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Metals in a northern Nile Delta lake: water, suspended particulates, sediments, and biota

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Abstract

Lake Edku is one of the important fishing areas in the Nile Delta. It is exposed to different quantities of serious pollutants in particular metals. To overall appraise the risk and status of metals in the lake, a comprehensive study of total concentrations of cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn) in sediments and spatial-temporal variations of these metals in the dissolved and suspended particulates, and some tissues of Tilapias niloticus, was conducted from ten sampling sites during 2016. Results showed that none of the investigated metals exceeded the limits considered as hazardous for aquatic life in water. The highest concentrations of Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn were observed in suspended particulate matter, which may precipitate on the surface of the sediments. Potential ecological risk analysis of the majority of the investigated metals in the sediment indicated that Lake Edku posed a low ecological risk. The estimated values of all metals in tissues of Tilapia niloticus were below the international permissible limits. Moreover, the potential risk of metals to human via the consumption of Tilapia niloticus was estimated using the weekly intake levels, which was lower than the WHO’s safe provisional tolerant weekly intake levels. These results prove the importance of performing measurements of contaminants in various compartments of Lake Ecosystem including sediment, biota, and suspended particulate matter for proper management.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Marine Chemistry Department, National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Alexandria, Egypt

    Mohamed A. Okbah & Ahmed M. Abdelhalim

  2. Marine Science Department, Faculty of Science, Port Said University, Port Said, Egypt

    Mohamed A. Abu El-Regal & Mohammed E. M. Nassar

  3. Department of Environmental Studies, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

    Naglaa F. Soliman

  4. Technology Management Department, Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST), P.O. Box 179, New Borg El-Arab City, Alexandria, 21934, Egypt

    Naglaa F. Soliman

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  1. Mohamed A. Okbah
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  2. Ahmed M. Abdelhalim
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  3. Mohamed A. Abu El-Regal
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  4. Naglaa F. Soliman
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  5. Mohammed E. M. Nassar
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Correspondence to Naglaa F. Soliman.

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Okbah, M.A., Abdelhalim, A.M., Abu El-Regal, M.A. et al. Metals in a northern Nile Delta lake: water, suspended particulates, sediments, and biota. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 33967–33977 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-3337-8

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