Food Adulteration and Bio-Magnification of Environmental Contaminants: A Comprehensive Risk Framework for Bangladesh

Abstract

This article thoroughly investigates the severity of the prevailing environmental conditions and evaluates the resulting threats to food intake and public health in Bangladesh by establishing relationship among different contaminant transfer mechanisms to human. It describes the potential of certain contaminants to get bio-magnified through the food chain. A database was prepared on a number of contaminants in the study area that are responsible for rendering different foods vulnerable to produce long term or short-term health effects. Contaminants that have been identified in the food sources were categorized in a continuum based on their allowable daily intake. A protocol has been developed which will enable the assessment of the potential of a contaminant to bio-magnify through food chain to understand the contribution of a contaminant on different levels of food chain. The study also provides a detailed assessment of the public health risks associated with direct ingestion of adulterated foods and intake of contaminants through food chain or water intake. Their intake to human body was quantified, which provides an indication of the toxicity level of the contaminants and possible impact on human health. The traditional four steps of risk assessment technique have been employed for some model contaminants (including metals, organic contaminants, and food adulterants). Additionally, existing rules and regulations of Bangladesh were identified with possible limitations that can play significant role in controlling the food adulteration practices and concentration of contaminants in the environment and human body. Finally, a holistic approach to necessary interventions has been prescribed at policy, treatment and evaluation level to prevent the water pollution and food adulteration. Thus, a much-needed comprehensive framework is prescribed in this study to promote safety in food handling, preserve environment and improve health-based strategies in Bangladesh.

A Market Basket Survey of Horticultural Fruits for Arsenic and Trace Metal Contamination in Southeast Nigeria and Potential Health Risk Implications

“…Although the present investigation did not examine the effects of adulterants on imported apples, the screening system should be expanded to monitor and control their use on fruits, as there is evidence of adverse health effects associated with adulterants in the food industry. 77 Further studies are needed to continue to improve the database on food metal contents for comparative studies. Moreover, an analytical approach for As and Hg speciation in fruits is necessary for effective food safety assessment.…”

Promoting healthy foods among urban school children in Bangladesh: A qualitative inquiry of the challenges and opportunities

“…The concern is backed up by data. Researchers have found that more than half of the foods consumed in Dhaka city were either adulterated or contaminated with toxic compounds (DDTs, formalin, textile dyes) or harmful microorganisms [54][55][56], leaving Dhaka residents uncertain about the quality of the foods available. This situation and these ndings underscore the importance of ensuring that safe foods become the expected norm so that people can be encouraged to eat fruit and vegetables which are the basis of healthy diets.…”

TRACK Implementation Among Bangladeshi Population

“…Even more unfortunate is the fact that nefarious practice of food adulteration increases exponentially during the month of Ramadan in Bangladesh, according to a study of European Journal of Sustainable Development Research, 2019 [85] . The number of patients suffering from cancer, diabetes, and kidney diseases is on the rise due to food adulteration [86][87][88][89] . 6.5.…”