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Considering the potential health hazardous effects, the distribution and deposition of heavy metals and trace elements including Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Cd, Cr, and Pb in different tissues (skin, brain, liver, meat, and bone) of broiler and layer chickens, their feeds, litter, and eggs were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) after nitric/perchloric acid digestion. The samples for this study were taken from four poultry industries located at Sreepur upazila of Gazipur district of Bangladesh. The observed levels of heavy metals and trace element contents in different studied samples were to be in the range of 0.143±0.001 to 7.324±0.004 mg/kg for Mn, below the detection limit (BDL) to 324.43±0.003 mg/kg for Fe, 0.451±0.002 to 4.329±0.005 mg/kg for Cu, 0.014±0.001 to 7.413±0.003 mg/kg for Zn, 0.082±0.002 to 7.806±0.002 mg/kg for Cr, 0.112±0.002 to 1.581±0.002 mg/kg for Cd, and BDL to 34.775±0.004 mg/kg for Pb. Although some elements were found at a lower concentration in feed samples, they were found at a higher level in various parts of the examined chickens, eggs, and litter which may be resulted from other sources such as drinking water, soil, and the surrounding environment of the poultry industries. The brain contained a maximum amount of Cd, Cr, and Pb in comparison to other studied tissues of poultry. Most of the chicken body parts showed an excess level of Cr than the recommended guidelines. The Cu and Zn contents were usual in studied egg samples, whereas Mn, Fe, Cd, Cr, and Pb were found higher than their tolerance limits which are highly alarming for public health and demand regular governance and monitoring. Asian Australas. J. Biosci. Biotechnol. 2021, 6 (3), 128-141

Chemical pollution arising from heavy metals and metalloids is a growing global concern and a major cause of pollution-related diseases in the world today, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The present study investigated the urinary concentrations of metals and metalloids in primary school-aged children (N = 142), living in three different industrialised areas, namely the textile, tannery, and multiple industries dominated areas of Dhaka, Bangladesh and compared with a control area. The accurate measurement of urinary concentrations of twenty-two elements was accomplished using a simple and robust ICP-MS method; hydration variations were adjusted by osmolality. Results revealed that children living in these industrialised areas were exposed to a greater extent the environmental pollutants arsenic, chromium, iron, selenium, molybdenum, tin, caesium, thallium, and lead when compared to control children, after adjusting of confounding factors such as age, sex, and nutritional status. The higher concentrations of manganese in urine (3.81 µg/L, p < 0.0001) and in drinking water samples (131.0 µg/L, p < 0.05) of the textile area, suggest an elevated risk of adverse health effects for the exposed children noting that about 70% of the drinking water samples exceeded the national recommended limit. In addition, the concentration of copper was positively correlated between drinking water and urine samples which may potentially indicate the source of exposure. This study represents the prevailing situation of metals and metalloid pollution in industrialised areas where children may be at a higher risk of heavy metal-induced health problems.

Sediment samples were collected from ten selected sites of the lower Meghna River estuary, and six heavy metals were analyzed with Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) to assess the contamination level and the metals’ association with sediment grain size. The current results revealed that the mean concentrations of the studied metals were ranked in descending order of iron (Fe) (1.29 × 103 mg/kg) > zinc (Zn) (42.41 mg/kg) > lead (Pb) (12.48 mg/kg) > chromium (Cr) (10.59 mg/kg) > copper (Cu) (6.22 mg/kg) > cadmium (Cd) (0.28 mg/kg). The geo-accumulation, contamination, and pollution load indexes suggested that the lower Meghna river estuary was not contaminated by Fe, Zn, Pb, Cr, and Cu. The mean size of the sediment ranged from 28.92 to 126.2 μm, and the Pearson correlation coefficient showed a significant association between Fe and Pb (coefficient of determination, r2 = 0.836; p

The current study is an endeavour to measure the bioaccumulation potentials of heavy metals in different parts of chilli plants (Capsicum annuum L.) grown in artificially contaminated soil with various concentrations of Cr and Pb. The concentrations of heavy metals were estimated by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) technique. The mean concentration of Cr and Pb accumulated in different parts of plants in high, medium, and low levels of contamination was in the following order: roots > leaves > shoots > fruits. Cr concentration in fruits was lower than that of the WHO standard. However, fruits grown on medium contaminated soil contained 0.695 mg/kg Cr which did not follow the safe guideline by SEPA. A significant amount of Pb was traced in fruits grown in highly contaminated soil that exceeded the standard limit set by FAO/WHO. Accumulation of Pb was higher than Cr at different levels of contamination in every part of the chilli plants. The transfer factor for Cr and Pd was found in the following order, leaves > shoots > fruits> roots and leaves > shoots > roots > fruits, correspondingly at every level of contamination. The bioconcentration factors were higher in Pb than Cr. The daily intake of metals in combination with health and carcinogenic risk indexes indicated that the edible parts of chilli plants are safe to consume as recommended by SEPA/WHO/FAO. The present study can be considered a reference for assessment and monitoring of heavy metals associated with human health risks in chilli plants at different industrially contaminated sites.

Heavy metals are non-biodegradable substances which cause serious carcinogenic effects on animals and humans. As fish occupy top position of aquatic food chain, it is a major source of heavy metal contamination. The concentration of Cd, Cr, Pb, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Zn were 0.0156 - 0.1428, 0.163 - 8.53, 0.0924 - 0.4026, 9.38 - 65.9382, 0.0473 - 0.1981 and 0.1473 - 1.8148 ppm respectively for the fish samples of Cox’s Bazar region while 0.0191 - 0.1386, 0.8445 - 0.1743, 0.102 - 0.4625, 0.102 - 0.4675, 9.7269 - 60.5267, 0.3108 - 0.046 ppm for the fish samples of Saint Martin’s region. Comparatively high concentrations of heavy metals were found to be accumulated in Mola (Amblypharyngodon mola), Rupchanda (Stromateus chinensis) and Chhuri (Trichiurus lepturus). The order of heavy metal concentrations were Fe > Zn > Cr > Cu > Mn > Cd. The concentration of heavy metals varied from species to species and most of the metals were not significantly correlated, even some metals showed negative correlation among them. Concentration of Fe in some fishes (Mola, Rupchanda and Chhuri) was found higher than WHO guideline values, while other metals exhibited the value below the WHO standard. The results of this study will assist in acquiring information about the level of toxic metals in these regions and to improve the coastal management in these areas in future. Bangladesh J. Zool. 47(2): 293-304, 2019

Refereed/Peer-reviewed Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder in which the body's defense system wrongly attacks healthy body tissues. The objective of this current setup was to quantify and compare the serum concentration of ascorbic acid (Vit-C), malondialdehyde (MDA), c-reactive protein (CRP) and trace elements (Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn) in SLE and normal subjects. Methods: The proposed case-control study was performed with 25 SLE patients and 25 healthy subjects as case and control, respectively. The serum level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and vitamin C was evaluated by UV spectrophotometric method. For the determination of CRP, the latex agglutination method was used, whereas serum trace elements were estimated by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Results: This analysis demonstrated that patients with SLE possessed a significant (p < 0.001) higher level of MDA and lower level of vitamin C compared to control subjects. Pearson's correlation analysis found negative correlation between the serum level of MDA and vitamin C (r= -0.023, p = 0.887) for patients while control group also possessed similar result (r= -0.157, p = 0.453). The current findings have also revealed that serum level of Zn and Cu in SLE patients was significantly (p < 0.05) lowered to that of the control group, while serum level of Mn also showed a similar scenario. During Pearson's correlation analysis a significantly (p < 0.05) negative correlation was found between Zn and Mn (r= -0.410, p = 0.042) in patients' group. Conclusion: Although our study was limited to a small sample size and confined to a particular area of the country, the study results support a significant role of antioxidants, CRP, and trace elements in the generation of SLE and, therefore, recommends a large spectrum study of the associations between SLE and these biochemical parameters. usc

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder that is a painful health crisis. This study aimed to assess the serum C-reactive protein (CRP), malondialdehyde (MDA), non-enzymatic antioxidant (vitamin C), and trace elements (Zn, Cu, Mn, and Fe) in RA patients, and thereby correlate these parameters with the association of RA. This study included 20 Bangladeshi RA patients and 20 normal healthy volunteers as control subjects. CRP level was determined using a laboratory-based latex agglutination–enhanced immunoassay. The lipid peroxidation level was determined by measurement of the serum level of MDA. Non-enzymatic antioxidant vitamin C was assessed by UV spectrophotometric method. Trace elements were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Our study observed significantly higher concentrations of CRP (p

The study reports the phenolic composition of propolis from Bangladesh and its ameliorative effects against tetracycline-induced hepatonephrotoxicity in rats. Male Wistar Albino rats (n = 18) were randomly divided into three following groups: (1) normal control, (2) tetracycline-treatment (200 mg kg-1 rat-1 ), and (3) tetracycline (200 mg kg-1 rat-1 ) + propolis (100 mg kg-1 rat-1 ) treatments. The ethanolic extract of propolis contained major phenolic acids as well as a flavonoid, rutin. Oral exposure to tetracycline caused severe hepatic and renal damage as indicated by significant alterations in liver marker enzymes in rat serum: bilirubin and protein concentrations, lipid profile, and markers of kidney function when compared with controls. The observed biochemical perturbations were accompanied by histopathological changes. Co-administration with propolis extract, however, prevented the changes in biochemical parameters, as revealed by maintenance of cell membrane integrity and regulation of lipid profile and the conservation of the histoarchitecture. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Propolis is a resinous honeybee product which is becoming increasingly popular due to its potential contributions to human health. The phenolic compounds identified in propolis from Bangladesh were effective against tetracycline-induced hepatic and renal toxicity. Propolis may be a promising natural product in reducing the effects of chronic liver and kidney damage.

Household air pollution (HAP) is one of the most important global environmental and public health issues. As a result of changes in air composition due to rapid industrialization and urbanization, air quality is deteriorating and outdoor pollution is increasing daily. Simultaneously, poor ventilation, microbial growth, tobacco smoke, solid fuel use, and different toxic chemicals are causing deterioration in household air quality, which contributes significantly to the global burden of disease. This paper reviews the available literature to examine the impact of HAP on human health, comprehensively identifies the sources of HAP, and synthesize management approaches to reducing the severity of HAP. The English language databases PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Science Direct were searched using the key terms: HAP, particulate matter, health risks, public health, pollutant sources, burden of diseases, and management approach. Bibliographies of all relevant articles were also screened to find further useful articles. This review addresses all possible sources of HAP that are categorized as biological or chemical (organic and inorganic) and are associated with grave public health threats, such as lung function reduction, respiratory illness, asthma, pneumonia, tuberculosis, eye diseases, pregnancy complications, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Suggested approaches, including compliance with international guidelines and regulatory frameworks, pollutant source reduction methods, and fulfillment of international environmental laws, conventions, agreements, protocols, and treaties, can be effectively adopted to mitigate household air pollutants, reduce the global burden of disease, and promote household environments that support better human health. The sources of HAP and its health impacts should be considered in the development of future policies concerning reduction in all household air pollutants worldwide. Therefore, this review establishes the groundwork for future studies assessing the effectiveness of strategies aimed at creating sound household environments to promote better human health.

Ship breaking or recycling in Bangladesh has been a catalyst for the economy by supporting the steel, shipbuilding, furniture, building construction, machinery and electrical industries since the 1980s. Although it has generated huge employment and provided 80–90% of the total steel consumption in the country, it has faced a host of challenges due to a number of negative environmental and social impacts that hinder the sustainable development of this blooming sector. The objective of this paper is to focus on how ship-breaking activities in Bangladesh affect the adjacent environment and the health and safety of workers, as well as management’s approach to the sustainability of the industry, by conducting a review of the available scientific literature. We found that grave environmental pollution, such as physiochemical properties, heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyl compounds (PCBs), organotins, oil and grease pollution, asbestos and other atmospheric pollutants, and its impact on marine ecosystems, biodiversity, forestry, fisheries and human health are the main obstacles for the development of a sustainable ship-breaking industry. In addition, labour safety and occupational health problems, social unrest and conflicts have resulted from the development of the ship-breaking industry in Bangladesh. Inappropriate management practices and inadequate plans regarding ship-breaking activities and processes are the main reasons for these challenges. Effective management measures to mitigate the adverse environmental impact of the ship-breaking industry and to improve the health and safety of workers have now become an urgent requirement.

In the present investigation, five novel Cr(VI) reducing bacteria were isolated from tannery effluents and solid wastes and identified as Kosakonia cowanii MKPF2, Klebsiella pneumonia MKPF5, Acinetobacter gerneri MKPF7, Klebsiella variicola MKPF8 and Serratia marcescens MKPF12 by 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis. The maximum tolerance concentration of Cr(VI) as K2Cr2O7 of the bacterial isolates was varying up to 2000 mg/L. Among the investigated bacterial isolates, A. gerneri MKPF7 was best in terms of reduction rate. The optimum temperatures for growth and Cr(VI) reduction by the bacterial isolates were 35 and 40 °C, respectively except A. gerneri MKPF7 which grew and reduced Cr(VI) optimally at 40 °C. The optimum pH for growth and Cr(VI) reduction by K. cowanii MKPF2, A. gerneri MKPF7 and S. marcescens MKPF12 was 7.0 whereas the optimum pH for growth and Cr(VI) reduction by K. pneumoniae MKPF5 and K. variicola MKPF8 were 7.0, 8.0 and 6.0, 7.0, respectively. All the bacterial isolates showed maximum tolerance against Ni2+ and Zn2+ whereas minimum tolerance was observed against Hg2+ and Cd2+. The bacteria isolated in the present study thus can be used as eco-friendly biological expedients for the remediation and detoxification of Cr(VI) from the contaminated environments.

In the present study, the residual pesticide levels were determined in eggplants (Solanum melongena)(n=16), purchased from four different markets in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The carbamate and organophosphorus pesticide residual levels were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the efficiency of gamma radiation on pesticide removal in three different types of vegetables was also studied. Many (50%) of the samples contained pesticides, and three samples had residual levels above the maximum residue levels determined by the World Health Organisation. Three carbamates (carbaryl, carbofuran, and pirimicarb) and six organophosphates (phenthoate, diazinon, parathion, dimethoate, phosphamidon, and pirimiphos-methyl) were detected in eggplant samples; the highest carbofuran level detected was 1.86 mg/kg, while phenthoate was detected at 0.311 mg/kg. Gamma radiation decreased pesticide levels proportionately with increasing radiation doses. Diazinon, chlorpyrifos, and phosphamidon were reduced by 40–48%, 35–43%, and 30–45%, respectively, when a radiation strength of 0.5 kGy was utilized. However, when the radiation dose was increased to 1.0 kGy, the levels of the pesticides were reduced to 85–90%, 80–91%, and 90–95%, respectively. In summary, our study revealed that pesticide residues are present at high amounts in vegetable samples and that gamma radiation at 1.0 kGy can remove 80–95% of some pesticides.

Accumulation of heavy metals in environmental matrices is a potential risk to living system due to their uptake by plants and subsequent introduction into the food chain. A study was conducted to investigate the heavy metals concentration in soils and leafy vegetables samples along the Dhaka Aricha Road to assess their potential ecological risk. Heavy metals concentration was analyzed by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. Concentrations ofallthetestedheavy metals except Cd in soil samples were below the permissible level. The mean concentration of Cd was found 3.99 +/- 1.85 mg kg(-1). Concentrations of all the tested heavy metals except Cd and Cr in vegetables samples were lower than recommended level. Mean concentration of Cd and Cr were found 1.00 +/- 0.68 mg kg(-1) and 2.32 +/- 0.84 mg kg(-1), respectively. Based on the Potential Ecological Risk Index, Cd posed very high risk to the local ecosystem due to its higher Risk Factor, > 320 and based on Transfer Factor of Pb and Cd were found higher accumulator among the tested metals. The results of present study revealed that the bioconcentration of heavy metals along the Dhaka Aricha Road posed high risk to the ecosystem. Considering the Transfer Factor of Cd and Pb it can be suggested that plants and leafy vegetables grow in the soil near Dhaka Aricha Road should not be used as food or feed.

A comparative study regarding prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of Vibrio species in the black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon Fabricius) culture environment as well as market samples were analyzed. Total Vibrio counts were found to range up to 2.5 × 103 cfu/gm and 60 cfu/gm in shrimp and Gher water samples, respectively. Results revealed that the total vibrio count were found to be higher in samples taking from the market shops in Dhaka city than Gher shrimp samples and the live shrimps were not contaminated with Vibrio species but dead shrimps were found contaminated, which were collected from shrimp Gher. In the antimicrobial susceptibility test, highest 28.57% resistance among total Vibrio isolates was observed to penicillin and cephalexin. Among the seven isolates of Vibrio species from Gher water sample one isolate displayed multi-drug resistance (MDR). The main reason of antibiotic resistance could be the indiscriminate application of antibiotics in shrimp farming and release of shrimp pond effluent to estuarine ecosystems or post harvest contamination of shrimps with the antibiotic resistant bacteria through the environment and human handling. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbas.v36i2.12964 Journal of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, Vol. 36, No. 2, 213-220, 2012

Consumption of pesticides associated foods increased in recent decades in Bangladesh. Most of the pesticides come from paddy, as rice is the main food items here and about 70 % pesticides are used only on paddy fields. Water samples of paddy fields and Kaliganga River of Manikganj district were analyzed to provide base line data on cypermethrin, chlorpyrifos and diazinon residue by using high performance liquid chromatography. Levels of Cypermethrin, chlorpyrifos and diazinon detected in the paddy field water samples were (0.605 ± 0.011 μg/L), (0.06 ± 0.001 μg/L) and (0.039 ± 0.002 μg/L), respectively. 0.11 ± 0.003 μg/L of cypermethrin and 0.012 ± 0.0006 μg/L of chlorpyrifos were also identified in the water samples of Kaligonga River. Diazinon residue was not detected in the river water samples. The detected concentrations of pesticide residues in the river water were below the accepted maximum residue limit (MRL) value of drinking water (0.1 μg/l) adopted by the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission. Cypermethrin and chlorpyrifos were chosen for decontamination through rice bran, as it was found in river water. Two gm rice bran could easily decontaminated 95.6 % and 96.4 % of cypermethrin and chlorpyrifos. The result of this study showed that pesticide residue was detected in water samples were below the MRLs value, which can easily be decontaminated through absorption of rice bran.

The giant fresh water prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man), a leading export item of Bangladesh was studied in terms of pathogenic bacteria, pesticide residues and metal contents. In microbiological analysis, total viable bacteria, total coliform, total faecal coliform, total Salmonella and total Vibrio count were ranged from 6.8 × 10 4 to 1.6 × 10 6 , 1.5 × 10 2 to 1.8 × 10 5 , 0.0 to 5.0 × 10 2 , 0.0 to 1.8 × 10 2 and 0.0 to 3.6 × 10 2 cfu/gm, respectively. Pesticide residue was analyzed by HPLC. Out of six samples studied, one was found to be contaminated with Quinalphos and another with Cypermethrin, where the concentrations were 0.03 and 0.56 ppm, respectively, below the maximum residue limit set by joint FAO/WHO expert committee. Copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) concentrations were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The range found for Cu and Cd was from 0.01 to 0.11 ppm and 0.01 to 0.06 ppm, respectively, which is below the maximum residue limit set by joint FAO/WHO expert committee (10 ppm for Cu and 0.2 ppm for Cd). Relatively high microbial load and presence of pathogens in all the tested samples, collected from local market revealed that the samples had exposure to an unhealthy environment. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbas.v35i1.7974 Journal of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, Vol.35, No.1, 91-97, 2011

The decomposition of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) at initial concentrations of 4.5–18.0 ppmv in air was studied under electron-beam (EB) irradiation. Doses to decompose 90% of input DMS were 2.5 kGy for 4.5 ppmv, 3.4 kGy for 10.6 ppmv, and 3.9 kGy for 18.0 ppmv. HCOOH, (CH3)2SO, and trace CH3OH and (CH3)2SO2 were produced as irradiation products in addition to CO2 and CO. Application of an O3 decomposition catalyst to an irradiated sample gas led to an enhancement in the oxidation of DMS and its products into CO2 and the decomposition of O3. For 10.6 ppmv DMS/air, the mineralization ratio increased from 41% via only EB irradiation to 100% via the combination treatment at 6.3 kGy. The yield of CO2 to COx increased from 5.3 to 87.6% by combination with catalytic oxidation. This combination treatment enables the irradiation energy used to deodorize gas streams containing DMS to be reduced.

This study investigated the main target sites of chlorpyrifos (CPF), its effect on biochemical indices, and the pathological changes observed in rat liver and kidney function using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Adult female Wistar rats ( n = 12) were randomly assigned into two groups (one control and one test group; n = 6 each). The test group received CPF via oral gavage for 21 days at 5 mg/kg daily. The distribution of CPF was determined in various organs (liver, brain, heart, lung, kidney, ovary, adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle), urine and stool samples using GCMS. Approximately 6.18% of CPF was distributed in the body tissues, and the highest CPF concentration (3.80%) was found in adipose tissue. CPF also accumulated in the liver (0.29%), brain (0.22%), kidney (0.10%), and ovary (0.03%). Approximately 83.60% of CPF was detected in the urine. CPF exposure resulted in a significant increase in plasma transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, and total bilirubin levels, a significant reduction in total protein levels and an altered lipid profile. Oxidative stress due to CPF administration was also evidenced by a significant increase in liver malondialdehyde levels. The detrimental effects of CPF on kidney function consisted of a significant increase in plasma urea and creatinine levels. Liver and kidney histology confirmed the observed biochemical changes. In conclusion, CPF bioaccumulates over time and exerts toxic effects on animals.

The present study was undertaken to determine the heavy metal levels and the physicochemical parameters (pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and ash, moisture, and total sugar content) of honeys from Bangladesh. Three different floral honeys were investigated, namely, khalsi (Aegiceras corniculatum), mustard (Brassica juncea), and litchi (Litchi chinensis) honeys. The heavy metals in the honeys were determined by using a High Temperature Dry Oxidation method followed by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. The mean pH, EC, and ash, moisture, and total sugar contents of the investigated honeys were 3.6, 0.51 mS/cm, 0.18%, 18.83%, and 68.30%, respectively. Iron was the most abundant among all the investigated heavy metals, ranging from 13.51 to 15.44 mg/kg. The mean concentrations of Mn and Zn in the investigated honeys were 0.28 mg/kg and 2.99 mg/kg, respectively. Cd was below the detection limit, and lead was found in some honey samples, but their contents were below the recommended Maximum Acceptable Level. Cr was also found in all of the samples, but its concentration was within the limit. The physicochemical analysis of the honey samples yielded levels within the limits set by the international honey legislation, indicating that the honey samples were of good quality and had acceptable values for maturity, purity, and freshness.

The present study was undertaken to determine the content of six minerals, five trace elements, and ten pesticide residues in honeys originating from different regions of Malaysia. Calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) were analyzed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS), while sodium (Na) and potassium (K) were analyzed by flame emission spectrometry (FAES). Trace elements such as arsenic (As), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), and cobalt (Co) were analyzed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) following the microwave digestion of honey. High mineral contents were observed in the investigated honeys with K, Na, Ca, and Fe being the most abundant elements (mean concentrations of 1349.34, 236.80, 183.67, and 162.31 mg/kg, resp.). The concentrations of the trace elements were within the recommended limits, indicating that the honeys were of good quality. Principal component analysis reveals good discrimination between the different honey samples. The pesticide analysis for the presence of organophosphorus and carbamates was performed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). No pesticide residues were detected in any of the investigated honey samples, indicating that the honeys were pure. Our study reveals that Malaysian honeys are rich sources of minerals with trace elements present within permissible limits and that they are free from pesticide contamination.

Background: Cow milk is considered as one of the responsible food sources contaminated with heavy metals. The objectives of the study were to assess the content of selected metals in cow milk and its associated human health risks in the food chain of Bangladesh. A total of 90 cow milk samples of Branded, Dairy and Domestically produced milk were collected randomly from different sources of Savar Upazila in Dhaka area. Cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu) and iron (Fe) contents in collected milk samples were determined using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS). To ensure quality control, one of the best quality control parameters i.e. recovery test; from eight various sample digestion methods were used. The Hazard Quotient (HQ) and Carcinogenic Risk (CR) values were also calculated. Results: From the results, it was found that, the orders of heavy metal content in brand, dairy and domestic cow milk were Cr > Fe > Cu>Mn > Cd > Pb, Cr > Fe > Mn > Cu > Cd > Pb and Fe > Cr > Mn > Cu > Cd > Pb, respectively. Among the six metals, only Cr showed to exceed the highest Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) rate (for brand cow milk: 0.413 mg/day, dairy farm cow milk: 0.243 mg/day, domestic cow milk: 0. 352 mg/day),and the comparison percentages of calculated values per permeable values were as follows; 206.5 % for brand cow milk,121.5 % for dairy farm cow milk and 176.0 % for domestic cow milk. Hazard Quotients (HQ) values and Carcinogenic Risk (CR) values were found within the acceptable level. Conclusion: Although, the metal content in sampled cow milks were within the safe limit, the potential human health risks cannot be neglected for the regular/long time consumption of heavy metal contained cow milk.