GU Jia-wei 1,2, Alaa Salem3, WANG Can 2
（1. Department of Geography of Henan Institute of Education, Zhengzhou 450046, China；
2. State Key Laboratory for Estuarine and Coastal Science of East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China；
3. Geological Sciences Department of Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh 33516, Egypt）
Abstract: Lagoons of the Nile Delta are the vital aquacultural base for millions of Egyptian’s livelihood. The Aswan High Dam completed in 1964 has dramatically altered the eco-hydrological background of the delta coast. This study attempts to study the spatial and temporal distribution of heavy metals (Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) in terms of 6 short sediment cores recovered from the Manzala, Burullus and Edku lagoons of the Nile Delta. The results of this study show a high enrichment of heavy metals in the upper core sediments (<10-15 cm), implying the worsening environmental situation of the Nile Delta. The horse-saddle distribution pattern of polluted metals along the Nile coast shows two highs in the east (Manzala) and west (Edku) of the delta, and less pollution in the middle (Burullus). Statistical analyses and EF (Efficient Factor) of the six cores help to reveal that Manzala is characterized by the diagnostic metals of Mn, Pb, Zn and Cd due to connection to the Metropolitan City of Cairo, where petro-chemical industry is thought to be responsible for pollution sources. Although Burullus of central delta-coast is the least polluted one, however, Mn and Pb still imply the linkage to the local agricultural sources. Edku of western delta coast seems to be remote to any major pollution sources, but higher Mn, Pb, and Zn concentrations in the upper lake sediments suggest human influences from Alexandra to the west via littoral current.
Key words: Aswan High Dam; heavy metal contamination; lagoon; Nile Delta
EARTH AND ENVIRONMENT Vol. 42, No.2, Tot No.298, 2014, Page 129-137
