Bioaccumulation profiles of heavy metals in fish collected from Rosetta branch of Nile River, Egypt: A case study for organ's responsibility

Abstract

The accumulation patterns in organs of tilapia and catfish collected from 4 locations: Alqam, Shabour, Shobrakhite and Edfina from Rosetta branch of Nile River, Egypt during summer and winter 2018/2019 were assessed. Seven metals: Zinc (Zn), Cadmium (Cd), Lead (Pb), Ferrous (Fe), Nickel (Ni), Copper (Cu) and Manganese (Mn) were determined on Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) instrument. In water, Fe exhibited the greatest proportions, followed by Zn. But Cd and Ni exhibited the least values. Significant differences (P<0.05) were obtained in metal accumulation in organs, where liver and kidney exhibited the great concentrations, but muscles and gills exhibited the least uptake patterns. Bioconcentration factor (BCF) in tilapia were greater than catfish in the following order: Kidney> liver> gills> muscles. Cd exhibited the order in tilapia: kidney> liver> gills> muscles with BCF values: 11.72, 1.92, 1.87 and 0.85, respectively. Low BCF values were noticed for Mn, where it ranged from 0.04 to 0.54 in the above organs. Such these accumulations may induce adverse effects in fish along physiological status and their susceptibility to disease's infection. Also, may provide alarming signs for fish consumers in these regions.