Risk assessment of pollution with heavy metals in water and fish from River Nile, Egypt

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.

Water quality index, Labeo rohita, and Eichhornia crassipes: Suitable bio-indicators of river water pollution

“… Olayinka-Olagunju et al (2021) reported bioaccumulation factors in water, pelagic, and benthic fishes in Nigeria's Ogbese river. In another study, Ghannam (2021) also used the water pollution index and bioaccumulation factor in fish to determine the water quality and health status of the Nile River, Cairo. The poor quality of water bodies has also been reported from India's other natural freshwater resources ( Khan et al, 2020 , Mahamood et al, 2021 ).…”

Heavy metals concentration patterns in the Atlantic horse meckrel (Trachurus trachurus), the Round sardinella (Sardinella aurita) and the Common panadora (Pagellus erythrinus) from northwestern Egyptian coasts

“…Aquatic pollution of water bodies (e.g., seas, lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers) with certain environmental pollutant is considered a major jeopardy among the top list of environmental pollutants directly impacting aquatic creatures (Ghannam, 2021). Among these direct impacts, they can produce mortality, endocrine disruption, reproductive failure, skeletal deformities (Eissa et al, 2009) and immunodeficiency (Eissa et al, 2013).…”

Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals from Selected Fruits and Vegetables Sold in Dutse Ultra-Modern Market, Jigawa State

“…Heavy metal concentrations in fruits and vegetables and the impact they had on the soil were illustrated by the BSF in this study. the ratio of heavy metal concentrations in plants to those in their primary living environment is known as BAF [23][24][25][26][27]. Higher BAF values of greater than one for chromium and nickel indicate high heavy metal uptake in fruits and vegetables.…”