Abstract
Hilsa shad (Tenulosa ilisha) is Bangladesh’s most important single-species fishery that contributes to 11% of total catch and employment for millions of people. However, heavy metals (HMs) toxicity in the edible organs of T. ilisha and their plausible public health threats have received weak attention. To provide insights on this issue, we determined, using ICP-MS, the concentration of Zn, Cu, Cr (VI), Pb, and Cd in the edible organs of five different sizes of T. ilisha and the surface water collected from the Padma–Meghna River confluence, Chandpur (Bangladesh). Multivariate analysis indicated that T. ilisha gills and liver contained higher HMs than muscle, and the surface water was below the safety limits. The study revealed that only Cr crossed the safety limits and bioaccumulated in the smaller-sized gills and liver. To assess the public health risks, target hazard quotient (THQ), total THQ (TTHQ) and carcinogenic (CR) risks were calculated. Only Cr imposed non-carcinogenic risks to consumers, while TTHQ showed higher chronic health risks. There was no CR risk measured for consumers, except for the largest-sized gills for children. Randomly positive relations between HMs and sizes were found; whereas, consistently positive relations were found among the tissue types. The outcomes of our study may aid policymakers in managing pollutants, especially the Cr sources in the greater Chandpur regions.
Highlights
The hilsa shad (Tenulosa ilisha, Hamilton, 1822) is one of the largest commercial species of fish in Bangladesh
The mean length of the 125 T. ilisha specimens from the Padma–Meghna Rivers’ confluence ranged from 19.1 to 46.5 cm, mean individual weight ranging from 100.1 to 1200.4 g, corresponding to
Zn concentration in the smallest (S1) T. ilisha was higher than the larger sizes and it followed the rank as gills > liver > and muscles
Summary
The hilsa shad (Tenulosa ilisha, Hamilton, 1822) is one of the largest commercial species of fish in Bangladesh. This single-capture fishery is common in almost all major River ecosystems, including the Padma, Meghna, and Jamuna Rivers, their estuaries, and the Bay of Bengal [1]. In line with the recent increases in production, heavy metals (HMs) and metal-based pollutants in the aquatic environment have drawn major attention in the fishery industry [4]. HMs concentration in water mirrored the concentrations in fish gills, resulting in an indicator of habitat status [8]. The HMs concentration in fish varies with age, different trophic levels, habitats, etc. [8]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
