Health risk assessment due to heavy metal exposure from commonly consumed fish and vegetables

Md. Saiful Islam (), Md. Kawser Ahmed (), Md. Habibullah-Al-Mamun (), Mohammad Raknuzzaman, Mir Mohammad Ali () and Dennis Wayne Eaton ()
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Md. Saiful Islam: Patuakhali Science and Technology University
Md. Kawser Ahmed: University of Dhaka
Md. Habibullah-Al-Mamun: Yokohama National University
Mohammad Raknuzzaman: Yokohama National University
Mir Mohammad Ali: Patuakhali Science and Technology University
Dennis Wayne Eaton: Rutgers University

Environment Systems and Decisions, 2016, vol. 36, issue 3, 253-265

Abstract: Abstract Contamination of heavy metals in fish and vegetables is regarded as a major crisis globally, with a large share in many developing countries. In Bogra District of Bangladesh, concentrations of six heavy metals, i.e., chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb), were evaluated in the most consumed vegetables and fish species. The sampling was conducted during February–March 2012 and August–September 2013. The levels of metals varied between different fish and vegetable species. Elevated concentrations of As, Cd and Pb were observed in vegetable species (Solanum tuberosum, Allium cepa and Daucus carota), and fish species (Anabas testudineus and Heteropneustes fossilis) were higher than the FAO/WHO permissible limits, indicating these three metals might pose risk from the consumption of these vegetable and fish species. The higher concentration of heavy metals in these vegetable species might be due to the higher uptake from soil and sediment ingestion behavior in fish species. Multivariate principal component analysis (PCA) showed significant anthropogenic contributions of Cr, Ni, Cu and Pb in samples as the PCA axis scores were correlated with scores of anthropogenic activities. Target hazard quotients showed that the intakes of Cu, As and Pb through vegetables and fish were higher than the recommended health standards, indicated non-carcinogenic risk. Therefore, intakes of these elements via fish and vegetables for Bangladeshi people are a matter of concern.

Keywords: Heavy metals; Fish; Vegetables; Health risk; Bangladesh (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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DOI: 10.1007/s10669-016-9592-7

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