Abstract
Larvae of the black soldier fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens can be reared in large quantities on organic wastes. The larvae are harvested at the prepupal stage and used as feed for poultry and aquaculture. BSF farms in Nigeria make use of a combination of chicken feed and organic waste in the rearing processes. Chicken feed and organic waste can contain varying levels of heavy metals, which may accumulate in the larvae. The aim of this study was to determine bioaccumulation of heavy metals, cadmium chromium, copper, lead, and zinc, in prepupae cultured on chicken mash and various types of organic wastes (food waste, brewery waste, and fruit waste). Bioaccumulation of a particular heavy metal occurs when the concentration of the metal is higher in the harvested prepupae than in the feed substrates (Factor > 1). The results of the study showed that bioaccumulation was more likely to occur in brewery waste than in the other substrates, while bioaccumulation factors greater than one were reported for three of the five heavy metals (copper, lead and chromium). All heavy metal concentrations reported in the study were below the safe limits for use in animal feeds. The use of organic waste rather than chicken mash for rearing BSF larvae should be considered in Nigeria. However, there must be quality control measures in place to ensure that the larvae’s propensity for accumulating heavy metals are contained.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data Availability
All raw data and SPSS analyses are available upon request
References
Adekunle IM, Adekunle AA, Akintokun AK, Akintokun PO, Arowolo TA (2011) Recycling of organic wastes through composting for land applications: a Nigerian experience. Waste Manag Res 29:582–593. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242X10387312
Alkhalaf NA, Osman AK, Salama KA (2010) Monitoring of aflatoxins and heavy metals in some poultry feeds. Afr J Food Sci 4:192–199. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJFS
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) (2013) Chromium toxicity: what are the physiologic effects of chromium exposure? Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, USA. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/chromium/physiologic_effects_of_chromium_exposure.html. Accessed 24 Oct 2019
Baker AJM, Walker P (1990) Ecophysiology of metal uptake by tolerant plants. Heavy metal tolerance in plants: Evolutionary Aspects 2:155–165
Commission European, (EC), (2002) Directive 2002/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 May 2002 on undesirable substances in animal feed. OJ L 140(45):10–23
Diclaro JW, Kaufman PE (2018) Featured creatures: black soldier fly. University of Florida, Florida, USA. http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/livestock/black_soldier_fly.htm. Accessed 6 July 2019
Diener S, Zurbrügg C, Tockner K (2015) Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in the black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens and effects on its life cycle. J Insects as Food Feed 1:261–270. https://doi.org/10.3920/JIFF2015.0030
Diener S, Zurbrügg C, Gutiérrez FR, Nguyen DH, Morel A, Koottatep T, Tockner K (2011) Black soldier fly larvae for organic waste treatment—prospects and constraints. Proceedings of the WasteSafe 2011 – 2nd International Conference on Solid Waste Management in the Developing Countries. https://www.eawag.ch/fileadmin/Domain1/Abteilungen/sandec/publikationen/SWM/BSF/Black_soldier_fly_larvae_for_organic_waste_treatment.pdf. Accessed 6 July 2019
EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) (2016) Revision of the currently authorised maximum copper content in complete feed. EFSA J 14:e04563. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2016.4563
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) (2016) EFSA reviews maximum content of copper in animal feed. European Food Safety Authority, Parma, Italy. EFSA. https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/press/news/160809-0. Accessed 24 Oct 2019
Engwa GA, Ferdinand PU, Nwalo FN, Unachukwu MN (2019) Mechanism and health effects of heavy metal toxicity in humans. In: Karcioglu O, Arslan B (eds) Poisoning in the modern world - new tricks for an old dog? Intechopen Online. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.82511
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (2004) Protein sources for the animal feed industry. Food and Agriculture Organization. http://www.fao.org/3/y5019e00.htm. Accessed 28 June 2019
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (2018) Food defect levels handbook. https://www.fda.gov/food/ingredients-additives-gras-packaging-guidance-documents-regulatory-information/food-defect-levels-handbook#CHPTA. Accessed 24 Oct 2019
Gahukar RT (2016) Edible insects farming: efficiency and impact on family livelihood, food security, and environment compared with livestock and crops. In: Dossey AT, Morales-Ramos JA, Rojas MG. (eds) Insects as sustainable food ingredients: production, processing and food applications. Academic Press. pp. 85-111. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-802856-8.00004-1
Linden J (2016) European Union cuts maximum zinc levels in animal feeds. Watt Global Media. https://www.feedstrategy.com/europe/european-union-cuts-maximum-zinc-levels-in-animal-feeds/. Accessed 12 Jan 2020
Mertenat A, Diener S, Zurbrügg C (2019) Black Soldier Fly biowaste treatment – assessment of global warming potential. Waste Manag 84:173–181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2018.11.040
Okoye COB, Ibeto CN, Ihedioha JN (2011) Assessment of heavy metals in chicken feeds sold in south eastern, Nigeria. Adv Appl Sci Res 2:63–68
Oonincx DGAB, van Itterbeeck J, Heetkamp MJ, van den Brand H, van Loon JJA, van Huis A (2010) An exploration on greenhouse gas and ammonia production by insect species suitable for animal or human consumption. PLoS One 5:e14445. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0014445
Perednia DA, Anderson J, Rice A (2017) A comparison of the greenhouse gas production of black soldier fly larvae versus aerobic microbial decomposition of an organic feed material. Research & Reviews: Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences. https://www.rroij.com/open-access/a-comparison-of-the-greenhouse-gas-production-of-blacksoldier-fly-larvae-versus-aerobic-microbial-decomposition-of-anorganic-feed-.php?aid = 86141. Accessed 6 July 2019
Purschke B, Scheibelberger R, Axmann S, Adler A, Jäger H (2017) Impact of substrate contamination with mycotoxins, heavy metals and pesticides on the growth performance and composition of black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) for use in the feed and food value chain. Food Addit Contam 34:1410–1420. https://doi.org/10.1080/19440049.2017.1299946
Qiang H, Niu Q, Chi Y, Li Y (2013) Trace metals requirements for continuous thermophilic methane fermentation of high-solid food waste. Chem Eng J 222: 330–336
Rutherford JC, Bird AJ (2004) Metal-responsive transcription factors that regulate iron, zinc, and copper homeostasis in eukaryotic cells. Eukaryot Cell 3:1-13. https://doi.org/10.1128/EC.3.1.1-13.2004
Sealey WM, Gaylord TG, Barrows FT, Tomberlin JK, McGuire MA, Ross C, St-Hilaire S (2011) Sensory analysis of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, fed enriched black soldier fly prepupae, Hermetia illucens. J World Aquacult Soc 42:34–45. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-7345.2010.00441.x
Sheppard DC, Tomberlin JK, Joyce JA, Kiser BC, Sumner SM (2002) Rearing methods for the black soldier fly (Diptera: Stratiomyidae). J Med Entomol 39:695–698. https://doi.org/10.1603/0022-2585-39.4.695
St-Hilaire S, Sheppard C, Tomberlin JK, Irving S, Newton L, McGuire MA, Mosley EE, Hardy RW, Sealey W (2007) Fly prepupae as a feedstuff for rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. J World Aquacult Soc 38:59–67. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-7345.2006.00073.x
van der Fels-Klerx HJ, Camenzuli L, van der Lee MK, Oonincx DGAB (2016) Uptake of cadmium, lead and arsenic by tenebrio molitor and hermetia illucens from contaminated substrates. PLoS One 11:e0166186. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0166186
World Health Organization (WHO) (2018) Lead poisoning and health. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/lead-poisoning-and-health. Accessed 12 Jan 2020
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Tukur BSF Farms Ibadan, Nigeria, for providing the black soldier fly eggs used during this study, and for providing guidelines for successful rearing.
Funding
No funding was received to assist with the preparation of this manuscript
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflicts of interest
All authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest or non-financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Elechi, M.C., Kemabonta, K.A., Ogbogu, S.S. et al. Heavy metal bioaccumulation in prepupae of black soldier fly Hermetia Illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) cultured with organic wastes and chicken feed. Int J Trop Insect Sci 41, 2125–2131 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-021-00427-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-021-00427-5