Standard use conditions of terrestrial gastropods in active biomonitoring of soil contamination

Abstract

The rehabilitation of contaminated sites is becoming a rising preoccupation which requires the knowledge of their past before realization of a suitable remediation. Physicochemical analysis must be realized jointly with the use of bioindicator organisms, which, owing to their bioaccumulation capacities, will reveal the bioavailability of metals in soils. Among terrestrial invertebrates, gastropods like Helix aspersa aspersa possess an important organotropism for metals in their digestive gland and they can be used in active biomonitoring. During in situ monitoring, two parameters are tested: growth and accumulation of Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cd, Ni, Pb, and Cr in viscera of snails. Environmental conditions, like humidity or autochthonous vegetation, are able to modify growth or bioaccumulation. In order to remove the variation of these factors, microcosms previously used must be improved: they were equipped with porous candles, which continually humidify soil. Concerning vegetation, an experimental plan was realized to determine the combination of food with the best compromise between growth and bioaccumulation: the combination clover-snail feed was chosen. Thus, in situ, the experimental environment will be repeated in all investigated sites and used to allow follow up of their contamination levels and intercomparison between different sites.

Bioaccumulation of heavy metals, lipid profiles, and antioxidant status of snails (Achatina achatina) around cement factory vicinities

“…With these incipient dangers posed by heavy metals in mind, it is expedient to identify an organism that can be used as sentinel in studying the physiological and biochemical derangements arising from the accumulation of heavy metals in living organism (Banaee and Taheri, 2019). Snails (Achatina spp) are good biomonitors of metal toxicity (Regoli et al, 2006) as they can accumulate heavy metals from their immediate milieu over a long period (Notten et al, 2005;Viard et al, 2004). Wide distribution, adaptability to environmental stress, ability to procreate easily, and relatively long lifespan (15-25 years) (Banaee and Taheri, 2019;Hodasi, 1979) make Achatina achatina a suitable snail species to study heavy metal bioaccumulation around cement factories.…”

The transcriptome of a “sleeping” invader: de novo assembly and annotation of the transcriptome of aestivating Cornu aspersum

“…At the same time, some of its excretions are being investigated for potential medical applications [7, 8], whereas they have already been used for healing burn-wounds [8]. Additionally, it is used as an index of soil and air quality in urban and industrial areas [9–12], whereas products originating from closely related species such as Helix pomatia or Helix lucorum are used in cancer diagnostic protocols [13–17]. …”

Bioaccumulation and histopathological changes of the digestive gland of the land snailEobania vermiculata(Mollusca: Gastropoda), as biomarkers of terrestrial heavy metal pollution in Taif city

“…Land snails such as Helix aspersa and Arianta arbustorum have previously been used for the estimation of urban (Regoli et al 2006;Itziou & Dimitrids 2009) or industrial (Marigomez et al 1998) pollution, due to their ability to accumulate trace metals in their tissues (Beeby & Richmond 2002;Viard et al 2004). …”