Lead Bioaccumulation by the Golden Kuhol, Pomacea canaliculata (Lamarck, 1819): A Toxicological Marker of Environmental Pollution

Abstract

The golden kuhol, Poniacea ccmaliculata, was exposed to varying concentrations of lead (as lead chloride) — 10 ppm, 90 ppm and 130 ppm - under controlled conditions and then were sacrificed and dissected; the head, foot and shell were removed and analyzed through atomic absorption spectrophotometry to determine the tissue concentration of lead and its localization in different body parts of the golden kuhol. Highest accumulation of lead was significantly observed at 90 ppm and the area of localization was, particularly, in the head and foot. These results can be attributed to the slowing down of metabolic systems in organisms exposed to very high levels (130 ppm) of lead concentration. The relative ease of transport in softer tissues accounted for the higher levels of lead in the head and foot region. The present study has demonstrated the suitability of freshwater snail as a toxicological marker of heavy metal pollution.