QUALITY OF RIVER NILE SEDIMENTS FROM IDFO TO CAIRO

QUALITY OF RIVER NILE SEDIMENTS FROM IDFO TO
CAIRO
AMAAL M. ABDEL-SATAR
National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries
Keywords: Nile sediment, Major cation, Exchangeable nutrient groups, Heavy metals.
ABSTRACT
Ten sediment samples from the main channel of River Nile beside four from the banks
were collected seasonally from Idfo to Cairo during autumn 2000 to summer 2001.
The present study focuses on the levels of heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Pb
and Cd) beside major cations (Na, K, Ca and Mg) in River Nile sediments and the
correlations between metal concentrations, sediment particle size, carbonate and organic
matter contents. The sediment samples were also analyzed for the exchangeable nutrient
groups.
The study revealed that the sand comprised more than 80% of the studied Nile
sediment. The exchangeable nutrient showed irregular seasonal trends and the
exchangeable phosphate (3.79-18.31 µg/g) recorded low levels compared with nitrate (2.4-
52.28 µg/g) and ammonia (27.90-595.5 µg/g).
The Nile sediments are slightly enriched with the major cations and the elevated
concentrations of heavy metals are often associated with the industrial pollution. Iron and
manganese oxides beside organic matter seem to be the principal carrier phases for most
studied heavy metals. Comparison of studied metals to freshwater sediment quality
guidelines was cited and discussed.