Health Risk Assessment of Mixed Metal/loids at and Near an Open Beaching Shipwrecking Yard in Bangladesh

Shipwrecking in Bangladesh is an economically significant industry. The industries in Bangladesh commonly use an open beaching method to dismantle end-of-life ships and recover iron, steel, heavy metals, etc., for recycling. However, this method is criticised for the uncontrolled release of hazardous wastes into the surrounding environment. This study aims to conduct a risk assessment of mixed metal/loid(s) to the local population living at and near open beaching ship wrecking yards in Bangladesh. Sediment, soil, groundwater, rice, vegetables, seafood, and human urine specimens were collected for this study to measure the prevalence of 16 different metal/loid(s) including, cadmium, arsenic, lead, chromium, manganese, copper, zinc, iron, tin, antimony, nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, vanadium, selenium, and thallium.

The concentrations of these metal/loids were significantly higher than their control values and in particular, cadmium, lead, and inorganic arsenic were identified as significant pollutants and are of high risk to the public. Inorganic arsenic poses possible cancer risks due to public consumption of food, water, and ingestion of surface soil. Mixed metal/loids in seafood, rice, vegetables, and drinking water also pose possible health risks. It has been determined that shipwrecking activities are the largest contributing factor to metal/loid contaminations. Therefore, it is essential that the emission of metal/loids is mitigated to protect the land, agriculture, marine ecosystem, and human health. 

Outcomes

Shipwrecking activities were the largest dominator of metal/loid contaminations and posed numerous potential health threats:

1. The significantly higher urinary levels of arsenic, cadmium, and molybdenum in 70-80% of the local people might have an impact on health.
2. Mixed metal/loids in seafood, rice, vegetables, and drinking water pose possible health risks.
3. Inorganic arsenic poses possible cancer risks due to consuming food samples (rice, vegetables, and seafood), water, and ingestion of surface soil.
4. Cadmium, lead, and inorganic arsenic were identified as significant risk contributors to the ecosystem and human health.  

Research Outputs

Islam, M.N., Ganguli, S., Tanvir, E.M., Rifat, M.A.H., Saha, N., Peng, C. and Ng, J.C., 2023. Human Exposure assessment of mixed metal/loids at and near mega-scale open beaching shipwrecking activities in Bangladesh. Exposure and Health, 15(1), pp.69-84.

Islam, M.N., Ganguli, S., Saha, N., Khatun, F., Karim, R., Tanvir, E.M., Howlader, S., Siddique, M.A.B., Peng, C. and Ng, J.C., 2022. Effects of shipwrecks on spatiotemporal dynamics of metal/loids in sediments and seafood safety in the Bay of Bengal. Environmental Pollution, 315, p.120452.

Conference Abstracts

Islam, M. N., Peng, C., Ng, J. C. Biomonitoring of metal neurotoxins in residents living at and near an open beaching shipwrecking yard in Bangladesh. ACTRA 13^TH ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC MEETING 2021, Sydney, Australia, 26 August – 27 August 2021.

Islam, M. N., Peng, C., Ng, J. C. Validation of an ICP-MS method and its application to assess human exposure of metal/loids at and near mega-scale shipwrecking activities. Queensland Mass Spectrometry Symposium 2021, Gold Coast, Australia, 4-5 November.

Research Impact

The findings of this thesis could serve as essential baseline data for future studies and be referenced for setting policy guidelines to rectify the overall situation. This thesis will help to ensure the sustainable development of the shipwrecking industry around the globe and protect the shipwrecking workers and residents living near the shipwrecking yards sites, and the surrounding ecosystem.