Heavy metal contamination of food in a developing country like Bangladesh: An emerging threat to food safety

Abstract

This review paper highlighted possible ways of heavy metal contamination of food chain in a developing country like Bangladesh as it is considered an emerging threat for food safety. The review paper was prepared over a period of six months by searching and collecting data of various studies done in Bangladesh from original articles of many national and international journals. Also, data were taken from related review articles of many journals and websites. The review showed that arsenic, cadmium, chromium and lead are the four major threats for heavy metal contamination of food chain in Bangladesh. Pollution of surface water, agricultural soil by unscientific industrial effluent disposal and application of chemical fertilizers, pesticides are the major ways of heavy metal contamination. Consumption of these heavy metals with food above safe limit causes various organ dysfunctions including cancer. Key words: Heavy metal, food contamination, food safety.