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We determined the levels of nine heavy elements in water, sediment, and the edible tissues of three frequently eaten fish species collected from the five polluted rivers in different divisions of Bangladesh. These samples were randomly taken from five rivers and analyzed by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. We found seasonal fluctuations in the hierarchy of mean concentration for different heavy metals in five rivers' fish, water, and sediments. In the water, the concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn, Ni, and Hg ranged from 0.010-0.081, 0.016- 5.531, 0.013-2.445, 0.860-22.924, 0.043-1.424, 0.015-0.933, 0.091-1.451, 0.012-2.888, and 0.010-0.032 mg/l where in the sediment the concentrations ranged from 0.1-1.47, 4.21-284.1, 0.12-28.46, 1860-14971.33, 122.1-480.8, 0.84-42.15, 2.14-210.35, 15.3-30.4, and 0.17-10.44 mg/kg. For fishes concentrations ranging from BDL-0.78, 0.04-86.45, 0.01-1.67, 4.19-102, 0.08- 0.94, 0.01-0.99, 0.08-9.56, 0.01-4.56, and BDL-0.2 mg/kg were reported for the above metals order respectively. The highest concentration (mean) of Cr and Fe in waters and sediments was 1023 times and 13020.72 % higher than WHO's standard and Toxicity Reference Values (TRV), respectively. Besides, the bioaccumulation factors (BAF) of the selected elements for the studied fishes were found to be between 0.036-626.25, where the pollution load index (PLI) for the five rivers ranged from 0-0.95 and the concentration factor (CF) found between 0.02-4.03. Estimated daily Intake (EDI) as well as Target hazard quotients (THQs) analyses revealed potential risks for fish consumers, particularly the level of some metals exceeding the WHO/FAO's tolerable limit, which indicates that the rivers' water and fish are dangerous to humankind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed 125 samples collected from Joypurhat district, Bangladesh, in this study. Average inorganic arsenic (IAs) content obtained from collected polished rice, tomato, potato, radish, and arum leaves 0.31 - 0.91, 0.24 - 0.61, 0.49 - 0.88, 0.40 - 0.93, and 0.30 - 0.69 mg/kg, respectively. This report summarized that almost every agronomic sample contains arsenic; the As contents remain within the permissible limit set by FAO/WHO's guideline (1.00 mg/kg) except for the rice sample. The As concentration for the rice sample was significantly higher (0.31 - 0.91) than the prescribed limit (0.20 mg/kg). But, the As level for water (mean range, 0.10 - 0.72 mg/l), sediment (0.13 - 0.53 mg/kg), and soil samples (24.1 - 43.1 mg/kg) also significantly surpassed the permissible level. The present study is alarming for water samples, where the highest IAs concentration (0.72 mg/l) is 72 times [14 times] higher than WHO/FAO's [Bangladesh's] allowable limit (0.01mg/l) [0.05 mg/l]. All agronomic fields contain higher IAs (25.50 - 43.10 mg/kg) than the world standard limit (10 mg/kg). Statistical Igeo confirmed the moderate pollution of the entire agronomic field of Joypurhat except for the river's sediment. Again, EF values ensured the anthropogenic pollution by the moderately severe enrichment of As for the 65% agronomic field and significant enrichment of As for the 35% agronomic field. Hazard estimation results revealed the privileged possibility of non-carcinogenic [carcinogenic] health hazards to regular polished rice [water] consumers. So, present study suggests that authorities should take necessary steps to prevent contamination/upcoming health risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]