Evaluating Heavy Metal Levels in Commercial Fish Feeds in Khulna, Bangladesh: Implications for Aquaculture Safety

Rahman, Md. Hamidur; Sultana, Nadira; Wijaya, Anugrah Ricky; Jahan, Mst. Nusrat; Sarker, Famous; Asadujjaman, Md.; Jahan, Fatema; Hossain, Md. Jahid; Mukta, Sultana Parvin; Romjan, Al Shariar; Abdus Salam, Md.; Eaty, Mst. Nusrat Jahan; Yeasmin, Antora; Hasan, Mehedi; Sajin, Rizwan Ahmed; Hossain, Md. Sazzad

doi:10.21608/ejabf.2025.429325.6708

	Evaluating Heavy Metal Levels in Commercial Fish Feeds in Khulna, Bangladesh: Implications for Aquaculture Safety
Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries
Volume 29, Issue 6, November and December 2025, Pages 867-879 PDF (421.89 K)
Document Type: Original Article
DOI: 10.21608/ejabf.2025.429325.6708
Authors
Md. Hamidur Rahman^* ¹; Nadira Sultana²; Anugrah Ricky Wijaya³; Mst. Nusrat Jahan²; Famous Sarker⁴; Md. Asadujjaman⁵; Fatema Jahan⁶; Md. Jahid Hossain⁶; Sultana Parvin Mukta⁷; Al Shariar Romjan⁷; Md. Abdus Salam⁸; Mst. Nusrat Jahan Eaty⁹; Antora Yeasmin¹⁰; Mehedi Hasan¹¹; Rizwan Ahmed Sajin¹¹; Md. Sazzad Hossain¹²
¹Department of Aquaculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202
²Department of Aquaculture Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU)
³Chemistry Department, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science, Universitas Nigeri Malang (UM),State University of Malang, Jln Semarang No. 5 Malang, Indonesia
⁴Independent Researcher, Sydney, Australia
⁵Department of Aquaculture, Khulna Agricultural University, Khulna, Bangladesh
⁶Department of Aquaculture, Khulna Agricultural University, Khulna-9100
⁷Bangladesh Institute of Research and Training on Applied Nutrition (BIRTAN), Araihazar, Narayanganj
⁸Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Bangladesh
⁹Department of Aquaculture, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chattogram
¹⁰Department of Fisheries Management, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh
¹¹Faculty of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, Khulna Agricultural University, Khulna
¹²Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Fisheries, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh
Abstract
The present study aims to assess the levels of selected heavy metals—zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and arsenic (As)—in commercial fish feeds obtained from 17 different feed companies in Khulna district, Bangladesh. The collected feed samples were analyzed at the Interdisciplinary Institute for Food Security (IIFS) Laboratory using Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (GFAAS) to determine the concentrations of the targeted heavy metals. The results showed that zinc concentrations varied among the feeds, ranging from 52.73 ppm in Aman Feed Grower to 95.20 ppm in Mega Grower Feed. All values were below the maximum permissible limit of 100 ppm set by the WHO and FAO. In contrast, chromium concentrations were of greater concern. The highest level was found in Agroho Grower Feed (6.33 ppm), while the lowest was in Lily Starter Feed (0.43 ppm). Chromium was not detected in Mega Grower Feed. Cadmium, lead, and arsenic were not detected in any of the samples, indicating a relatively low risk from these toxic metals in the feeds tested. Zinc levels in the tested feeds are within safe limits; however, chromium concentrations substantially exceed international safety standards, highlighting the need for continuous monitoring to ensure fish and public health safety.
Keywords
Heavy metals; Fish feed; Zinc (Zn); Chromium (Cr); Aquaculture safety; Bangladesh

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