The current investigation aimed to assess water quality (physicochemical parameters) in three differing-water quality habitats at Nile Delta of Egypt, namely River Nile (Damietta Branch), Bahr Al Mallahah of Manzala Lake and an Agricultural Drain nearby Mansoura. Also, the study aimed to determine selected heavy metal elements (Zn, Fe, Mn, Cr, Cd, Ni, Pb, Co and Cu) in water, sediment as well as three teleost fish (Mugil cephalus, Oreochromis niloticus and Clarias gariepinus). Explored aquatic habitats varied greatly in physicochemical features and heavy metals burden. Comparing to the River Nile and Manzala Lake, the Agricultural Drain was dull and more turbid. Generally, the River Nile attained the lowest physicochemical gradient and heavy metals load. Unlike Manzala Lake and Agricultural Drain, the River Nile was oxygen-rich. Economic crops such as wheat and some vegetables such as onion and lattice were cultivated on the banks of the dirty drain. River Nile showed the highest water transparency and water depth. Heavy metal pollution was ordered as follows: sediment ˃ fish ˃ water. Heavy metals accumulation in fish was as follows: Manzala Lake ˃ Agricultural Drain ˃ River Nile. The level of Fe in water was ranked as follows: River Nile ˃ Manzala Lake ˃ Agricultural Drain. The amounts of Ni, Pb and Cd determined in water samples attained higher levels in the Agricultural Drain than in Manzala Lake and the River Nile. Similar trend was shown for the amounts of Fe, Cd, Pb and Zn in sediment. At the organ level, the accumulation tendency was ordered as follows: Liver ˃ Gill ˃ Gonad ˃ Muscle.

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