ESTIMATION OF HEAVY METALS LEVELS IN NILE RIVER WATER, EGYPT

The aim of this study is to determine the heavy metals levels
(Cd, Cr, Cu, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn), in water samples collected
during the four seasons from different sites along the river Nile at
Shubra Khait region, El-Beheira Governorate and Kafr El-Zayat
region, El-Gharbia Governorate. The determination of metals levels
carried out by atomic absorption spectrometry. The recovery was
86.14±1.58% for Cd, 81.75±0.97% for Cr, 92.27±1.59% for Cu,
88.04±3.14 % for Fe, 82.15±1.58% for Mg, 81.43±1.82% for Mn,
78.61±2.31% for Ni, 89.10±1.98% for Pb and 85.24±3.17 % for Zn.
The mean concentrations of the heavy metals in water samples in two
sites at the Rosetta branch along the Nile River at Kafr El-zayat were
ranged between 0.15±1.05-0.99±1.02 μg/ml for Cd, ND-0.06±0.18
μg/ml for Cr, 0.14±1.39-0.24±1.51 μg/ml for Cu, 0.41±0.51-
5.84±0.39 μg/ml for Fe, 4.28±1.52-6.29±1.06 μg/ml for Mg, ND-
1.12±1.45 μg/ml for Mn, 0.16±1.24 -1.65±0.68μg/ml for Ni, ND-
0.35±1.32 μg/ml for Pb and 0.18±0.65-0.64 ±1.49 μg/ml for Zn
during all seasons for the two sites. Also, the mean concentrations of
the heavy metals in water samples collected from Nile River at the
Rosetta branch from two sites along the river at Shubra Khait region,
El-Beheira Governorate. ranged between 0.12±3.00-0.93±2.14 μg/ml
and the levels of Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn ranged between
0.04±1.11-0.13±1.97, 0.13±2.42-0.25±2.34, 1.14±1.93-5.61±1.99,
ESTIMATION OF HEAVY METALS LEVELS356
5.39±1.05-6.22±1.55,ND-0.16±1.95, 0.14±2.93-2.05±2.00, 0.01±2.06-
0.07±2.39 and 0.15±1.47-0.55±1.72 μg/ml, respectively.
Also, all water samples in El-Beheira and El-Gharbia
governorates had levels of Cd, Ni were higher than the maximum
permissible levels. On the other hand, according to the different
organizations such as, WHO, EU, ECS and EPA, the permissibe levels
are differentiate. For example, according to Egyptian Chemical
Standard all water samples had levels of Cr exceeded the maximum
permissible levels except water samples which collected during
summer season from the first site of Kafr El-Zayat region, but
according to other organization some samples below the permissible
limits and others excceded the limits.
Also, water samples had Fe levels higher than the permissible
levels of WHO. While according to the permissible levels of Fe from
Egyptian Chemical Standard all samples collected from the two sites
at Shubra Khait region were had higher concentrations of Fe excceded
the permissible limits. While samples collected from Kafr El-Zayat
region at the first site had Fe concentration excceded the permissible
levels during autumn and winter seasons and during summer and
autumn seasons at the second site.
According to the permissible levels of Mn in water
recommended by WHO samples were collected during spring and
autumn seasons in the first site in Kafr El-Zayat region were higher
than the permissible levels. While water samples had levels of Pb
exceeded the permissible levels according to WHO.
All water samples which collected during all seasons in the study
were had levels of Cu below the permissible levels according to
WHO, Eropian Union and Egyptian Chemical Standard and EPA.
Also, all water samples which collected during all seasons were had
levels of Zn below the permissible levels WHO, EPA and Egyptian
Chemical Standard.
According to WHO the permissible levels all water samples
contain Mg concentrations below the permissible levels.