Abstract:

Sixteen trace elements in Neptunea cumingi cultivated in clean water for 2 days or uncultivated were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and based on this, the edibleness of the two samples of Neptunea cumingi was evaluated. After cultivation in clean water, some trace elements were discharged out of the body together with the waste, whereas some heavy metal elements remained in the body. Neptunea cumingi was rich in Ca, K, Na and Mg with contents of hundreds of milligrams/kilo and other trace elements having physiological functions, such as Fe, Zn, Mn, Ge, Cr and Ni. The contents of Fe and Zn were up to more than 30 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg. The contents of Mg and Cu were higher than the WHO recommended dietary reference values (RDAs). Heavy metal elements like As and Hg were the major pollutants present in Neptunea cumingi.

Key words: Neptunea cumingi, trace elements, inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometer (ICP-AES)