RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Lead (Pb) poses a severe threat to human health and the environment. Worldwide Pb production and consumption have significantly increased along with unplanned industrialization and urbanization, lead smelting, and lead-acid battery processing. The improper management of Pb-containing elements is responsible for Pb pollution. Lead's persistence in nature and bioaccumulation in the food chain can lead to adverse health impacts. OBJECTIVES: The present study aims to describe Pb contaminated sites in Bangladesh and Pb concentration in the atmosphere, water, sediments, soil, vegetables, fish, and other foods in Bangladesh. METHODS: The present study searched a total of 128 peer-reviewed articles based on a predefined set of criteria (keywords, peer-reviewed journals, and indexing in Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science, Springer, PubMed, Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), and Bangladesh Journals Online (BanglaJOL) and exclusion criteria (predatory journal and absence of full text in English) and finally selected 63 articles (58 research articles and five (5) reports). The relevant findings on Pb exposure, sources, routes, diet, and impacts in Bangladesh were combined and presented. RESULTS: The reviewed studies identified 175 Pb contaminated sites through soil sample assessment in Bangladesh. The study determined Pb concentrations in air (0.09-376.58 µg/m3, mean 21.31 µg/m3), river water (0.0009-18.7 mg/l, mean 1.07 mg/l), river sediments (4.9-69.75 mg/kg, mean 32.08 mg/kg), fish (0.018-30.8 mg/kg, mean 5.01 mg/kg), soil (7.3-445 mg/kg, mean 90.34 mg/kg), vegetables (0.2-22.09 mg/kg, mean 4.33 mg/kg) and diet items (0.001-413.9 mg/kg, mean 43.22 mg/kg) of which 38.8%, 27.8%, 54.5%, 68.8%, 9.7% and 100% of samples, respectively, exceeded related World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and Bangladesh Standard Testing Institution (BSTI) guidelines. The present study found that industrial soils are severely polluted with Pb (7.3-445 mg/kg) in Bangladesh. A high Pb concentration has been found in fish muscle and foods, including leafy and non-leafy vegetables collected from different places in Bangladesh. CONCLUSIONS: Lead-contaminated foods can enter the human body through dietary intake and consequently lead to long-term adverse health effects. This study may help policymakers to formulate national policies with effective mitigation plans to combat the adverse health impacts of Pb in Bangladesh. COMPETING INTERESTS: The authors declare no competing financial interests.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Lead acid batteries are widely used, dependable, and inexpensive. Lead from these batteries can contaminate the surrounding ecosystem due to improper disposal and contribute to lead poisoning. Lead poisoning is an important public health issue that can cause adverse human health impacts. OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to assess exposure to lead released from automobile repair shops handling lead acid batteries in the city of Dhaka, Bangladesh, as well as shop owner and worker perceptions of lead pollution. METHODS: Ten dust samples were collected for atomic absorption spectrophotometer analysis to determine the concentration of lead. In addition, a questionnaire survey (N=75) was conducted to determine the level of knowledge of lead exposure and associated risks. RESULTS: Lead contamination was found in all dust samples, with lead concentrations ranging from 11.40 ppm to greater than 1000 ppm. In addition, 80% of respondents did not have any knowledge about the harmful effects of lead pollution. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests the importance of defining permissible air lead levels and improving worker education on lead pollution. ETHICS APPROVAL: The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Department of Environmental Science, Stamford University, Bangladesh. COMPETING INTERESTS: The authors declare no competing financial interests.
