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Kitchener drain is one of the largest drains in Nile Delta. It discharges water directly into Mediterranean Sea water affecting on the marine environment. Local population uses its water in irrigation and agriculture field along this drain. So it’s important to determine heavy metal content of agricultural soils used this water in irrigation process and assess the hazard and cancer risk on human health living in these areas. Six metals (Fe, Cd, Pb, Ni, Cr and Co) in total and available form were determined in eight geo-referenced soil samples. The order of these metals in soil was as follow; Ni > Cr > Fe > Pb > Cd > Co. The order of these metals in the available form take the sequence of; Fe > Ni > Pb > Cr > Cd > Co.  All mean concentrations of metals were exceeding the standard limits of EU, CSQG and AUEC except for cobalt. Mean values of enrichment factors of metals give an indication that the sources of these metals in the environment were from anthropogenic activities. PLI and DC showed considerable degree of contamination in sites 4 & 5. While it showed high degree of contamination in other sites. Hazard quotient from different exposure pathways namely; chemical daily intake (CDI), Dermal contact (DAD) and inhalation (ECinh) and hazard index calculations from metals within different sites were more than one, indicated that there is a chance of non-carcinogenic effects to occur. Also from these pathways, cancer risk (CR) was calculated, which exceed from dermal contact, followed by ingestion and finally from inhalation. Only CR of cobalt showed no risk in the study area when compared with other metals

Egypt faces a rapidly increasing deterioration of its surface water owing to the discharges of contaminated effluents. The present study focuses on assessing the levels of toxic heavy metals and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in water, sediments and Phragmites australis of freshwater and marine environments at Rosetta area. Fourteen sites were sampled including 4 sites within the marine environment and 10 sites distributed along the Rosetta River Nile. Potential sources of pollution were spatially assessed using remote sensing and geographic information system techniques. To quantify the environmental impact of metals on the aquatic system, metal index (MI) in freshwater, heavy metal pollution index, and ecological risk index (Er) in sediments as well as bioaccumulation factor (BAF) in P. australis were calculated. Remote sensing results showed that drainage canals (954.8 km), cultivations (1252.4 km 2) and urbanized zones (88.6 km 2) are the major sources of contamination in the studied area. Results of MI indicated that water of the Rosetta area was moderately affected by the metal pollution. Er values for metals in the investigated sites showed low potential ecological risk (< 40). High values of Er were observed in coastal marine water and the nearby estuary. OCPs in water and sediment samples were below the detection limits. Mean Ni and Co concentrations of metals in P. australis were higher than the critical limits of these ions. Results of BAF and regression analysis recommend using P. australis in remediation of metals from the aquatic system in such settings worldwide. The present study shows that using integrated remote sensing and chemical analyses could provide a regional and cost-effective assessment tool of environmental toxicity in fresh-saline water interface.

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