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Chromium and lead are among the major toxicants that have their own environmental concerns and are very harmful for living organisms even in small concentrations. The present study is performed to evaluate the acute toxicity potential of chromium and lead on terrestrial garden snail (Helix aspersa) at different concentration ranges from 1.0 mg/L to 20 mg/L at different exposure time. In determining acute toxicity, LC 50 values after 24, 48, 72 and 96 h for both the metals were determined by probit statistical analysis method. Graphs also plotted between percent mortality and used concentrations to obtain regression equation and R 2 values. The obtained median lethal concentration (LC 50) for chromium were 15.13 mg/L, 12.88 mg/L, 6.76 mg/L and 4.027 mg/L for 24, 48, 72 and 96 h period of exposure, respectively. Similarly, for lead obtained LC 50 values were 15.282 mg/L, 6.095 mg/L, 2.094 mg/L and 1.352 mg/L for 24, 48, 72 and 96 h period of exposure, respectively. The study signifies the role of these metals in causing metal stress which leads to variation in electrolytes and A/G (Albumin to Globulin) ratio. The analysis of obtained results revealed that chromium is less toxic to H. aspersa in comparison to lead at similar concentrations and exposure time. It is concluded that the present study is one of its own kind of approach which may contribute in developing standard protocols for determining preliminary toxicity assessment of different heavy metals.

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Snails are important part of our terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems. They are molluscian members having their effective role in biomonitoring, nutrient cycling and medicinal development. They are integral part of food chain system and have direct or indirect impact in maintaining ecological functioning. Besides their importance, they are documented with largest extinction rate as compared to other existed taxa. This is due to the fact that, unexploration and poor attention has been given in the research and development by the scientific world. Till now, a little information is available related to systematics, life history, population biology, threats and conservation status of these slimy organisms. This paper briefly reviews the diversity of terrestrial, freshwater and marine snails with the existed threats with their conservation approaches which may proved to be fruitful in developing awareness related to the snails in the society.

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