STUDIES ON THE DETERMINATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF SOME HEAVY METALS, RADIUM, AND RADON AT SOME POLLUTED SITES ALONG NILE VALLEY, EGYPT

Abstract

Water pollution is considered to be one of the most dangerous hazards affecting Egypt. Pollution in the Nile River system (main stem Nile, drains and canals) has increased in the last few decades The Nile is also a primary receptor of wastewater and irrigation return flow. The most polluted part of Nile is the part located between Cairo and Mediterranean Sea within the two branches of Nile, Damietta and Rosetta. Pollution may be derived from dust fall, erosion, chemical weathering or from decay of dead aquatic organisms. The pollution also may be derived from human activity as industrial and agricultural activities or from sewage and ship’s wastes.

Pollution load in the Nile system (Nile River, canals, and drains) has increased due to culture projects, new industrial projects and other activities along the Nile River. Consequently, quality of Nile water worsened dramatically in the past few years. It is anticipated that the dilution capacity of the Nile River system will diminish as the program to expand irrigated agriculture moves forward and the growth in industrial capacity increases the volume of pollutants discharged into the Nile. The major pollution sources of the Nile and main canals are effluents from agricultural drains and treated or partially treated industrial and municipal wastewaters, including oil and wastes from passenger and river boat. In the present study (17) samples were collected from different areas from the Nile River which contain (8) water, (5) drain water and (4) sediments sample.

Cations for water samples were present in the following order Na+ > Ca++ > K+ > Mg++ expect sample (Talkha area opposite Electricity Com.), El-Mansoura and sample Talkha (after Electricity Com.), El-Mansoura) where Mg++ > Na+ > Ca++ > K+ and Ca+ > Na+ > Mg+ > K+, respectively. Cations for drain samples were present in the following order Na+ > Ca++ > Mg++ > K+ except samples (Belbisdrain, Belbis and El-Monier drain, Belbis) where K+ > Mg++.

The main characteristic features of the studied water chemistry is the prevailing of anions in the order HCO3- > SO4-- > Cl- > CO3-- except sample (Ismailia canal (opposite of the Phosphate Com.), Abu Zaabal) and sample (Talkha (after Electricity Com.), El-Mansoura) where SO4- > HCO3- and SO4-- > Cl- > CO3-- > HCO3-.

Ion ratios and hydrochemical coefficients are calculated for studied water and drain samples. For all the collected samples from the study area, rNa/rCl ratio is higher than unity, reflecting its meteoric identity. The studied water and drain samples have values of rMg/rCl < 0.5 in Before Bayad El-Arab area, Beni Suef, After Bayad El-Arab area-Beni Suef, Talkha area (before Electricity Com.) El-Mansoura Tora Cement Company drain, Helwan El-Sahafa drain, Belbis, Belbis drain, Belbis, and El-Monier drain, Belbis which indicates low Mg and /or high Cl in these places. The collected samples showed that most the water samples opposite Bayad El-Arab area, Beni Suef, opposite Tora Cement area, Helwan, Ismailia canal (opposite of the phosphate com.), Abu Zaabal, Talkha area (opposite Electricity Com.), El-Mansoura and Talkha (after Electricity Com.), El-Mansoura are within the specifications of fresh water.

For the studied rCa/rMg ratios, most of samples are more than limit of rain water expect two samples Talkha area (opposite Electricity Com.), Sahafa drain, Belbis which indicate higher Mg than the others. The collected samples have rSO4/rCL > 1 except the samples El-Sahafa drain, Belbis, Belbisdrain, Belbis which reflecting Cl- enrichment may be