Ecological risk assessment of heavy metal pollution in sediments of Nile River, Egypt

The Nile River is the soul of Egypt, providing more than 95% of its freshwater demand. However, it receives different pollutants discharged into the water body along its stretch from Aswan (downstream of the High Dam) to Cairo, which is approximately 950 km. Alternatively, sediments play an importan...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental monitoring and assessment 2021-11, Vol.193 (11), Article 703
Main Authors: Goher, Mohamed E., Mangood, Ahmed H., Mousa, Ibrahim E., Salem, Salem G., Hussein, Manar M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aquatic environment
Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution
Cadmium
Copper
Earth and Environmental Science
Ecological effects
Ecological risk assessment
Ecology
Ecotoxicology
Environment
Environmental Management
Environmental monitoring
Environmental science
Fluvial sediments
Freshwater
Health risks
Heavy metals
Inland water environment
Manganese
Metal concentrations
Monitoring/Environmental Analysis
Nickel
Pollutants
Pollution sources
Quality assessment
Quotients
Risk assessment
River sediments
Rivers
Sediment
Sediment pollution
Sediments
Water bodies
Water pollution
Zinc
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Summary:The Nile River is the soul of Egypt, providing more than 95% of its freshwater demand. However, it receives different pollutants discharged into the water body along its stretch from Aswan (downstream of the High Dam) to Cairo, which is approximately 950 km. Alternatively, sediments play an important role in the dynamics of the entire aquatic environment and act as a sink or a source of pollution in the overlying water under various conditions. This study assessed sediment quality and its heavy metal levels. Several indices and human health risks were determined to assess the potential ecological risk of the Nile River sediment. On the basis of the index results, Cd registered the highest pollution ranking, whereas Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, and Ni had the lowest effect. In another context, southern sites represented the lowest ecological risk relative to the central and northern sectors. The results of the noncarcinogenic hazard indices, hazard quotient, and hazard index in addition to the lifetime cancer risk were below the acceptable international limits, confirming that there are no adverse effects on the exposed population due to the Nile sediment.
ISSN:0167-6369
1573-2959
DOI:10.1007/s10661-021-09459-3