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Simple Summary: This study investigated the contamination status and health risk of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) such as Hg, As, Pb, Fe, Zn, and Cu in four selected fish species from one of the largest wetlands in South Asia. The results showed that the degree of contamination varied among the fish species, with Fe being the most abundant PTE, followed by Zn, Cu, Pb, As, and Hg. Among the fish species, Glossogobius giuris had the highest Hg concentration, while Nandus nandus predominantly accumulated As. Health risk assessment showed the PTEs posed no substantial risks to consumers. The carcinogenic risks (CR) derived from Pb intake were also below the standard limit, further supporting the conclusion that the consumption of the studied fishes did not pose a potential health harm to consumers. Overall, the study provided evidence that, at the existing consumption rate, the analyzed fish species from the freshwater are safe to consumers. Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) such as Hg, As, and Pb have become concentrated in the aquatic ecosystem as a result of increased human activities. However, these substances frequently have synergistic or antagonistic effects on the human body or other animals. As a result, there are concerns world-wide that commercially available food products, especially fish, may be contaminated with hazardous elements. In this study, samples of four selected fishes, Gutum (Lepidocephalichthys guntea), Baim (Macrognathus pancalus), Baila (Glossogobius giuris), Meni (Nandus nandus) were analyzed from one of the largest freshwater wetlands (designed as a Ramsar Site) in South Asia to evaluate PTEs contamination status and human health risk assessment. The result demonstrated that the degree of contamination for six PTEs decreased in the following sequences for fish: Fe > Zn > Cu > Pb > As > Hg. The edible part of G. giuris had the maximum value for Hg (0.42 μg/g dw), while N. nandus predominantly accumulated As (<0.41 μg/g dw). The estimated daily intake (EDI) values ranged from 0.003 to 1.75, which was much lower than the recommended values. The hazard index (HI), THQ, total target hazard quotient (TTHQ) scores through consuming fish followed the decreasing order of Fe > Hg > Cu > Zn > Pb. The values for each index were less than 1, indicating that there were no substantial health risks for the consumers. The carcinogenic risks (CR) derived from the intake of Pb ranged from 4.92 × 10−8 to 4.14 × 10−8 for males and 5.45 × 10−8 to 4.59 × 10−8 for females, which also did not exceed the standard limit (1.00 × 10−6). This study demonstrated that, under the existing consumption rate, there was no potential health harm to consumers from consuming the studied fishes. This study offers a chance to regularly check PTEs in this environment, reducing the contamination of heavy metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we combined atmospheric pressure cold plasma, a novel treatment technology, with an absorption technique with soybean husk to remove Pb and Cd from milk. Different combinations of treatment duration, voltage, and post treatment retention time were used to determine the effectiveness of cold plasma. Soybean husk was used for metal extraction, and it was observed that when the milk samples were plasma treated with a discharge voltage of 50 kV for 2 min and held for 24 h, the highest mean elimination of about 27.37% for Pb and 14.89% for Cd was obtained. Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species produced from plasma treatment were identified using Optical Emission Spectra analysis. A high voltage of 50 kV plasma for a 2 min duration could produce 500 ± 100 ppm of ozone concentration inside the treated package. The value of ΔE, which indicates overall color difference measurement, was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in all the treated samples than control samples. However, in the frequency range from 0.01 to 100 Hz, there was not much difference between the control and treated sample in the frequency sweep test. The identified functional groups at different wavenumbers (cm−1) in the treated samples were found to be similar compared to the control samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surface salt marsh sediments from marine ecosystems in the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh was assessed for trace elements like iron (Fe), calcium (Ca), titanium (Ti), potassium (K), strontium (Sr), rubidium (Rb), zirconium (Zr), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and lead (Pb), their potential sources, and associated ecological risks. The range of trace elements in sediment (mg/kg) followed the decreasing order: Fe (25020–35176) > Ca (8679–16323) >Ti (2678–3340) > K (23680–16770) > Sr (138.32–209.64) > Rb (124–186.57) > Zr (96.21–161.35) > Zn (37.71–44.95) > Cu (36.51–51.66) > Pb (1.35–10.42). The concentrations of trace elements were under the average shale values of metals in sediment except for Fe, Cu and Rb, which can occasionally be associated with adverse biological effects. Contamination level and ecological risk were evaluated using contamination factor (CF), enrichment factor (EF), geo-accumulation index (Igeo), pollution load index (PLI), and potential ecological risk index (PERI). Multivariate statistical technique was used to classify the metal sources. The results showed that Fe was significantly enriched in the sediments. Ecological risk factors illustrated a pollution-free condition of the salt marsh ecosystem in Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study assessed the composition, health risk, and sources of trace elements of road dust collected from three major metropolitan cities in Bangladesh. Pellets were prepared from the collected road dust samples and analyzed by the Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence. The mean concentration of trace elements showed the order of K > Fe > Ca > Ti > Mn > Zr > Sr > Zn > Rb > Cr > Rb > Cu > Pb > Y > As > Ni. This research also presented the spatial distribution of the metals among three cities. The contamination factor and degree of contamination were assessed. The highest contamination factor was observed near BSRM steel manufacturing company, Chattogram could be due to the increased traffic in front of this industry. All the sampling sites showed pollution load index lower than one indicating unpolluted. However, K, Zn, and Zr showed a pollution load index values more significant than one. The result indicated that the ecological risk factor (Er) values fluctuated among metals tested across metropolitan cities. Negative geo-accumulation indexes were found for all the elements except K and Zn, suggesting moderate pollution. The Hazard Quotient values of all metals are < 1 for both adults and children. The cancer risks associated with Cr, Co, Ni, As, and Pb have been estimated individually for children and adults. The cancer risks associated with trace elements are below the European Union's acceptable limit, indicating that these five elements are not carcinogenic. The findings of principal component analysis followed by multiple linear regression showed that the sources of heavy metals were mixed natural (34.25%) and anthropogenic sources, vehicle emissions (38.92%), natural sources (5.80%), industrial sources (11.02%) and agricultural sources (10.02%). Four factors were concluded as sources of heavy metals confirmed by applying the positive matrix factorization model such as anthropogenic, industrial activities, natural process and agricultural activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the compositional trends associated with the spatial and layer wise distribution of heavy metals as well as the sediment response towards the untreated chemical wastes, we have analyzed river (Buriganga, Bangladesh) sediments by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF). In nine sediment samples 27 elements were determined where Na, Al, K, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Zn, As, Rb, Cs, La, Ce, Sm, Dy, Hf, Th and U were determined by INAA and Cu, Sr, Ba, Hg and Pb were determined by EDXRF. Pollution level and the origin of pollutants were evaluated by the aid of geo-accumulation index (I geo ), enrichment factor (EF), pollution load index (PLI) and the inter-element correlation analysis. Major elements are somehow buffered even though the pollution level is severe while the trace metals seem to be highly responsive. Among the heavy metals, Cr is the dominant pollutant, though the pollution level varies systematically with the sampling depth and the distance from the contamination source. Positive linear correlation between Cr and Zn (0.94) ensures the similar anthropogenic source(s) for these two metals, but the sediments of this study respond differently depending upon their geochemical behavior. Rare earth elements (here La, Ce, Sm and Dy), Th and U seem to have crustal origin and the Th/U ratio varies from 2.58 to 4.96. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to measure the metals (Fe, Cu, Cr, Co, As, Zn, Hg, and Pb) concentration and assesses human health risks posed by these eight metals in the five most available cultured fish species (Pangasiuspangasius, Oreochromisniloticus, Heteropneustesfossilis, Anabustestudineus, Clariasbatrachus) collected from the Mymenshing Sadar Upazila. Both fishes and three fish feeds were analyzed using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF). In fish feeds, the concentrations of metals were detected in the following order Fe > Zn > Cu > Hg > Pb. Besides, Hg concentration in three feeds samples was found higher than the maximum residue limit. Fe, Cu, Cr, Co, As, Zn, Hg, and Pb concentration in fishes were 82.45 to 104.55, 24.47 to 32.88, 2.62 to 6.73, < 0.28, < 0.41, 70.01 to 96.56, 0.57 to 1.07, and 0.34 to 0.49 µg/g respectively as dry weight basis. Health Risk Index (HRI) was observed > 1 both for adults and children and maximum HRI values for Pb was found in both P. pangasius and C. batrachus fish species. Additionally, PCA explained 73% variation in data and CA comprised the similarity within sampling stations. Pearson correlation implied a strong association amongst the trace metals. Finally, the accumulation of metals tends to the massive health hazard that should be mitigated by adopting several measures on fish feeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Heavy metals were determined and compared in captured and cultured fishes. • Health Risk Index for Fe, Zn, Cu, Hg and Pb exceeded the safe limit (<1) by USEPA. • The carcinogenic health risk for Pb was higher in cultured fishes than captured fishes. • A risk-based consumption limit of fishes was established. Food toxicity and health risks due to heavy metals exposure through fish consumption have become a major concern for this present era. Since, both cultured and captured fishes are largely consumed in Bangladesh, a comparison of heavy metals between those fishes are must. Seven sample species were collected from a tributary of the Meghna River at Lakhai Kheyaghat, Habiganj, Bangladesh and fish market of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) Spectrometer were used to measure the metal concentrations. The sequence of metal concentration in the flesh of fishes was Fe > Zn > Cu > Pb>Hg for both fish categories with mean concentrations (mg kg−1) of 69.8 ± 7.5 > 56.42 ± 8.59 > 19.52 ± 2.63 > 0.44 ± 0.18 > 0.39 ± 0.04 respectively for cultured fishes (n = 21). Statistically, mean Cu, Zn, and Pb concentrations from captured fishes flesh samples were not significantly different from cultured fishes (p > 0.05) when analyzed with non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test. Pb carcinogenicity from the cultured fishes was measured a value of 2.5E-05 for children exceeding the prescribed limit by 25 times which indicates a substantial risk for lifelong exposure. Summarizing the results, the Toxicity Scores (TS) has shown substantial rate of possibility for study area inhabitants to be exposed to heavy metals through heavy metal contaminated fish consumption, specially cultured fishes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]