Assessment of Some Heavy Metals in Ashtum El- Gamil Wetland, Northen-East of the Nile Delta Coast | ||||
| Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries | ||||
| Article 176, Volume 29, Issue 4, July and August 2025, Page 5203-5238 PDF (694.57 K) | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejabf.2025.446986 | ||||
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| Author | ||||
| Beheary et al. | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| This study was conducted to assess the concentrations of potentially harmful elements in various environmental matrices—water, sediments, aquatic plant species, fish, and a bird species—within the Ashtum El-Gamil Protectorate, a critical wetland ecosystem along the Egyptian Mediterranean coast. Physicochemical parameters and heavy metal concentrations in water samples were generally within the permissible limits established by the Egyptian Environmental Law No. 4/1994 (ECS, 1994), except for cadmium, which exceeded the permissible level at Site 2. Sediment analysis revealed the following order of heavy metal accumulation: Pb > Cd > Zn, indicating potential long-term contamination risks. Bioaccumulation patterns varied among the studied plant species. Typha domingensis and Halocnemum strobilaceum exhibited the same accumulation order: Cd > Zn > Pb, whereas Phragmites australis and Eichhornia crassipes showed Zn > Pb > Cd. In fish samples (Oreochromis niloticus), cadmium and lead were not detected, and zinc concentrations remained within acceptable safety limits, suggesting minimal risk to aquatic food chains at the time of sampling. In contrast, the Cape cormorant (Phalacrocorax capensis), used as a sentinel species, showed cadmium levels exceeding the World Health Organization (WHO) allowable limits, while zinc remained below the threshold, and lead was undetected in liver tissues. These findings highlight localized bioaccumulation of cadmium in top trophic-level organisms. It is worth noting that recent dredging and restoration activities were conducted in the lake to improve water circulation and habitat conditions. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the spatial distribution and ecological behavior of heavy metals in a sensitive wetland environment. The results underline the importance of regular monitoring and ecological risk assessment, particularly for higher trophic-level organisms, to support the sustainable management and conservation of protected wetland areas. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Aquatic ecosystems; Manzala wetland; Ashtum El-Gamil; Heavy metals; Pollution | ||||
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