Consumption of heavy metal contaminated foods and associated risks in Bangladesh

Abstract

This study investigated the magnitude of heavy metal contamination and determined the carcinogenic as well as non-carcinogenic risks associated with selected food consumption in Bangladesh. Commonly consumed varieties of rice, vegetables, and fish samples were analyzed to measure the concentrations of heavy metals such as cadmium, chromium, lead, arsenic, manganese, nickel, and zinc. These staple food items showed the greatest probabilities of heavy metal contamination in different phases of their production and marketing. Wide variations of metal concentrations were observed. Specifically, estimated daily intakes of arsenic and cadmium exceeded allowable daily intakes in all three food items. Toxicity scores of the metals were evaluated, and a comprehensive risk assessment was conducted to quantify the risks associated with the daily food consumption. Except for cadmium and lead in vegetables, all the contaminants present in each food item posed significant levels of carcinogenic risks up to 2.99 × 10 compared to the EPA recommended carcinogenic risk level of 1.0 × 10. Cadmium and arsenic intake due to rice consumption also posed unsafe levels of non-carcinogenic risks of 4.587 and 6.648, respectively, compared to the EPA recommended non-carcinogenic risk level of 1.0. Finally, a revised set of permissible limits was proposed for the heavy metals detected in the food items. Those permissible limits would ensure the risks associated with food consumption below the allowable carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk levels. Thus, this comprehensive approach would provide guidelines to formulate adequate control measures and regulatory limits of toxic metals in foods produced and marketed in Bangladesh.

Heavy Metal and Metalloid Pollution of Soil, Water and Foods in Bangladesh: A Critical Review

“…Market samples provide important insights into the average contamination levels of heavy metals and metalloids in foods in Bangladesh. Rice, fish, and vegetables from Kawran Bazar, Dhaka, were all found to contain Cd and Pb in higher concentrations than the safe limits [97]. In their market-based study, Shaheen et al [98] showed that mangos ( Mangifera indica ) presented excess Pb and tomatoes ( Solanum lycopersicum ) contained excess Cd.…”

Quality Control of a Boldo Tisanes Brand Commercialized in Costa Rica Following the Central American Technical Regulation for Natural Products

“…Its continuous exposure can cause degenerative diseases in the skeletal and nervous systems. Their alteration can be related to different conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, muscular dystrophy, Alzheimer's disease, and different cancer types [44]. The metal residues presence in the herbal plants is prevalent, since they are easily contaminated during growth, development, and processing [45].…”

Heavy Metals in Acrylic Color Paints Intended for the School Children Use: A Potential Threat to the Children of Early Age

“…The maximum health threat assessments link human exposure to heavy metals in other sources such as water, air, newspapers, wall paints, furniture dust, toys and soil [1][2][3][4][5][36][37][38][39][40][41]. Experimental and epidemiological investigations have revealed a link between heavy metal exposure and cancer occurrence in animals and human beings [36,42,43]. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the World Health Organization have regulated and categorized them as probable human carcinogens [36,42,44,45].…”

“…Experimental and epidemiological investigations have revealed a link between heavy metal exposure and cancer occurrence in animals and human beings [36,42,43]. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the World Health Organization have regulated and categorized them as probable human carcinogens [36,42,44,45]. The German Federal Agency for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (GFACPFS) has issued the strictest guidelines relating to the presence of some heavy metals (Pb, As and Cd) in cosmetic products, where the levels must be 2, 0.5 and 0.1 µg/g, correspondingly [46].…”