Assessment of heavy metals contamination in selected tropical marine fish species in Bangladesh and their impact on human health

Abstract

•Chemical pollution in marine ecosystems is leading towards an increase in the concentrations of heavy metals in fish body, which might have a negative impact on human health through consumption of fish. Here, five commercially important marine fishes (i.e. Sillaginopsis panijus, Trichiurus lepturus, Harpadon nehereus, Rita rita and Coilia dussumieri) were collected from the Kutubdia Channel of the northern Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh. Samples were collected during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon for the year of 2016 to measure the heavy metal concentrations in edible part (flesh) of the fishes; and finally to assess the human health risk due to consumption of those fishes. Heavy metal concentrations (i.e. Cr, Cu, Pb, Mn, Sn and As) in the collected fish species were determined using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) method. Subsequently, for assessing the human health risk, the target hazard quotient (THQ) values were estimated. This study found that the heavy metal concentration for Cr, Cu, Pb, Mn, Sn and As in fish samples were 1.51 to 2.53, 2.14 to 5.08, 2.89 to 3.41, 14.54 to 18.45, 23.04 to 32.21 and < 0.41 mg/kg respectively as dry weight basis. This study also revealed that the THQ values for all studied metals in five species of fishes for both seasons were < 1, which indicating no cancer risk due to consumption of those fishes. On the other hand, the target cancer risk for Pb was found within an acceptable level (10−4 to 10-6). Therefore, it has been suggested that the selected tropical marine fishes might be free from contamination and human might be in safe from any risk due to consumption of those fishes.