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Heavy Metal and Metalloid Pollution of Soil, Water and Foods in Bangladesh: A Critical Review

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  • M. Mominul Islam

    (Key Laboratory for Agricultural Water Resources, Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050021, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Md. Rezaul Karim

    (Department of Applied Nutrition and Food Technology, Islamic University, Kushtia 7003, Bangladesh)

  • Xin Zheng

    (Key Laboratory for Agricultural Water Resources, Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050021, China)

  • Xiaofang Li

    (Key Laboratory for Agricultural Water Resources, Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050021, China
    CMLR, Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia)

Abstract

Bangladesh is a densely populated developing country. Both industrialization and geological sources have caused widespread heavy metal and metalloid pollution in Bangladesh, which is now posing substantial threats to the local people. In this review, we carried out one of the most exhaustive literature analyses on the current status of Bangladesh heavy metal and metalloid pollution, covering water, soil, and foods. Analysis showed that soils near high traffic and industrial areas contain high concentrations of heavy metals and metalloids. Agricultural land and vegetables in sewage-irrigated areas were also found to be heavy metal- and metalloid-contaminated. River water, sediment, and fish from the Buriganga, Turag, Shitalakhya, and Karnaphuli rivers are highly contaminated with cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and chromium (Cr). Particularly, groundwater arsenic (As) pollution associated with high geological background levels in Bangladesh is well reported and is hitherto the largest mass poisoning in the world. Overall, the contamination levels of heavy metals and metalloids vary among the cities, with industrial areas being most polluted. In all, this review provides a quantitative identification of the As, Pb, Cd, and Cr contamination hotspots in Bangladesh based on the literature, which may be useful to environmental restorationists and local policy makers.

Suggested Citation

  • M. Mominul Islam & Md. Rezaul Karim & Xin Zheng & Xiaofang Li, 2018. "Heavy Metal and Metalloid Pollution of Soil, Water and Foods in Bangladesh: A Critical Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-16, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:12:p:2825-:d:189764
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dipankar Chakraborti & Sushant K. Singh & Mohammad Mahmudur Rahman & Rathindra Nath Dutta & Subhas Chandra Mukherjee & Shyamapada Pati & Probir Bijoy Kar, 2018. "Groundwater Arsenic Contamination in the Ganga River Basin: A Future Health Danger," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-19, January.
    2. Mohiuddin, K. M. & Alam, M. M. & Ahmed, Istiaq & Chowdhury, A. K., 2016. "Heavy metal pollution load in sediment samples of the Buriganga river in Bangladesh," Journal of the Bangladesh Agricultural University, Bangladesh Agricultural University Research System (BAURES), vol. 13.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jennifer Liu & Roy Brouwer & Dilruba Fatima Sharmin & Susan Elliott & Leah Govia & Danielle Lindamood, 2022. "Industry Perspectives on Water Pollution Management in a Fast Developing Megacity: Evidence from Dhaka, Bangladesh," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-16, December.
    2. Sonia Collado-López & Larissa Betanzos-Robledo & Martha María Téllez-Rojo & Héctor Lamadrid-Figueroa & Moisés Reyes & Camilo Ríos & Alejandra Cantoral, 2022. "Heavy Metals in Unprocessed or Minimally Processed Foods Consumed by Humans Worldwide: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-25, July.
    3. Eid Brima & Hatem Mohamed, 2021. "Distribution of minerals between orange juice and orange flesh in various cultivars," Czech Journal of Food Sciences, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 39(6), pages 419-425.
    4. Lei Shi & Zhaohui Guo & Fang Liang & Xiyuan Xiao & Chi Peng & Peng Zeng & Wenli Feng & Hongzhen Ran, 2019. "Effect of Liming with Various Water Regimes on Both Immobilization of Cadmium and Improvement of Bacterial Communities in Contaminated Paddy: A Field Experiment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-14, February.

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