FERRONICKEL MINING POLLUTION: HEAVY METAL ACCUMULATION, OXIDATIVE STRESS, AND BIOINDICATOR POTENTIAL OF HELIX POMATIA (L.) SNAILS IN DRENAS, KOSOVO

Heavy metal contamination from mining activities poses significant environmental and public health risks. This study investigates the impact of the Ferronikel mine in Drenas, Kosovo, on soil heavy metal concentrations (Pb, Zn, Ni) and their subsequent bioaccumulation in Helix pomatia (L.) snails. 120 soil and 120 snail samples were collected at 1 km, 2 km, and 5 km radial distances from the mine, and heavy metal concentrations were measured using atomic absorption spectrometry. Oxidative stress biomarkers (protein carbonylation, malondialdehyde, and total protein) were analyzed in snail hepatopancreas tissue. Results revealed elevated heavy metal concentrations in soil and snail shells near the mine, exceeding permissible limits for Ni. Oxidative stress parameters were significantly increased in snails from contaminated sites, suggesting a direct link between heavy metal exposure and physiological damage. These findings highlight the potential of H. pomatia (L.) as a bioindicator for heavy metal pollution and emphasize the need for stringent environmental monitoring and mitigation strategies in mining areas to safeguard public health. The results of this research show that there is a high concentration of these metals in the soil in polluted areas. Therefore, they bioaccumulate in the snail shell and cause oxidative stress in the hepatocytes of the tissue snail H. pomatia (L).