Organochlorine pesticides and trace metals contamination in some marketable fish in Egypt

Organochlorine pesticides and trace metals contamination in some
marketable fish in Egypt
Nahed S. Gad

National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Al-Khanater Al-Khairya Fish Research Station ,
Cairo, Egypt.
Received 5th August 2010, Accepted 12th October 2010
Abstract
The existence and distribution of some organochlorine pesticides (OC) and trace metals , in muscles of
popular marketable fish in Egypt (Oreochromis niloticus , Bagrus bagad and Mormyrus niloticus ) from four
selected governorates (Helwan , El- Giza , Cairo and El Qalubia) were determined, during winter (January) 2010 .
The data indicated that the number of detected pesticides varied according to fish species and the location . In
general, the pesticides residue abundances showed in fish muscles in the following order : Bagrus bagad >Tilapia
niloticus > Mormyrus niloticus . The highest number of pesticides was found in fish muscles from El- Qalubia
governorate and the lowest found in fish muscles from Cairo governorate. The detected organochlorine pesticides
were below the maximum permissible limits with few exceptions . The results of trace metals indicated that trace
metals in muscles of studied fish present in the following order : Zn > Hg > Ni > Fe > Pb > Mn > Cd . The
accumulation of heavy metals in fish muscles was found in the following order : Bagrus bagad > Mormyrus
niloticus > Tilapia niloticus . Copper and Manganese concentrations in fish muscles were below the permissible
limits , whereas the other metals (Zn ,Hg, Ni, Fe Pb and Cd) exceeding the permissible limits. We can concluded
that fish muscles from marketable fish from the studied governorates were contaminated with relatively low
levels of pesticides and high levels of trace metals and should pose a health risk to consumers. A recommendation
and suggestions to intensive plan for monitoring water quality of River Nile regionally and seasonally . Strict
application of the legislations concerning the protection of the River Nile and the environment, according to the
laws 48/1982 and 4/1994.
Keywords: Organochlorine pesticides, Trace metals, Contamination, Marketable fish. Egypt