To evaluate the organochlorine pesticide
(OCP) contamination of Manzala Lake, its ecosystem
was investigated during the winter season (December
to March). The studied ecosystem components were
water, sediment, aquatic weeds, and fishes in four
locations. The samples were analyzed by gas chromatography
with electron capture detector. Pollutant
levels of total OCPs showed significantly high levels
in the water areas of Round road (46.253 ng/ml), Port-
Said Damietta road (19.301 ng/ml), followed by
Bughas El-Rasoah (5.539 ng/ml), then Ashtoum El
Gamel (natural reserve area now) (0.289 ng/ml). Organochlorines
were detected in sediment only in
Round road (3.359 μg/kg) and Port-Said Damietta road
(0.171 μg/kg) by significant order while they were
undetectable in Ashtoum El Gamel and Bughas El-
Rasoah. Total OCPs in aquatic weeds ranged between
0.194 μg/kg in Port-Said Damietta and 0.026 μg/kg in
Ashtoum El Gamel. While OCPs were 0.160 and
0.153 μg/kg in Round road and Bughas El-Rasoah,
respectively. Concerning fish muscles OCPs were significantly
higher in the Round road area (0.397 μg/kg)
followed by the Port-Said Damietta road (0.258 μg/kg),
and finally, Ashtoum El Gamel samples (0.126 μg/kg).
The results revealed the direct relation for the accumulation
of OCPs between studied ecosystem parameters
at the Manzala Lake during the winter season. Results
also demonstrated that fish samples collected from the
Manzala Lake in the studied areas were contaminated
with levels of organochlorines, not higher than the
maximum permissible level recorded by FAO/WHO,
and that the public is not at risk with fish consumption.
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