Multivariate analysis of trace metals and metalloids contents in edible land snails Cornu aspersum and Eobania vermiculata from Southern Italy

The aim of this study was to evaluate the content of trace metals and metalloids (Cd, Pb, As, Hg, Al, V, Cr, Ni, Co, Mn, Ag, Fe, Cu, Zn and Se) in wild Mediterranean land snails, Cornu aspersum and Eobania vermiculata from Sicily (Southern Italy) through a reliable ICP-MS method, to assess the accumulation in soft tissues intended for human consumption and give new data useful to regulating their concentrations in this type of product. The results obtained showed the presence of all the trace elements analysed in all the samples except for Hg, with mean contents following the order Fe>Al>Zn>Mn>Cu>Ag>Cr>V>Ni>Cd>Pb>Co>Se>As. Significant differences were observed among samples collected from rural and urban areas (p