Asian Clam in Urban rivers of Bangladesh

Corbicula fluminea is an invasive bivalve that thrives in various aquatic environments, often used as a bioindicator for monitoring pollution. The study underscores the environmental contamination of urban rivers in Bangladesh with PTEs and highlights the potential health risks associated with consuming invasive Asian clams from these areas. Shellfish research expertise Dr. Md Muzammel Hossain addressing pollution sources and monitoring bioaccumulation are essential for safeguarding ecosystem and human health. Typically, higher concentrations of PTEs are observed in C. fluminea from highly polluted sites. Results often indicate potential health risks, especially for vulnerable populations like children and pregnant women.

Research entitled "Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the invasive Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea) from polluted urban river areas of Bangladesh and evaluation of human health risk". Researcher Dr. Md Muzammel Hossain from BCFRC, Bangladesh and Jiangsu University, China conducted field visits to multiple urban rivers in Bangladesh to collect Asian clam samples, and the results have been published in the scientific journal Environmental Monitoring and Assessment.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10661-024-13322-6.

Sediment Pollution: Raising Awareness of Environmental and Health Challenges

BCFRC researcher Dr. Md Muzammel Hossain is actively raising awareness about the ongoing environmental and health issues associated with sediment pollution. His recent research appeared on Journal of Contaminant Hydrology with entitled “Distribution of potentially toxic elements in sediments of the municipal river channel (Balu), Dhaka, Bangladesh: Ecological and health risks assessment".

Read more: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconhyd.2024.104492

“The concern of potential toxic elements (PTEs) contamination in the river ecosystem is growing due to anthropological activity. Sediment pollution poses significant health risks by introducing harmful contaminants into water bodies, which can affect both aquatic ecosystems and human populations. Exposure to polluted sediments may lead to health issues such as skin irritations, gastrointestinal illnesses, and the transmission of waterborne diseases. Additionally, sediments can harbor toxic substances like Potential toxic elements (PTEs), which can accumulate in the food chain, increasing long-term health risks for communities relying on affected water sources. Addressing sediment pollution is crucial to safeguarding environmental and public health.”

#BCFRCResearch #Sedimentology #PTEs #Research

International Fisherman Day

Malondialdehyde and heavy metal contents in Piper betel: Possible risks of heavy metals in human health

 

Abstract

The content of heavy metals in the food chain has grown due to human activities and rapid industrial growth. The accumulation of heavy metals in P. betel leaves and the related threat to human health were analyzed by using the AAS that was collected from eleven locations inside the city of Dhaka. High MDA contents indicated contamination in P. betel samples and can regulate biochemical activity by different potential toxic elements (PTEs). The P. betel samples revealed the highest mean concentrations of As (2.09 mg/kg), Pb (0.06 mg/kg), Mn (218 mg/kg), Ni (1.55 mg/kg), Cu (10 mg/kg), Zn (2.6 mg/kg), Cr (5.1 mg/kg), and Cd (0.003 mg/kg) and certain metal exceed the guideline value. Mn, Cr, and As mean values at the research sites are higher than the permitted concentration range. Among all metals, Mn was the most accumulated metal in leaves and enhanced hazard index (HI) and non-carcinogenic risk for children. Individual metal THQ values were all less than 1 (except Mn), indicating that consuming only one metal from betel samples would not pose a serious risk to one's health. However, HI value (> 1) indicates a possible non-carcinogenic health risk to urban city people, especially in children. The assessment revealed that the allowable range of Cr and As content in betel leaves may enhance the carcinogenic risk (CR). Among heavy metals, the CR value of Cr indicated an enhanced cancer risk in children at L3, L5, L6, L7, L8, L9, L10, and L11 sites. This study shows from a health perspective that people who eat contaminated betel leaves are continuously exposed to metal pollution, which can have both carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic effects.

Source: Journal of Food Composition and Analysis.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2024.106540