Levels of Heavy Metals in the Water, Sediments, and Tissues of Golden Apple Snail (Pomacea canaliculata) from Lake Dakong Napo, Esperanza, Agusan del Sur, Philippines

This study was conducted in order to assess the level of heavy metals in the water, soil, and tissues of Pomacea canaliculata from Lake Dakong Napo, Esperanza, Philippines as well as identify the histopathological alterations in the gonads and muscles of the snail. Heavy metals were detected using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry and slides for histological studies were prepared using histological routine procedure. Results revealed that in sediments Cr (174.67±62 mg/L) and Ni (269.33±17.56 mg/L) were above from the recommended safe limits of the international standards, US EPA (≤25) and FAO (≤50) while concentrations of Pb (16.35± 0.58 mg/L), Cd (5±1.42 mg/L), and Cr (1±0 mg/L) in water were above from the recommended safe limits of the national standards, DAO (≤0.05; ≤0.01; ≤0.05). These heavy metals were below the permissible limits in the gonads and muscles of P. canaliculata however, alterations in the tissues of the snail are evident suggesting that these heavy metals and other environmental stressors are negatively affecting the organisms inhabiting the lake.