Assessment of the Contamination with Heavy Metal in Soil, Plant, and Insects in the Vicinity of Different 10th of Ramadan City Factories (Sharqeya, Egypt).

Terrestrial insects are used as bioindicators for heavy metal contaminants in different industrial areas. Therefore, the current work aims to study the accumulation of heavy metals (Manganese, Zinc, Copper, Iron, cadmium, and Lead) in Cataglyphis sp. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Zophosis sp. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), Alphitonus sp. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), and Pangaeus bilineatus (Hemiptera: cynidae), and in soil and Ficus macrocarpa leaves sampled from 10th of Ramadan city (Sharqeya, Egypt). Samples were taken at heavy (A) and medium industries (B) represented by three sites, and light industries (C) represented by two sites, while the control sites (D) were represented by two sites away from the industrial sites. The state of pollution and its intensity were evaluated by Enrichment factors (EFs), Bioaccumulation factor of sediment (BAF), and Pollution index (MPI), which showed a variable metallic polluted state. The highest concentrations of metals in soil and Ficus macrocarpa leaves were found in light industrial sites. Iron (Fe) and Zinc (Zn) were the most accumulated elements in the collected insects. A correlation between the level of metals was found in soil and insects. Our investigation showed that terrestrial insects showed patterns of site-specific metal accumulation and that insects belonging to Order: Hemiptera can accumulate more heavy metals than others.