This study assesses the presence of microplastic litter in the contents of the gastrointestinal tract of 26 commercial and non-commercial fish species from four difference habitats sampled along the Saudi Arabian coast of the Red Sea. A total of 178 individual were examined for microplastics. In total, 26 microplastic fragments were found. Of these, 16 being films (61.5%) and 10 being fishing thread (38.5%). FTIR analysis revealed that the most abundant polymers were polypropylene and polyethylene. The grouper (Epinephelus spp.) sampled at Jazan registered the highest number of ingested microplastics. This fish species is benthic and feeds on benthic invertebrates. Although differences in the abundance of microplastic ingestion among species were not statistically significant, a significant change was observed when the level of ingestion of microplastics particles was compared among the habitats. The higher abundance of microplastics particles may be related to the habitats of fish and the presence of microplastics debris near the seabed. The results of this study represent a first evidence that microplastic pollution represents an emerging threat to Red Sea fishes, their food web and human consumers.

Alkylphenol polyethoxylates is a group of estrogenic compounds. Natural or synthetic types of these compounds react with the endocrine system by binding hormone receptors, resulting in interference with their action, which is why they are called endocrine disrupting chemicals. Among their hydrolytic products are nonylphenols (NP), which are considered pollutants of aquatic environments. The objective of this study was to evaluate the pathological alterations on liver tissue of fi sh exposed to these compounds for long durations, starting from beginning of life and during the period of sexual maturity. Tilapia fi sh were obtained from Abhur fi sh farms, reared in the laboratory in special basins, and divided into two groups. The fi rst maternal group was untreated and their larvae were divided into three sub-groups: control; exposed to 15µg/L; and exposed to 30 µg/L. The second maternal group was divided into 2 sub-groups: with larvae exposed to 15µg/L; and with their larvae exposed to 30 µg/L. Larvae and mother exposed to different concentrations of NP (15 and 30 µg/L) showed an increased accumulation of NP in both livers and muscles compared to the control group due to bioaccumulation. Tissue section examinations of the treated group (15 µg NP /L) showed disruption of liver architecture, with lyses, loss of nuclei, necrosis, and fatty infi ltration. The changes were more marked in tissues exposed to (30 µg NP /L). Although this pollution was not lethal, its effect may be refl ected in vital activities and in the economy.

In this study, the ground water from three different regions in Saudi Arabia; Hada El-Sham (G0), Om Al-Jood (G1) and El-Wazeria (G2) were tested to evaluate their suitability of using. For this purpose, the ground water were analysed and the physico-chemical characteristics were determined. The measured parameters were; pH, Total Dissolved Salts (TDS), Total Hardness (TH), Total Alkalinity (TA), cation (Na, K, Ca, Mg) and anion (NO3, SO4) concentrations. One hundred and currently from 21 day to six weeks broiler chicken were reared on the ground water of these locations and their morphometric measurements (body weight, feed and water consumption and feed assimilation) were recorded. From this study, it was noted that the ground water of G0 and G1 are very pure to be used in irrigation and drinking as they contain TDS less than 1100 ppm, whereas water of G2 cannot be used as the TDS value is 2650 ppm. However, the ground water of the three regions is not suitable for any kind of industry. Reared chicken in G0 were characterized by the highest growth rate despite of their lower rates of feed and water consumption. In G1, chicken had medium rates of growth and water consumption with higher rate of feed consumption. While chicken from G2 recorded the lowest growth rate and highest rate of water consumption due to the higher salt content of this water.

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