Abstract
The aim of this study is to investigate the level of contamination with metals (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, and Pb) in the Nile River at the great Cairo region. Samples of water and fish were collected seasonally from different sites along the investigated area. Physical and chemical parameters of the studied water samples such as temperature, transparency, electrical conductivity, pH, BOD, and COD were measured. In aquatic ecosystems, heavy metal concentrations are monitored by detecting some indices like water pollution indices (WPI) and bioaccumulation factor (BAF). The results clarified that Fe, Pb, and Mn concentrations in water exceed the allowed limits set by WHO, 2011 in all sites while Cu and Zn are in allowed limits. While in fish muscle Fe and Cu are within the permissible limits set by FAO, 1992, but Mn, Zn and Pb exceed the limits. Some of the metals like Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn are essential for animals and plants while many other like Pb, Cd, Cr and Co are classed as nonessential metals. All values of HI were below 1 except for Pb in case of habitual fish eaters that give alarm to fish consumer.
Highlights
The River Nile is the main source of drinking water in Egypt; in recent years, huge quantities of industrial and agricultural wastes are discharged into the water body (Nada et al 2016 and Al-Halani 2017)
Temperature shows maximum value at site I in summer, while minimum value recorded at site III during winter. (Ghannam and Talab 2009) reported that water temperature related to the sampling times, number of
This work concerned with the quality of water and fish in three sites which represent different sources of pollution along the River Nile
Summary
The River Nile is the main source of drinking water in Egypt; in recent years, huge quantities of industrial and agricultural wastes are discharged into the water body (Nada et al 2016 and Al-Halani 2017). Pollution has a harmful effect on the water quality by decreasing dissolved oxygen and transparency of water; water temperature, electric conductivity, levels of nutrient salts, total dissolved solids and water alkalinity were increased (Ibrahim et al 2013). Some of the metals like Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn are essential for animals and plants while many other like Pb, Cd, Cr and Co have no known physiological activities (Aktar et al 2010). Essential and nonessential metals have a great importance in ecotoxicology (Vinodhini and Narayanan 2008). According to (FAO 2013), Egypt is the eighth global aquaculture producer with about 986,820
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