Land snails and soil as bio-indicators of some heavy metals pollution in Sharqia and Qalyubiya governorates, Egypt

Abstract EN

Recently, land snails dispersed in the Nile Delta and it considered a perfect environmental pollution bio-indicator for many reasons.

In this study, the level of Pb (Lead), Cu (Copper) , Cd (Cadmium) , Mo (Molybdenum ) and Zn (Zinc) , heavy metals as bio- indicator of metal pollution by analysis soil and snail samples in Sharqia and Qalyubiya Governorates were determined using atomic absorption device elements.

Results showed that most tested elements were higher in the field border (at 5 meter far from the car road) than that inside the infested field (at 100 meter far from the car road).The highest metal concentration was Mo with Monacha cartusiana (Müller) ( Gastropoda: Hygromiidae) with a value of 260.5411 ppm while the lowest concentration was Zn (soil) with a value of 0.105 ppm in Sharqia Governorate.

Regarding Qalyubiya Governorate, Cu with Eobania vermiculata (Müller) (Gastropoda : Helicidae ) value at 5 meters was the highest 211.275ppm and the lowest element was Cd (soil) at 5 meters 0.2025ppm.

Finally, Qalyubiya Governorate was more polluted than Sharqia Governorate.

These results indicated that land snails are a suitable bio-indicator of heavy metal pollution.