Distribution of Cr, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in organs of three selected local fish species of Turag river, Bangladesh and impact assessment on human health

Abstract

The current study estimates the contamination status of heavy metals in fish organs of three local fish species including Amblypharyngodon microlepis (Mola), Trichogaster chuna (Chuna Khalisha) and Annaldale Loach (Gutum fish) which were collected from Turag river during the months from January to March 2022. The heavy metal concentrations of river water and fish organs were assessed through Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Heavy metals in river water was detected in the order of Ni > Zn > Cu > Cd > Pb > Cr while metal accumulation in the fish organs were detected in the order of Zn > Cr > Cu > Pb > Cd, Zn > Cu > Cr > Pb > Cd and Zn > Cu > Cr > Pb > Cd for Trichogaster chuna, Amblypharyngodon microlepis and Annaldale Loach respectively. Among the detected heavy metals, highest contamination factor (CF) of Zn (1.104198) in intestine and lowest CF of Cu (0.00315) was detected in muscle of Amblypharyngodon microlepis (Mola). On the other hand, highest CF of Cd (1.072772) in liver and lowest CF of Zn (0.0225016) in gill of Trichogaster chuna (Chuna Khalisha) was detected. In case of Annaldale Loach (Gutum fish), highest CF of Cu (0.304122) in liver and lowest CF of Zn (0.002593) in intestine was detected. The total target hazard quotients (TTHQ) values of Amblypharyngodon microlepis in liver (1.18816) exceeded allowable threshold of 1 while TTHQ values in the muscle (1.8862) and liver (1.03995) of Annaldale Loach (Gutum fish) surpassed the acceptable standard limit as well. The TTHQ values (Gill- 0.18764, Muscle- 2.1633, Intestine- 1.68741, liver- 1.03995, kidney- 1.82188) for all of the organs of Trichogaster chuna (Chuna Khalisha) exceeded the acceptable standard limit which indicated possible non-cancer risk for all consumers and some of the fishes found unsafe if they are consumed for a longer time. However, the target cancer risk (TCR) values indicated no potential cancer risks by consumption of those fishes. The regulatory authorities should pay more attention to reduce the river water contamination through industrial effluents which might affect public health.