Toxicity risks associated with heavy metals to fish species in the Transboundary River - Linked Ramsar Conservation Site of Tanguar Haor, Bangladesh.

The presence of trace metals in aquatic ecosystems can have detrimental effects on fish survival. The Tanguar haor, a Ramsar conservation wetland, receives sediment and water from multiple transboundary rivers. However, there have been limited studies on the metal concentrations in fish species in this sediment-rich wetland. This study aimed to analyze the concentrations of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) in water, sediment, and fish tissues. Higher concentrations of Cd and Pb were found in the water and sediment. All these metals were detected in eight fish species, including benthic and pelagic species. Among them, Systomus sarana, a pelagic fish that also consumes benthic organisms, exhibited a higher metal pollution index than other fish, particularly benthic species. The release of higher metal concentrations from sediment into the water has the potential to impact the accumulation of metals in fish. SYNOPSIS: This study on metal concentrations in fish species will aid policymaking on ecotoxicology research for transboundary river-connected wetlands.

Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome and its Related Factors in Bangladeshi Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVES: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a group of medical conditions that elevate the chances of developing cardiovascular disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes. This study aimed to determine the frequency and contributing risk factors of MetS in adults from Bangladesh. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 653 individuals (470 males and 183 females) were randomly selected to participate. Fasting blood samples were collected and analysed using standard methods to measure biochemical parameters. MetS was defined on the basis of NCEP-ATP III guidelines, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with MetS. RESULTS: The prevalence of MetS was 19.7% in the healthy control group, 70.2% in the hypertensive group and 46.8% in the diabetic group. Overall, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of MetS between males (45%) and females (45.9%). The participants who had both hypertension and diabetes had the highest prevalence of MetS at 77.3%. Both males and females showed an increased trend in the prevalence of MetS and its components as they aged, except for WC in males (p < 0.01 for all cases). The 46-55 age group in males had a higher prevalence of MetS (68%), whereas the >55 age group in females had a prevalence of 73.9%. The most common component of MetS was low levels of HDL-C, which affected over 80% of the studied sample. According to the logistic regression analyses, age, BMI, hypertension and diabetes were significantly associated with MetS in both genders. CONCLUSION: This study found a high prevalence of MetS in Bangladeshi adults. Several factors are significantly associated with the risk of MetS. It is crucial to consider the varying prevalence rates of MetS by age and gender as well as its different components while providing health guidance and support.