mangrove forest bred snail; Fe (733.26±0.96), Cr (38.01±0.78), Ni (50.32±0.37), Cu (145.18±0.01), and Zn (62.43±0.07) mg/kg were significantly higher than their corresponding FAO Limits. Farm - bred snail Cr (38.99±0.21), and Zn (36.80±0.01) mg/kg were significantly higher than their corresponding FAO permissible limits. However, farm bred has lower heavy metal concentrations than mangrove forest bred. Hence, farm bred are better product.