Accumulation of Trace Metals in Water, Sediment, Fish and shellfish

from Coastal Hatchery Sites, Cox’s bazar and Health Risk Assessment

By

Farhana Mostafiz

MS (Thesis Group)

Session: 2016-2017

A thesis synopsis submitted to Department of Fisheries, University of Dhaka for the

partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of MS.

Date: 19 February, 2017

Department of Fisheries

University of Dhaka
Introduction:

In the recent few years, aquatic ecosystems have been affected by various types of
contaminations around the globe. Trace metals are one of the most common pollutants
which have severely tainted the aquatic ecosystems (Ali et al., 2013) due to their toxicity,
abundance, persistence, and subsequent bio-accumulation. These metals are environmentally
ubiquitous, dissolved and transported freely by water, and taken up readily by fish and other
aquatic organisms (Jordao et al. 2002).

Their release in aquatic ecosystem is triggered by both natural and anthropogenic processes
(Zhang et al., 2009). In processes like hatchery discharge in coastal areas, trace metals can
strongly be accumulated in water, sediment and can be bio magnified in aquatic
environment along with the food chain. Because of the non-degradability of trace metals,
toxic effects are often observed at points far away from the sources (Guagliardi et al., 2013).

As sediment provides a site for biogeochemical cycling and the foundation of the food web
(Burton et al., 2001) and concentration of these elements in sediments are less variable than
in water, sediments which are suitable for monitoring the long-term metal deposition in
ecosystems (MacDonald et al., 2000; Alloway, 2013).

Assessment of trace metals in water and sediment does not provide information about the
risk related to bioaccumulation or bio-magnification (Ricart et al., 2010; Maceda-Veiga et
al., 2013). So it is monumental to assess the concentration of trace metal in fish consumed
by local people. These processes are primarily driven by metal availability for biota, i.e.
bioavailability which in turn related to water variables, such as pH, oxygen concentration,
water hardness and temperature, in addition to sediment characteristics, such as organic
carbon content (Kotze et al., 1999; Canli and Atli, 2003).

Problem Statement;

Currently, a severe issue to the public health of Bangladesh is the trace metal contamination
in fish and shellfish. Modern economic development has been accelerating environmental
pollution which, in turn, becomes a threat to human health.

The accumulation of these trace elements can cause severe damage to liver, kidney, central
nervous system, mucus tissues, intestinal tract, and reproductive systems. Furthermore, to
the toxic and carcinogenic effects of some metals in humans and animals, they also play
vital role by interfering in the balanced biological functioning of cells (Sharma et al. 2014).
Therefore, the concern is growing more and more serious globally especially in developing
countries like Bangladesh (Chen et al. 2011).
Objectives:

1. To estimate the elevated level of trace metals in water and sediment

2. To investigate the distribution of trace metals in fishes and shellfish
3. To assess the health risk associated with trace metal in local people
4. To reduce the knowledge gaps of local people about trace metals.

Methodology:

Study area:

The study area is located at the southeast coastal area in Cox’s Bazaar which lies between
latitudes 21° 27' 02″ N to 21° 26' 33″ N and longitudes 91° 58' 16″ E to 91° 57' 01″ E.

Cox’s Bazar was a seaside tourist town with an unbroken 125 km world’s longest natural
sandy sea beach. Coastal shrimp culture has been widely practiced in this coast since a
couple of decades where more than 53 shrimp hatcheries and aqua farms, big fish landing
centers can be found in very close relation to the sea beach. So, these sampling areas were
mostly influenced by the chemicals and wastage from these unplanned industries, hatcheries
and aquaculture farms.

Sampling:

Seasonal sampling is required for the estimation of fluctuation of trace metals concentration
in water, sediment fish and shellfish. In relation to the variation of the physico-chemical
properties, as the industrial and agricultural activities like fish processing, aqua farm
operation, hatcheries, crop cultivation are vigorously increased in the sampling sites during
this particular period. Three fish and shellfish species consumed mostly by local people will
be collected from sampling area to assess the bioaccumulation.

Sample digestion and metal extraction:

The collected sample materials will be analyzed as unknown samples before the analysis of
the selected samples to ensure the standard deviation. The samples will be analyzed for trace
metals by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AA 240 Z, Varian, Australia).

The actual concentration of each metal is calculated using the formula (Al-Weher, 2008):

Actual concentration of metal in sample = ppmR × dilution factor

Where,

ppmR = AAS Reading of digest ; Dilution Factor = Volume of digest used / Weight of
sample digested.
The digestion method and the atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) analysis were
validated by preparation of a multi-element standard solution (MESS) containing 1000 mg/ l
of each metal.

Health Risk Assessment:

EDI (Estimated daily Intake) is used commonly to calculate the health risk assessment of
analyzed trace metals. It is calculated by the following equation,

FI R i ×C i
EDI (µg/kg−bw /day)=∑
WAB

Where,

FIRi is the food (fish and shellfish) ingestion rate (77 and 21 g/person/day for adults
respectively); Ci metal concentration in fish and crustaceans (µg/g ww); WAB is the average
body weight (59 kg for adults); and i is the food item (fish and shellfish).

Statistical analysis:

The data were statistically analyzed by using the statistical package, IBM SPSS 22.0
(Armonk, NY, USA).

Expected Outcome:

1. The study will show that how much the level of trace metal has been increased due
to coastal hatchery operation.
2. The determination of trace metals in water, sediment, fish & shellfish will show the
distribution of metals in aquatic environment.
3. The proposed study is concerned with the increased level of trace metal in aquatic
environment which is related to fish and other aquatic organism frequently consumed
by people. There is a knowledge gap in common people about the breakneck
consequence of these fishes contaminated with trace metal. This investigation will
reduce the gap by creating public awareness about dangerous impact of trace metal
associated with hatchery waste.

Limitations:

1. Hatchery owners may not co-operate in fear of disgrace

2. Local marketers may create constrains in fear of business loss
3. Estimation of total impact practically is time consuming.
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