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Formalin Exposure in Different Species at Khulna City Fish Markets: a Survey Based on Retroactive Application of This Preservative by Local Traders

Joyanta Bir
Fisheries and Marine Resource Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna-9208, Bangladesh

Md. *Ashkar Bin Sayeed
Fisheries and Marine Resource Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna-9208, Bangladesh

Md. Abul Kalam Azad
Fisheries and Marine Resource Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna-9208, Bangladesh

Shampa Chakravorty l
Fisheries and Marine Resource Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna-9208, Bangladesh

Alokesh Kumar Ghosh
Senior Upazilla Fisheries Officer
Department of Fisheries, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Formalin, a widely used preservative for museum specimen, has recently been reported in Bangladesh to be usedat overdose to increase shelflife ofperishable foods and fishes brought in the markets for sale. Practice of formalin application in fish to keep it fresh for longer period of time in local markets here in Bangladesh has been reached to a level where its consumption effects into health hazard. The degree to which fish are exposed to formalin may depend upon the value and types of species as well as types of markets and traders involved. Asurvey was conducted in Khulna City Fish Markets to investigate the concentration of formalin present in fish to be sold for consumption.Sample specimens were taken from a total of 10 local fish markets for formalin test and Formaldehyde Meter was used for the detection. Test result of marine fishes sprayed with formalin showed higher concentration of this preservative than that of freshwater fishes. Among marine species, Parshe (Liza parsia)! Bele (Glossogobius giuris) and Tengra (Mystus gulio)were found to have 1.088±0.32, 0.786±0.49 and0.56±0.32 ppm formalin respectively, which were higher in relative detection. Some freshwater fishes like Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus), Sarputi (Puntius sarana)and Mola (Amblypharyngodon mola)showed comparatively higher concentrations (0.5±0.29, 0.47±0.43 and 0.77±0.58 ppm respectively) of formalin among their type.Carps, perch and catfishes exhibited acceptable concentration (< 0.5 ppm) of formalin in their detection. Fish from the markets namely Rupsha and Newmarket gave higher detection of this preservative among all the markets surveyed. Public awareness, law enforcement against the use of formalin, surveillance and market monitoring, restriction on sale of formalin, market promotion for formalin-free products and making denormalization techniques hands-on and available to consumers could be the specific recommendations to fight the issue.

Keywords: Formalin, Dose, Fish, Markets, Khulna

Location: A total of ten fish markets in Khulna city were included in this study

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Risk Management in Agriculture

Commodity: Fish, Formalin

Objectives:

There are no enough studies on the marketing of commercially important fishes in the domestic markets of Khulna district. Besides, there is no information available whether formalin-treated fish are marketed in this region or not. So, it is very urgent to examine the formalin treated fishes available in domestic markets. The prime aim of this study is to know the present status of formalin-treated fish available in different markets of Khulna City.

Methodology:

Study area A total of ten fish markets in Khulna city were included in this study. The Fish markets were Gollamari fish market, Nirala fish market, Rupsa fish market, Newmarket bazar, KCC market, Tuthpara fish market, Doulotpur fish market, Boyra fish market, Khalispur fish market and Fultala fish market.

Study period The study was conducted along a period of three months. Each fish marketwas visited three times during the study period. Fish samples were selected randomly to detect the presence of formalin in fish.

Fish sample Selection Fish samples were selected for this study based on availability & preference to the consumers.Those samples were divided into two categories, such as fresh water fish and marine water fish. Again fresh water fish was categorized in Small fish and large fish.

Determination of defect points by organoleptic method Sensory methods was used to assess the degree of freshness based on organoleptic characteristics such as general body appearance, consistency of flesh, odour, colour, eye and gill condition etc. Ranking systems was developed to evaluate the judgments or results. Sensory methods have advantages that it can be adapted by the human being easily and the quality can be assessed by odor or visual inspection for quality defects. Human senses indeed are more efficient in some complex tasks than instruments. There is, however, no single satisfactory test developed for the quality assessment of fish. Combinations of chemical, biological and organoleptic tests were conducted to assess such freshness.

Formalin detection procedure Formalin detection meter called Formaldehyde Meter, Model Z-300 was used to detect formalin in fish sample. Environmental Sensors Co.'s Formaldehyde Meter is a handheld instrument that measures formaldehyde concentration in a range of 0-30 ppm and a resolution of 0.01 ppm. The instrument makes it possible to monitor formaldehyde vapor in air. The instrument has a LCD display giving concentrations in ppm, a low battery indicator, and an audible alarm that can be set at any level from 0-30 ppm. With the touch of a button, the meter displays Short Term Exposure Limit STEL (average of every 15 min.), TWA (Time Weighted Average) and Peak. This meter allows detection of formalin in terms of ppm used in fish. This is one of the easiest ways to detect formalin in fish.

Source of Information: South Asian J. Agric. 2013-2015.6 (1 & 2): 63-69 ISSN 1991-0037

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The study concludes that the Khulna City Fish Markets do participate in exhibiting the syndrome of conspicuous use of formalin and its impermissible levels of exposure infishes, which is a common scenario now-a-days in Bangladesh. This type of food adulteration may be a health hazard upon consumption, the extent of which may depend upon the concentration of formalin at which the fishes are exposed. Concentrations of formalin in the tested fishes in the survey area were found to cross the acceptable limit in most of the detections, which is rampant and alarming. The degreeto which fish are exposed to formalin was found to depend upon the value and types of species as well as types of markets and traders involved.The intensity of formalin misuse as fish preservative in the study area as well as in other affected places of Bangladesh can thought to be reduced through creating public awareness, enforcing law against the use of formalin, strengthening surveillance and market monitoring, givingrestriction on sale of formalin, promoting markets for formalin-free products and making deformalinization techniques hands-on and available to consumers.

Knowledge Management: Journal