Abstract:
The exposure of fish to heavy metals is
a significant concern for human health and natural
ecosystems. Despite being a critical issue, the extent
of contamination in tropical fish from developing
countries like Bangladesh remains somewhat unexplored. In this study, ten economically vital fish species (Osteogeneiosus militaris, Arius gagora, Har‑
padon nehereus, Mugil ephalus, Pseudapocryptes
elongates, Apocryptes bato, Labeo bata, Tenualosa
toil, Notopterus notopterus, and Pampus chinensis)
from the Pasur River, Bangladesh, were analyzed
by atomic absorption spectrometer for the concentrations of four concerned heavy metals, viz., As,
Cr, Cd, and Pb, and the associated human health risks. The mean concentrations (mg/kg) followed
the order of As (3.30±1.43)>Pb (2.32±0.73)>Cr
(0.63±0.29)>Cd (0.37±0.24). Additionally, the
bioaccumulation factor of the metals in the investigated fish species followed a decreasing trend of As
(824.75)>Cr (781.25)>Cd (744)>Pb (385.83).
While most species fell below the minimum bioaccumulation line, a few exceptions were noted for some
species specific to metals. Health risk assessments
indicated no significant carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks for both children and adults, although
children exhibited greater vulnerability to both types
of health effects. Multivariate analysis and local perceptions supported the conclusion that heavy metals primarily originated from anthropogenic sources
related to development activities adjacent to the riverine areas.
