A comprehensive review of heavy metal pollution in the coastal areas of Bangladesh: abundance, bioaccumulation, health implications, and challenges

The coastal zone of Bangladesh, with a population density of 1278 people per square kilometer, is under serious threat due to heavy metal pollution. To date, many studies have been conducted on the heavy metal contamination in soils, water, aquatic animals, and plants in the coastal zone of Bangladesh; however, the available information is dispersed. In this study, previous findings on the contamination levels, distributions, risks, and sources of heavy metals in sediments and organisms were summarized for the first time to present the overall status of heavy metal pollution along coastal regions. Earlier research found that the concentrations of various heavy metals (HMs), particularly Co, Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr, Mn, Fe, and Ni in water, sediment, and fish in…