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Public health risk assessment and possible contamination with heavy metals in Saint Martin's Island, Bay of Bengal

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Contamination by heavy metals in sediment, water, fish, and their parasites was investigatedfrom Saint Martin’s Island, Bay of Bengal, focusing on bioaccumulation and human health risks.We employed several significant pollution indicators to evaluate ecological quality. Usingatomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), heavy metals (Pb, Fe, Cu, Co, Mn, Ni, Zn, Cr, and Cd)were analyzed in samples collected from five sites around the island. Findings indicated that theheavy metal levels in the water with lowest mean values were Pb, Fe, Mn, Ni, Cu, and Co andmean Pb content in the water was higher than the recommended levels. Cu and Fe showed asignificant positive association (p<0.05). Fe>Zn>Cr>Pb>Cd was the order of concentrations in sediment, with high levels of Pb and Cr, while correlations were observed for Cu-Fe (p < 0.05) and Zn-Cd, Fe-Pb, Cr-Cd, Zn-Cd (p < 0.05, p < 0.01). The heavy metal concentrations in fish and parasite muscle were ranked as Fe>Pb>Zn>Cr>Cd, and Fe>Zn>Pb>Cr>Cd, respectively; with Pb and Cr in fish muscle exceeding regulatory limits. Health risk assessments indicated potential non-carcinogenic risks from Pb, Fe, Cr, and carcinogenic risks from Cr and Cd. The study concluded that the nematode parasite is a reliable indicator of heavy metal pollution.

Source: Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances

DOI: 10.1016/j.hazadv.2024.100568