Bioaccumulation of Some Heavy Metals in Chrysichthys rueppelli Collected from El-Bagouria Canal at El-Menoufia Governorate, Egypt.

The present study was aimed to determine the concentrations of some heavy metals in the sediment of different sites in El-Bagouria Canal at El-Menoufia Governorate during the year from autumn, 2019 to summer, 2020. Sediment and fish (Chrysichthys rueppelli) samples were collected seasonally during the study period.  
The present study exhibited that, all studied metals were showed a higher level in the sediment during the cold weather (autumn and winter) except lead and zinc. Results indicated differences in some heavy metal accumulations in different tissues of studied fish, Chrysichthys rueppelli with an increasing rate in the liver during autumn and winter. Furthermore, gonads showed a higher level of Mn and Zn during autumn and winter. The correlation coefficient of some heavy metals between sediment and target organs indicated this, a strong positive correlation between zinc concentrations in sediment and liver. However, there is a negative correlation between all studied heavy metals concentrations in the sediment and muscles.
The data revealed that the highest values ​​of the biosedimentation factor were observed during the winter except for manganese which increased in the spring, with an aspect for all equal to or greater than 1 (BSAF≥1). This means that there is almost predangerous bioaccumulation of these metals in fish. This could be attributed to the content of metals in the substrate.
The increasing rates of biosedimentation factors in the target organs indicate the high risk to fish health and human consumption. So, the present study shows that more of precautionary measures must be taken to reduce heavy metal pollution in the future.