ROLE OF PALM-DATE PITS IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OF OREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS FROM HEAVY METAL POLLUTANTS
Nabela I. El-Sharkawy and *El-Nobi G. Ahmed
Dept.of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology and *Dept. of Fish Diseases & Management,
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt.
Received 15/ 5/ 2010 Accepted 29/ 6/ 2010
Abstract
Oreochromis niloticus exposed to a mixture of copper, lead and cadmium alone or in combination with either crushed raw palm-date pits or its chemically activated carbon for one month. The obtained results revealed that, heavy metals had adverse effects on health of exposed Oreochromis niloticus. Significant removal of copper, lead and cadmium concentrations onto the crushed raw palm-date pits and its chemically activated carbon from both water and exposed Oreochromis niloticus concomitant with amelioration of their adverse effects. The crushed raw palm-date pits were an inexpensive solid adsorbent compared to chemically activated one.
Key words: Palm-date pits – environmental protection – Oreochromis
niloticus –
heavy metal pollutants.