Comparative Geochemical Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollutants among the Mediterranean Deltaic Lakes Sediments (Edku, Burullus and Manzala), Egypt.

Abstract

The northern coastal-deltaic lakes (Edku, Burullus and Manzala) suffer from serious environmental pollution as they receive agricultural drainage, industrial wastewater as well as sewage effluents directly without any preliminary treatments. Investigation of heavy metals pollutants in coastal lake sediments shows a wide view about the state of pollution not only in the sediments but also in the water of the lakes. It also helps to carry out environmental assessment studies of these lakes in order to make a better management to control the pollution levels. The variation of concentrations in some heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd) with time is discussed and compared with the present work average values of these polluting heavy metals. Certain contamination indices such as the geoaccumulation index (Igeo), the degree of contamination, (DC) and the contamination factor (CF) are used to evaluate the environmental hazards of these lakes. The differences in pollution state among these major deltaic lakes are illustrated and its causes are discussed.