Water Physicochemical Properties and Metal Deposition in the Crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, and Sediments of Sharkia Province, Egypt, Under Water Pollution

Khater, Zeinab

doi:10.21608/ejabf.2024.375353

Water Physicochemical Properties and Metal Deposition in the Crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, and Sediments of Sharkia Province, Egypt, Under Water Pollution

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Zeinab Khater

10.21608/ejabf.2024.375353

Abstract

The uncontrolled release of domestic sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural fertilizers, pesticides, and heavy metals into the freshwater causes extensivedramatic problems to most of the aquatic creatures. Heavy metals cause a major problem since they are toxic and accumulate in the body organs. The crayfish, particularly Procambarus clarkii, can serve as effective bio-monitors for water pollution caused by heavy metals. This species acts as a bioindicator of water quality, contributing to the assessment of environmental health and sustainability. The experiment was performed at two sites in Sharkia Governorate (30.7° N, 31.63° E), Egypt. The physico-chemical parameters indicated that water transparency had the highest differences at site I compared to site II. However, no significant differences were detected in temperature, pH value, salinity, alkalinity, TDS, oxygen content, and carbon dioxide content. The analysis of atomic absorption showed the highest concentration estimated for arsenic (As) and the lowest for lead (Pb) in the water, sediment, and the crayfish’s muscle and hepatopancreas. Meanwhile, the differences between heavy metal concentrations in the sediment and the liver of P. clarkii from the current sites indicated that the highest differences were in arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd), while mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) were the lowest. Furthermore, the correlation between heavy metal concentrations in the water and crayfish muscle and hepatopancreas was the highest in Pb, while the lowest correlation was noticed in Hg. This investigation contributes significantly to heavy metal potential risk indexes of Muweis Canal at the two sampling sites, which are limited in the literature on the perceived value relevance of water and sediment quality. Potential counteractive health impact in such applications could be prevented if the water and sediment were sufficiently treated.

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