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Abstract The present study investigated the impact of three freshwater bivalves; namely, Caelatura aegyptiaca, Corbicula fluminea and Unio teretiusculus on the quality of fresh water. The investigations have been done through two categories: First; to evaluate the condition of water quality of the study area – Al-wasta Island on the River Nile – Assiut, Egypt, samples of water and sediment from the field have been taken and analyzed. Environmental parameters (Temperature of water, pH, Conductivity, total dissolved salts and dissolved oxygen) were measured in the Rive Nile before the beginning of the experiment. Some chemical parameters(The parameters included measures nutrients {(ammonia (NH4), nitrate (NO3), nitrite (NO2), and Ortho-phosphorus (O-Po4)} total organic carbon (TOC), total suspended solids (TSS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), Fluoride (F), sulfate (SO4), sulfide (S), alkalinity and phenol were measured in water of river Nile before the beginning of the experiments. Seven heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn and Cr) were determined in the water and sediment from the study area on the river Nile. Also samples of the three species studied have been collected from the River Nile and let to excrete their fecal pellets in Petri dishes in the laboratory for bacteriological test. Also seven heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn and Cr) were determined in the faces of these freshwater bivalves. The second category was the analysis of samples of water in which the three freshwater bivalves are living (aquaria) to determine the impact of these bivalves on water quality. Environmental parameters (temperature, pH, Conductivity, total dissolved salts, dissolved oxygen and salinity) were measured daily in the water in the all aquaria. Chemical parameters were measured daily in these water as ammonia and some of them measured weekly as {bromide (Br), chloride (CL), fluoride (F) nitrate (NO3), nitrite (NO2), phosphate (PO4) and sulfate (SO4). Also seven heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn and Cr) were detemiened in the tissues of the three freshwater bivalve studied; Caelatura aegyptiaca, Corbicula fluminea and Unio teretiusculus. The bioconcentration factors (BCF) of heavy metals in the tissues of the three freshwater bivalves studied; Caelatura aegyptiaca, Corbicula fluminea and Unio teretiusculus were determined. For most metals, a BCF value of less than 1.00 is considered normal. from the results obtained for the freshwater bivalve; Caelatura aegyptiaca it was observed that Pb, Cd, Fe, Cu and Zn have BCF values ranging from 0.23 to 0.68, which are considered normal since they are less than 1.00. Mn has BCF value of 1.88 and Cr has a 1.47 BCF value. All these values were considered too high when compared with the highest value of 1.00 expected for any metal Falusi et al., (2007). The high BCF values obtained for Pb, Cd, Fe, Cu and Zn therefore indicated that the metals were highly bioaccumulated and bio-magnified in the tissues. For the heavy metals in the tissues of Corbicula fluminea species it was observed that Cd, Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn have BCF values ranging from 0.08 to 0.64, which are considered normal since they are less than 1.00. Pb has BCF value of 1.37 and Cr has 1.56 BCF value. In the case of the freshwater species Unio teretiusculus, it was noticed that Pb, Cd, Fe, Cu and Zn have BCF values ranging from 0.17 to 0.32, which are considered normal since they are less than 1.00. Mn has BCF value of 1.72 and Cr has 1.25 BCF value. The high BCF values obtained for Pb, Cd, Fe, Cu and Zn therefore indicated that the metals were highly bioaccumulated and bio-magnified in the tissues. Cr has the highest BCF and was therefore, the most bio-magnified of all the metals studied in the tissues of the three freshwater species studied. The present study showed that the freshwater bivalve species, Corbicula fluminea was the most highly species among the other studied species in releasing anions such as (Nitrate, sulfate, phosphate and chloride) and ammonia around water. The same species also had the highest impact in changing the pH and salinity. The freshwater bivalves species; Corbicula fluminea also had the highest BCF value for heavy metals; (Pb, Fe and Cr). The freshwater bivalve species; Caelatura aegyptiaca had the highest impact in increasing some anions such as (Nitrite, bromide, fluoride). It should keep in mind that these adverse impacts of the above mentioned bivalve species on the water were noticed in the closed habitat in the laboratory, but in the Nile where these organisms are present, no such effect were recorded. This is due to the dilution effect of water. |