Bioaccumulation and sources of metal(loid)s in fish species from a subtropical river in Bangladesh: a public health concern

Heavy metal contamination in seawater, sediments, algae, and fish from Susah and Tobruk, Mediterranean Sea

Heavy metal contamination in marine environments poses serious threats to ecological health and human safety. This study examines the concentrations of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) in sediments, seawater, and marine organisms (Ulva lactuca and Epinephelus marginatus) along the coastlines of Susah and Tobruk, Libya. The sampling involved 66 samples from 10 sites conducted in winter 2023. The contamination of cadmium clearly showed in all studied samples in Susah and Tobruk, whereas lead surpassed permissible in seawaters and livers, gills, and tissues of E. marginatus. The iron was high in the seawaters of Susah and Tobruk, particularly near Susah port and in Tobruk Gulf, reflecting the influence of industrial and anthropogenic activities. The results revealed that cadmium levels in the sediments indicated considerable contamination in Susah (CF = 5.897) and moderate contamination in Tobruk (CF = 1.12). The assessment employed several pollution indices, including the Geo-accumulation Index (Igeo), which indicated that all studied metals were uncontaminated in Tobruk, while Cd showed moderate contamination in Susah (Igeo = 1.975). The Nemerow Pollution Index (NI) categorized Susah as seriously polluted (NI = 6.01) and Tobruk as lightly polluted (NI = 1.195). Additionally, bioaccumulation factors for heavy metals in both U. lactuca and E. marginatus indicated acute contamination, particularly lead in fish tissues. These findings underscore the urgent need for effective environmental management strategies to address heavy metal pollution and protect the health of marine ecosystems and local communities reliant on these coastal resources. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Comprehensive pollution profiling (CF, Igeo, NI, and EF) in the study areas. GIS spatial mapping (heavy metal distribution and pollution sources identification) Bioaccumulation insights (bioaccumulation in fish and algae, showing ecological risk). Data for future monitoring (data for a significant gap in environmental monitoring) Public health awareness (urgent need for management and treatment options).

Occurrence of trace elements in water, fish and shellfish from estuarine and coastal areas of the east coast of Bangladesh, northeast Bay of Bengal: Human health risk implications

Coastal areas serve as vital ecosystems that provide habitats for various organisms but are increasingly threatened by trace element pollution. This study examines trace element concentrations in water, fish, and shellfish from estuarine and coastal areas of Bangladesh's East Coast, evaluating their associated human health risks. The mean concentrations of all trace elements in surface waters of the East Coast were in the following descending order: Zn > Cu > As > Pb > Cr > Cd and all of the values were much higher than the guideline values. The mean concentrations for As, Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, Cu and Zn for fish and shellfish were 0.42, 2.18, 0.6, 2.16, 0.68, 5.19 and 84.6 μg/g, respectively. Total value of estimated daily intake (EDI) for As, Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu and Zn were 3.108, 2.294, 0.874, 0.750, 5.856 and 31.36 mg/day, respectively. Most EDIs, except for As and Cu, were below tolerable limits. Total value of target hazard quotient (THQ) for As, Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu and Zn were 172.67, 10.924, 4.856, 0.0083, 2.4401 and 1.7421, respectively that suggested a higher level of potential non-carcinogenic health risk since THQ value is >1 except Cr. The target cancer risk (TR) value of As, Pb, Cd and Cr are ranged from 1.12E-04 to 1.39E-02, 1.87E-06 to 1.13E-04, 6.83E-05 to 1.13E-03 and 6.49E-05 to 1.05E-03, respectively. The TR values of As, Cr, and Cd in most studied fish exceeded the reference value (10-4), indicating a potential lifetime cancer risk for consumers. Immediate environmental interventions are essential to mitigate pollution and achieve sustainable development goals.

A Comprehensive Assessment of Health Risks Associated with Heavy Metal Through Ingestion of Two Predominant Fish Species in a Developing Country

The existence of heavy metal pollutants in fish within aquatic ecosystems presents a threat to human health due to trophic shift. This research sought to identify the concentrations of cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and chromium (Cr) in two economically significant cultured fish species, pangus (Pangasius hypophthalmus) and catla (Labeo catla), which were sourced from key fish markets in Khulna, Bangladesh. Nevertheless, there has been a scarcity of studies addressing the metal concentrations in these species within this region. To evaluate the levels of trace elements, atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) was employed following the acid digestion of the samples. The concentrations of Cd, As, Cu, Pb, and Cr were observed as 0.372, 0.232, 0.741, 0.758, and 1.356 mg/kg in pangus and 0.395, 0.297, 1.175, 0.616, and 0.959 mg/kg in catla fish, respectively. The concentrations of Pb and Cd exceeded the maximum permissible limits established by the FAO and WHO. Apart from Cu, the estimated daily intakes (EDI) for both seasons and age groups exceeded the recommended daily allowance (RDA), indicating that other trace elements could be detrimental to human health. In contrast, the calculated hazard index (HI) and total hazard quotient (THQ) remained below 1, suggesting that the fish examined would not pose health risks to adults but the HI value for children surpassed the acceptable limit. Moreover, Cd (for adult group) and Cd and Cr (for children group) surpassed the acceptable range for carcinogenic risk (CR), and the total carcinogenic risk (TCR) exceeded the permissible limit for both groups. This study concluded that studied fishes may represent a health risk for consumers, underscoring the necessity for ongoing monitoring of trace elements in other fish species within that catchment area.

Unveiling the nutritional value and potentially toxic elements in fish species from Miliç Wetland, Türkiye: A probabilistic human health risk assessment using Monte Carlo simulation

This study evaluates the nutritional value and health risks of fish from Miliç Wetland, Türkiye, focusing on potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in Esox lucius, Squalius cephalus, and Carassius gibelio. Using ICP-MS, mean PTE concentrations were determined, including Zn (4979 μg/kg), Fe (4241 μg/kg), and As (125 μg/kg). Macro elements like K, P, and Ca were also assessed for nutritional profiling. A Monte Carlo-based risk assessment confirmed that PTE levels were below safety limits, indicating safe consumption. Chemometric techniques (PCA, PCC, HCA) helped trace contamination sources, identifying residential, agricultural, and lithogenic inputs. Esox lucius showed the highest essential nutrient levels. This research highlights the importance of combining chemometric analysis with regular monitoring for food safety and public health protection.

Impact of anthropogenic activities and the associated heavy metal pollution in Sundarbans waterways: threats to commercial fish and human health

The exposure of fish to heavy metals is a significant concern for human health and natural ecosystems. Despite being a critical issue, the extent of contamination in tropical fish from developing countries like Bangladesh remains somewhat unexplored. In this study, ten economically vital fish species (Osteogeneiosus militaris, Arius gagora, Harpadon nehereus, Mugil ephalus, Pseudapocryptes elongates, Apocryptes bato, Labeo bata, Tenualosa toil, Notopterus notopterus, and Pampus chinensis) from the Pasur River, Bangladesh, were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometer for the concentrations of four concerned heavy metals, viz., As, Cr, Cd, and Pb, and the associated human health risks. The mean concentrations (mg/kg) followed the order of As (3.30 ± 1.43) > Pb (2.32 ± 0.73) > Cr (0.63 ± 0.29) > Cd (0.37 ± 0.24). Additionally, the bioaccumulation factor of the metals in the investigated fish species followed a decreasing trend of As (824.75) > Cr (781.25) > Cd (744) > Pb (385.83). While most species fell below the minimum bioaccumulation line, a few exceptions were noted for some species specific to metals. Health risk assessments indicated no significant carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks for both children and adults, although children exhibited greater vulnerability to both types of health effects. Multivariate analysis and local perceptions supported the conclusion that heavy metals primarily originated from anthropogenic sources related to development activities adjacent to the riverine areas.

Bioaccumulation dynamics, noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks of heavy metals in commercially valuable shellfish and finfish species from the world largest floating slum, Makoko, Nigeria

This study examined ten heavy metals in five species: Macrobrachium vollenhovenii, Penaeus monodon, P. notialis, Chloroscombrus chrysurus, and Pseudotolithus typus, from Makoko floating slum, Lagos Lagoon to discern their bioaccumulation potentials, sources of origin, and health implications. The concentrations were in this order: Fe (4.172-10.176) > Zn (1.310-5.754) > Mn (0.475-2.330) > Cu (0.238-1.735) > Pb (0.121-0.391) > Cd (0.055-0.283) > Co (0.056-0.144) > Ni (0.039-0.121) > Cr (0.022-0.095) > As (0.003-0.031) mg/kg. The MPDI denotes "low toxicity," and the BAF/BSAF revealed that benthic species had higher bioconcentration potentials. Multivariate analyses revealed that heavy metals exhibited mutual relationships during chemical transport, and their sources were both geogenic and human-induced. The HI values were below 1, and the TCR values were below the threshold of 1 × 10-4. This suggests that the probabilities of noncancer and carcinogenic risks in human populations due to long-term consumption of the evaluated species are unlikely.

Occurrence of microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of four most consumed fish species in Giresun, the Southeastern Black Sea

Microplastic studies investigating concentrations in water are numerous, but the majority of microplastics settle and are retained in sediment, and higher concentrations are regularly reported in sediments. Thus, MPs accumulation may be more threatening to benthic fish living in sediments than to pelagic fish. The presence, abundance and diversity of microplastics were investigated by collecting samples from two pelagic, European anchovy, and horse mackerel and two benthic fish species, red mullet, and whiting that are popularly consumed in Giresun province of Türkiye, located on the southern coast of the Black Sea. Visual classification and chemical compositions of microplastics was performed using a light microscope and ATR-FTIR spectrophotometry, consecutively. The overall incidence and mean microplastics abundance in sampled fishes were 17 and 1.7 ± 0.18 MP fish-1, respectively. MPs were within the range of 0.026-5 mm in size. In most of the cases, the MP was black in color with 41%. With the rates of 56%, polypropylene was the predominant polymer type. The most dominant MP type was identified as fiber followed by fragments and pellets. The relationship between MP amounts in fish and Fulton condition factor was not strong enough to establish a cause-effect relationship.

Assessing metal(loid)s-Induced long-term spatiotemporal health risks in Coastal Regions, Bay of Bengal: A chemometric study

Despite sporadic and irregular studies on heavy metal(loid)s health risks in water, fish, and soil in the coastal areas of the Bay of Bengal, no chemometric approaches have been applied to assess the human health risks comprehensively. This review aims to employ chemometric analysis to evaluate the long-term spatiotemporal health risks of metal(loid)s e.g., Fe, Mn, Zn, Cd, As, Cr, Pb, Cu, and Ni in coastal water, fish, and soils from 2003 to 2023. Across coastal parts, studies on metal(loid)s were distributed with 40% in the southeast, 28% in the south-central, and 32% in the southwest regions. The southeastern area exhibited the highest contamination levels, primarily due to elevated Zn content (156.8 to 147.2 mg/L for Mn in water, 15.3 to 13.2 mg/kg for Cu in fish, and 50.6 to 46.4 mg/kg for Ni in soil), except for a few sites in the south-central region. Health risks associated with the ingestion of Fe, As, and Cd (water), Ni, Cr, and Pb (fish), and Cd, Cr, and Pb (soil) were identified, with non-carcinogenic risks existing exclusively through this route. Moreover, As, Cr, and Ni pose cancer risks for adults and children via ingestion in the southeastern region. Overall non-carcinogenic risks emphasized a significantly higher risk for children compared to adults, with six, two-, and six-times higher health risks through ingestion of water, fish, and soils along the southeastern coast. The study offers innovative sustainable management strategies and remediation policies aimed at reducing metal(loid)s contamination in various environmental media along coastal Bangladesh.