The chemical contaminants in fresh fish and processed fish are of great food safety concern and emerging public health issue in Bangladesh and global aspects. The aim of this study was to assess the public health risk associated with exposure to formalin in fresh fish , and pesticides (organochlorine and organophosphorus) and heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium, arsenic) in dried fish. Formalin concentrations (mg/kg) were determined (n=3) in tilapia, Indian major carp rui, Chinese carp and a minor carp from local market and in laboratory simulations (0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0% formalin solution for 5, 15, 30 and 60 min). F or pesticides and heavy metals, dried fish (Bombay duck, ribbon fish, silver jewfish, shrimp, Chinese pomfret ) were collected from Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, Bhola, Patuakhali, Khulna of Bangladesh. Fresh fish and dried f ish consumption data were collected from adult respondents (100 from each district) using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Formalin was measured using HPLC method , and p esticides residues were determined using QuEChERS extraction coupled to GC-GCMS , and heavy metals were estimated using atomic absorption spectrophotometric method.
The results revealed that the formalin treated fish with increasing concentrations and contact time showed increased trends of formalin acquisition irrespective to fish species and analytical methods used (p<0.05). Formalin exposure of fish consumed was lower than acceptable daily intake (ADI) (0.2mg/kg BW.day ) and tolerable daily intake (TDI) (0.15mg/kg BW.day ) for both “total population (400 respondents, both consumer and non-consumers)” and “consumers” as determined using spectrophotometry method. Maximum exposure of formalin (0.28 mg/kg BW.day) was for tilapia (consumers) under HPLC method. Margin of exposure (MoE ) provides high priority (<10,000) for tilapia and Indian major carp rui at P99 under spectrophotometric analysis where under HPLC analysis tilapia had MoE values more below 10,000 at P99, P95 and P90 (both total population and consumers). In case of dried fish, frequency and amount of dried fish consumption was highest for Bombay duck in Cox’s Bazar (11.57g/capita/day) and ribbon fish (12.10g/capita/day) in Chittagong. The estimated daily intake (EDI) and harmonized risk indicator (HRI) values expressed no health risk from pesticide residues in all the positive samples. For heavy metals, target hazard quotients (THQ) for non-carcinogenic health risk were below 1, indicating no health risk for all samples. However, carcinogenic risk R value indicated a potential health risk for chromium, and carcinogenic R T value indicated a potential health risk for all the metals. In view of food safety, exposure to chemicals associated with fresh fish and processed fish consumption is public health concern in Bangladesh and it has to be taken into consideration when prioritizing risk management strategies. Thus, t he study suggests fisher’s training on food safety , consumer’s awareness, and policy implications to establish risk management strategy that contro l chemical contaminants in fresh and dried fish consequences ensure safe food for local and global consumers.