Human Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Snail (Archachatina marginata) from Four Contaminated Regions in Rivers State, Nigeria

This study assessed the health risks of heavy metals contamination in snail (Archachatina marginata) from crude oil producing regions in Rivers State, Nigeria. Cadmium, lead, chromium, nickel, zinc and manganese concentrations in snail muscle tissue taken from the various regions were detected. The potential non-carcinogenic health risks for consumers were investigated by assessing the Estimated Daily Intake and Target Hazard Quotients. Snail caught in the various sites were more contaminated by cadmium and lead (ranged from 0.50 – 0.65 and 2.60 – 5.00 kg/person/day respectively) than Nickel, Manganese, Zinc and Chromium which were below established reference dose. Target Hazard Quotient values indicate that there is no carcinogenic risk for humans except for lead. Carcinogenic Risk for Nickel (4.1 E-3 – 1.0 E-2) indicate that snail from the study sites may not be safe for human consumption and as such consumers of this have the probability of contracting cancer due to Nickel exposure over a lifetime of 70 years or more in future.