Evaluation of heavy metal content in Qaroun Lake, El-Fayoum, Egypt. Part I: Bottom sediments

Abstract

Available online xxx Keywords:Qaroun Lake sediments Grain size Heavy metals Igeo Cf and Cd contamination indices a b s t r a c t This paper was undertaken in order to assess the extent of contamination in bottom sediments of Qaroun Lake, El-Fayoum, Egypt. Sediment samples were analyzed for grain size distribution and heavy metals concentration. Ten heavy metals were determined (in ppm) by X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry. The average concentration values in sediments are 2.99 (As), 124.89 (Cr), 38.91(Cu), 14.21 (Pb), 54.74 (Ni), 58.76 (Zn), 3.27 (Sn), 6.77 (Mo), 162.77 (V) and 11.70 (Co). Most of these metals are found with high concentrations in the eastern part of the lake, comparing with them in sediments of the central and western parts. The impact of drains effluents on the lake sediment-metals content is revealed. The dependence of concentrations on the sediment grain size is examined and high correlations between silt and clay-sized grains and the concentrations of Cr, Cu, Ni and Mo are deduced (R ranges from 0.61 to 0.73). Potential contamination of the lake is assessed using the contamination indicators, the geo-accumulation index, Igeo and contamination factor,Cf and the degree of contamination, Cd. Based on the obtained results, it is concluded that the lake sediments are found in contamination conditions. They are moderately contaminated with Cr, Mo, V and Co metals.

Geochronological and spatial distribution of heavy metal contamination in sediment from Lake Naivasha, Kenya

“…Table 5. Classes of pollution indices (adopted from El-Amier et al, 2017;El-Sayed et al, 2015;Zahra et al, 2014) and contamination categories of heavy metal in Lake Naivasha sediment based on Contamination Factor (CF), Enrichment Factor (EF) and Geoaccumulation Index (I geo given by Lake Naivasha Riparian Association (LNRA) during the survey period is also highly appreciated.…”

“…where, C metal is the total metal concentration and C background represents the average background value of the metal in sediment. The CF was then classified into four grades as given by Al-Mur et al (2017); El-Sayed et al (2015) and Sabo, Gani, and Ibrahim (2013). Another index that was used in determining the contamination level was I geo .…”

“…On the other hand, EF is a powerful tool that is useful in regional comparison of heavy metals in sediments (El-Amier, Elnaggar, & El-Alfy, 2017;El-Sayed et al, 2015). The EF is useful in assessing the chances of human influence on heavy metal concentrations in the sediment (Al-Mur et al, 2017).…”

“…Considering the studied metals, it was established that the lake is highly polluted with Zn, Mn Fe, and As where the range of enrichment factors (EFs) for As (1.5-1.9), Fe (1.7-1.9), Mn (2.0-3.5), and Zn (2.9-3.7) in all sites were found to be >1.5 (Table 5). According to El-Amier et al (2017);El-Sayed et al (2015) and Zahra et al (2014) EF values > 1.5 indicate that these metals have been impacted by anthropogenic input. The difference in EF values for metals along the profile may be due to varied concentration of input to the sediment depending on their source.…”

The comparison of selenium and lead accumulation between contaminated muddy and sandy sediments from four estuaries along the Persian Gulf: effect of grain size

“…Moore et al (2009) reported that that geoaccumulation index values were 4.5 for Pb in and 2.8 for Se in the Maharlu Aaline Lake, Iran. Geoaccumulation index values calculated 8.68 in East, 0.88 in central and 1.36 in West of Qaroun Lake sediments, Egypt, by El-Sayeda et al (2015). Also, the geoaccumulation index values for Pb were 2.02 in the southwest of Nigeria (Asibor et al 2015), and 3.42 for in the Gulf of Thailand (Jakkapan et al 2015).…”