Exposure to heavy metals is an important environmental problem resulting from anthropogenic activities. Eighty fillet samples of Nile tilapia were collected for the evaluation of some heavy metals as Mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd), using atomic absorption flame, in muscle of fresh water fish Oreochromis niloticus from Menoufia province, Egypt, to assess its possible hazards on fish and consumers. A positive correlation between heavy metals concentration and the fish size was observed. The study results proved that the large size in wild and farmed tilapia samples have high heavy metal residues than those of the small size tilapia samples. In general, the examined samples of wild tilapia either small and large, contained higher mercury, lead and cadmium than those of farm tilapia. Heavy metal levels in our study exceed the maximum permissible limits recommended by Egypt and WHO in some fish samples.
Key words: Oreochromis niloticus, Mercury, lead, cadmium, Nile River
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