The current investigation aimed to assess water quality (physicochemical parameters)
in three differing-water quality habitats at Nile Delta of Egypt, namely River Nile
(Damietta Branch), Bahr Al Mallahah of Manzala Lake and an Agricultural Drain
nearby Mansoura. Also, the study aimed to determine selected heavy metal elements
(Zn, Fe, Mn, Cr, Cd, Ni, Pb, Co and Cu) in water, sediment as well as three teleost fish
(Mugil cephalus, Oreochromis niloticus and Clarias gariepinus). Explored aquatic
habitats varied greatly in physicochemical features and heavy metals burden.
Comparing to the River Nile and Manzala Lake, the Agricultural Drain was dull and
more turbid. Generally, the River Nile attained the lowest physicochemical gradient
and heavy metals load. Unlike Manzala Lake and Agricultural Drain, the River Nile
was oxygen-rich. Economic crops such as wheat and some vegetables such as onion
and lattice were cultivated on the banks of the dirty drain. River Nile showed the
highest water transparency and water depth. Heavy metal pollution was ordered as
follows: sediment ˃ fish ˃ water. Heavy metals accumulation in fish was as follows:
Manzala Lake ˃ Agricultural Drain ˃ River Nile. The level of Fe in water was ranked
as follows: River Nile ˃ Manzala Lake ˃ Agricultural Drain. The amounts of Ni, Pb
and Cd determined in water samples attained higher levels in the Agricultural Drain
than in Manzala Lake and the River Nile. Similar trend was shown for the amounts of
Fe, Cd, Pb and Zn in sediment. At the organ level, the accumulation tendency was
ordered as follows: Liver ˃ Gill ˃ Gonad ˃ Muscle.