Geochemical assessment of heavy metals pollution and ecological risk in the Nile Delta coastal sediments, Egypt

الملخص EN

A geochemical assessment of the heavy metals was carried out in the coastal sediments of the Nile Delta.

The objective of the assessment was to evaluate the spatial distribution pattern of heavy metals and their ecological risks in the sediments of surf, breaker and offshore zones.

Twenty nine samples were collected from six transects at different depths and distances from the shoreline.

The assessment revealed that the average concentrations of Al, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and V were lower than the world average values, whereas the average concentrations of Cd, Co, Cr, Mo, Ni, Zn and U were higher than the world average.

Very high degree of contamination with Mo and Cd was detected at the breaker and surf zones of the eastern transect of El-Burullus with values averaging 83.16 and 70.26, respectively which is attributed to the very high contamination factors of Mo and Cd.

Pollution load index values showed that the transects of the western part of El-Burullus and Rosetta are generally more contaminated than the eastern part.

Very high risk index and elevated potential ecological risk factors were detected and attributed to Cd contamination at the offshore zone of the western transects of Rosetta and El-Burullus.

The grain size and heavy metals distribution was controlled by beach erosion and accretion, depositional energy, source of sediments and human activities.