Assessment of trace element distribution, bioaccumulation, and health risks in silver pomfret from major fishing grounds of the Bay of Bengal

Summary

This study analyzed 14 trace elements (calcium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, selenium, rubidium, strontium, mercury, and lead) in silver pomfret (Pampus argenteus) from three major fishing grounds in the Bangladesh exclusive economic zone: south patches, middle ground, and swatch of no ground. Analysis was performed by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometry. Most elements showed significant spatial variation (p less than 0.05), except mercury and lead. Chromium, manganese, selenium, and cobalt levels exceeded FAO/WHO guidelines in some samples. The selenium-to-mercury molar ratio indicated reduced mercury toxicity. THQ, HI, and total carcinogenic risk (TCR) levels were below risk thresholds, implying minimal health risk from consumption for typical consumers.

Key numbers

Measure	Value	Units	Matrix	Source location
Mercury range (south patches)	not reported as single figure	—	Fish muscle	p. 5
Mercury, typical comparative (China)	13.34	µg/kg wet weight	Published comparison	p. 5, Table 2
Mercury, typical comparative (Pakistan)	2619.18	µg/kg wet weight	Published comparison	p. 5, Table 2
mercury (Hg) mean (south patches)	0.104 ± 0.027	µg/g dry weight	Fish muscle	p. 5, Table 2
mercury (Hg) mean (middle ground)	0.101 ± 0.021	µg/g dry weight	Fish muscle	p. 5, Table 2
mercury (Hg) mean (swatch of no ground)	0.138 ± 0.066	µg/g dry weight	Fish muscle	p. 5, Table 2
FAO/WHO guideline range, mercury (Hg)	0.5 to 1	µg/g	Reference	p. 5, Table 2
Significant spatial variation	p less than 0.05 for most elements, except Hg and Pb	probability	Fish muscle	Abstract
Se/mercury (Hg) molar ratio indicates reduced Hg toxicity	noted	—	Fish muscle	Abstract

Methods (brief)

27 silver pomfret samples (9 per fishing ground: south patches, middle ground, swatch of no ground) collected from commercial fishermen at Cox’s Bazar, Kuakata, and Dublar Char. Fish muscle analyzed dry by EDXRF spectrometry (30 mCi Cd-109 annular radioactive source, Silicon Lithium X-ray detector, 175.0 eV at 5.9 keV). CRMs used for calibration: IAEA Tuna Fish Homogenate/IAEA-350 and TORT-2. All variances within permissible limits.

Evidence fitness

This is a targeted wild-catch marine fish study from a commercially important species in Bangladeshi coastal waters. The mercury findings fall well below FAO/WHO guidelines, and the Se/mercury (Hg) molar ratio finding is relevant to the ongoing discussion about selenium’s modifying effect on mercury bioavailability. THQ and HI below thresholds indicate acceptable health risk for typical consumers. However, the small sample size (n = 9 per site) and single-season collection limit representativeness.

Limitations

EDXRF is a multi-element screening technique; less sensitive than ICP-MS for some elements including arsenic at low concentrations. Single sampling period; no seasonal data. Arsenic speciation not performed.

Dietary heavy-metal exposure
Fish
metals/total-mercury
metals/total-arsenic

Update history

No substantive edit history is available in this build. The full commit record is available in git.

Cite this page. Prose CC BY 4.0. Structured data EU database rights reserved (licensing).

Download evidence packet

Institute of Contaminant Standards. (2026). Assessment of trace element distribution, bioaccumulation, and health risks in silver pomfret from major fishing grounds of the Bay of Bengal. Heavy Metal Index. https://heavymetalindex.com/sources/al-hasan2026-silver-pomfret-bay-of-bengal-trace-elements

The evidence packet is a JSON manifest with page checksums, contributing sources, and available data downloads. It states whether the page has a verified Git revision and provides a verification command when available. See methodology and errata for how the underlying evidence is selected and corrected.