Impact of seasonal changes on the quality of water and fish from Abu Za’baal Lakes

Physicochemical characteristics and concentrations of some heavy metals of water and two fish species in Abu Za'baal lakes during the period from summer 2012 to spring 2013 were investigated. The physicochemical characteristics of water and fish were proved to be within the permissible levels during different seasons. However, heavy metals levels exceed the permissible limits in water samples, and also Pb in fish muscles. The concentrations of heavy metals were significantly higher in water and fish muscles during summer and the metal concentrations in water were present in the following order: Mn> Pb> Zn> Cu> Cd, while those of fish were found in the order of: Zn> Mn> Pb> Cu> Cd. Proximate composition of two fish species showed a significant variation (p<0.05) during different seasons. TVBN, TMA, TBA and TPC were under the permissible limits as acceptability for raw fish, moreover heavy metals in water and fish muscle did not exhibit any effect on proximate composition and physicochemical characteristics of fish muscles.