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Health risk assessment of trace elements via dietary intake of ‘non-piscine protein source’ foodstuffs (meat, milk and egg) in Bangladesh

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Abstract

Concentrations of six trace elements [chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and arsenic (As)] were assessed in ‘non-piscine protein source’ foodstuffs (meat, milk and eggs) to evaluate contamination level and human health risks in Bangladesh. The range of Cr, Ni, Cu, Cd, Pb and As in the investigated foodstuffs was 1.24–2.17, 1.29–2.56, 0.92–2.31, 0.12–0.44, 0.15–0.48 and 0.14–0.57 mg kg fresh weight−1, respectively. The estimated mean levels of most of the elements were higher than the maximum allowable concentration (MAC) for dietary foods. The estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of Cr and Cd were higher than the maximum tolerable daily intake (MTDI) for children, indicating that they are more susceptible to toxic elements through food consumption. The target hazard quotients (THQs) and target carcinogenic risk (TCR) of As (THQ > 1 and TCR > 10−4) for both the adults and children suggest that the consumers of non-piscine foodstuffs (especially cow milk and chicken meat) are exposed chronically to metal pollution with carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health consequences.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the authority of the Centre of Excellence, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, and the Yokohama National University, Japan, for providing laboratory facilities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Nutrition and Food Science (INFS), University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh

    Nazma Shaheen, Avonti Basak Tukun, Saiful Islam & Abu Torab M.A. Rahim

  2. Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh

    Md. Kawser Ahmed

  3. Department of Soil Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Dumki, Patuakhali, 8602, Bangladesh

    Md. Saiful Islam

  4. Department of Risk Management and Environmental Sciences, Graduate School of Environment and Information Sciences, Yokohama National University, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 240-8501, Japan

    Md. Saiful Islam & Md. Habibullah-Al-Mamun

  5. Department of Fisheries, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh

    Md. Habibullah-Al-Mamun

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  1. Nazma Shaheen
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  2. Md. Kawser Ahmed
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  3. Md. Saiful Islam
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  4. Md. Habibullah-Al-Mamun
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  5. Avonti Basak Tukun
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  6. Saiful Islam
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  7. Abu Torab M.A. Rahim
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Correspondence to Md. Habibullah-Al-Mamun.

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Shaheen, N., Ahmed, M.K., Islam, M.S. et al. Health risk assessment of trace elements via dietary intake of ‘non-piscine protein source’ foodstuffs (meat, milk and egg) in Bangladesh. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 7794–7806 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-6013-2

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