Preliminary Study on Edible Insect Species Cybister limbatus (Fabricius 1775) and Its Heavy Element Contents

ABSTRACT: The objective of the study was to determine the concentration of heavy elements in edible insect pack and estimate the potential health risks of elements to humans via consumption of the insect pack. Aquatic edible insect Diving Beetle pack, Cybister limbatus (Fabricius 1775) (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) was chosen for the study. Sixteen heavy elements (Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Pb) were determined in the edible beetle. Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) was used to determine the concentration of the elements. Among the sixteen studied elements Ca (0.98 ppm), Ti (0.49 ppm) and V (0.38 ppm) had the highest concentration, whereas Rb (0.05 ppm), Sr (0.04 ppm), As (0.32 ppm), Br (0.06 ppm) and Pb (0.06 ppm) had the lowest concentration. The results compared with US institute of medicine (IOM) panel on micronutrient guidelines, the levels of elements in this study were found safe for consumption. But especially residues of Pb and As, which are thought as the potential hazardous elements, in this edible insect may pose health problem in the future