Distribution of heavy metal residues in fish from the River Nile tributaries in Egypt.

The distribution patterns of some metals (zinc, iron, copper, cadmium and lead) in fish samples collected from El Menofiya Governorate, Egypt were studied. The samples were collected from El Menofiya, canal water supplies (El Sarsawia, El Bagoria and Bahr Shebin), in addition to El Embaby, El Menofi and Miet Rabiha drainage canals each 2 month during periods of 16 month, June 2007-Septemper 2008. In the present investigation, the high concentrations of metals were found in fish samples collected from the drainage canal. The highest mean concentration of lead (1.864 μg/g), copper (1.495 μg/g) and cadmium (1.840 μg/g) were found in fish samples collected from El-Embaby drain. While the highest mean concentration of iron (108.26 μg/g) and zinc (24.35 μg/g) were present in fish samples collected from Miet-Rabiha drain. Lead and cadmium were found in higher concentration than those recommended by FAO for fish.