Biomonitoring Of Some Heavy Metals In Water Of El Salam Canal using Oreochromis niloticus As Bioindicator

Abstract

This study was initiated to assess the levels of (Fe, Cu, Cd, Pb, Zn, Co, Mn and Ni) in water samples and Oreochromis niloticus tissues (muscles, gills and liver) collected from Fum El-Salam canal, Hadous drain and mixing point of El-Salam canal with Hadous drain throughout Summer 2014. Levels of physicochemical parameters of water samples (TDS, EC and ammonia) were significantly high (P<0.05) in Hadous drain and mixing point of El-Salam canal with Hadous than the permissible levels of the law 48/1982. The results showed that Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu recorded 1.612±0.6-<0.001-0.011±0.001,0.56±0.29- 0.479 ± 0.03- 0.075±0.01, 0.25±0.028 - 0.179±0.01 - 0.046±0.003, 0.045± 0.01 - 0.019±0.01 - 0.009±0.007 mg/l in Hadous drain, Mixing point and Fum El-Salam canal respectively, while the increase in Zn and Mn for Hadous drainage exceeded the permissible values sets by USEPA (1996). The discharging of Bahr Hadous drainage water to El-Salam canal leads to alteration in water quality of El-Salam canal as it increases heavy metals loads which implicate pollution, such deterioration showed in the studied tissues of Oreochromis niloticus. It is recommended to treat the different wastes before discharging to El-Salam canal.