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Roman Snail (Helix pomatia L.) as Bioindicator of Heavy Metals Pollution in Mitrovica Town, Kosovo
 
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1
Faculty of Contemporary Sciences and Technologies. South-East European University, Tetovo North Macedonia, Tetovo, Ilindenska no. 335, 1200 Tetovo, Republic of Kosovo
 
2
Faculty of Education, University of Mitrovica “Isa Boletini”, 40000 Mitrovica, Republic of Kosovo
 
3
Department of Forests and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University “Ukshin Hoti” in Prizren, St. Rruga e shkronjave, No. 1, 10000 Prizren, Republic of Kosovo
 
 
Publication date: 2022-05-01
 
 
Corresponding author
Albana Plakiqi Milaimi   

Department of Forests and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University “Ukshin Hoti” in Prizren, St. Rruga e shkronjave, No. 1, 10000 Prizren, Republic of Kosovo
 
 
Ecol. Eng. Environ. Technol. 2022; 3:64-71
 
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Our purpose was to monitor the environmental pollution with heavy metals, such as Pb, Zn, Cu, and Cd, and their accumulation in Roman snails (Helix pomatia L.) and the possibility of Roman using snail as a bioindicator of heavy metal pollution. For analyses, we were taken 22 specimens of roman snails in the Mitrovica town (area with the heavy metal pollution derived from the “Trepça” smelter) and 22 specimens in the Vernica village (control area), in which case is analyzed the concentration of heavy metals: Lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), Zinc (Zn) and Copper (Cu) in the hepatopancreas, foot, and shell of snails. Our results show the high concentration of Pb, Zn, and Cd in the hepatopancreas compared to the other tissues (foot and shell), whereas Cu concentration was higher in the foot of snails from Mitrovica compared to the control group in a significant degree (P < 0.001). We have found a significant (P<0.001) positive correlation between all heavy metals (Pb/Cd; Pb/Cu; Pb/Zn; Cd/Cu; Cd/Zn and Cu/Zn) in the hepatopancreas tissue. In the foot, we have found the negative correlation for Pb/Cd and Pb/Cu and positive for the Pb/Zn; Cd/Cu; Cd/Zn, and Cu/Zn, whereas in the shell the correlation was positive for the Pb/Cd; Pb/Cu and Cd/Cu, and negative for the Pb/Zn; Cd/Zn and Cu/Zn. In the hepatopancreas, the concentration of metals ranged from higher to the lower concentration was: Zn>Cd>Pb>Cu; in the foot: Cu>Zn>Cd>Pb, whereas in the shell: Zn>Cu>Pb>Cd. The Mitrovica town is the area with heavy metals pollution, whereas the Roman snail accumulates relatively high values of these heavy metals and can serve as an indicator organism for pollution with the metals such as Pb, Cd, Zn, and Cu.
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