ABSTRACT

This study was undertaken to detect the bioaccumulation of different types of chemical pollutants (organochlorine and organophosphorus compounds) in fish musculature raised in culture facility filled with water of known polluted source. A total of 40 freshly caught Nile tilapia approximately within the same weight range, were collected from different fish farms in Lake Manzala during the summer season. Bioaccumulation analysis of fish musculature was performed using Gas chromatography-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) analysis. Results revealed the presence of harmful chemical pollutants such as biphenyl pesticides, herbicide phenols, organic pollutants, and hydrocarbons. Our findings revealed that fish can bio-accumulate many pollutants when raised in the polluted water source and these chemical pollutants not only affect fish health but it may impose public health concern to human as final consumers.

Keywords: chemical pollutants, fish, pesticides, Lake Manzala.