Cycling of metals in desert soils: effects of Tamarix nilotica and inundation by lake water

Concentrations of Ca, Mg, K, Na, Cu, Zn, Al, Fe and Mn were measured in soils and in Tamarix nilotica from Wadi Allaqi on the shore of Lake Nasser in the Eastern Desert of Egypt. All of the elements were concentrated in the leaves of Tamarix relative to the stems and roots. Leaf:soil concentration ratios, used as an indicator of metal accumulation in the plant, showed high enrichment factors for Na (67.5), K (63.0) and Mg (35.0); of the trace elements measured, Zn had the highest enrichment factor (7.64). Comparison with other desert species suggested that Tamarix was exceptional only in the accumulation of sodium. Periodic inundation of the soil by Lake Nasser caused dilution and dispersion of the accumulated salts.     

Organochlorines and PCBs in Tilapia zillii from Lake El-Manzala,Egypt

Abstract

The mercury content has been determined in samples of fumarolic gases, phreatic waters, soil and vegetation collected at Vulcano, Aeolian Islands, Italy. Volcanic activity is demonstrated as a source of natural mercury pollution whose extent has been evaluated here by studying the contribution of different components of the surface environment. The possible influences for living organisms are examined.     

Organochlorines and PCBs in Tilapia zillii from Lake El-Manzala, Egypt

A freshwater fish species, Tilapia zillii, from Lake El-Manzala was analysed for concentrations of several organochlorine pesticides (OCs) and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) in liver, gonads, mesenteric fat, flesh, and digestive tract in mature fish during the breeding season. PCBs and OCs were calculated in ng g^-1 dry weight (dw) in homogenized samples. The obtained results revealed differences in lipid content between these different organs. The females showed a higher lipid content than did males. There was a significant positive correlation between the lipid content and the concentrations of detected organochlorines and PCBs. The results are concomitant with the lipophilicity of studied compounds. However, the recorded concentrations of these studied pollutants still do not exceed the international hazardous levels.     

Fractionation of Mn, Fe, Zn and Cu in Sediments of Khor Kalabsha, Lake Nasser, Egypt

Khor Kalabsha is the second largest Khor in Lake Nasser, which is a freshwater side-branch of the main lake. Chemical analysis of the samples indicates that calcium carbonate and organic matter content in the surface sediments average 17.8 and 3.07%, respectively. Moreover, manganese, iron, zinc and copper concentrations are lower in Khor Kalabsha than in other lakes of Egypt. It has been found that both oxides and residual forms constitute the major part of the measured elements in the study area, while manganese and iron play an important role in building up clay minerals. It is noted that both zinc and copper fractions are controlled by biological and biochemical processes.     

Vertical profiles of organochlorine pesticides in sediment core from Nile river and Manzala lake,Egypt

Residue levels of organochlorine pesticides (DDTs, HCHs, HCB and chlordane compounds) were determined in core samples collected from Nile River near by Cairo and Manzala Lake, Egypt in 1994. Regional difference and vertical profiles were discussed in view of historical reconstruction of environmental pollution by these chemicals. On the basis of estimated sedimentation rate (0.5 to 0.7 cm/year) in Manzala Lake, it seems that discharge of DDTs and CHLs into Egyptian environment increased rapidly from early 1960's and the maximum discharge was recorded in 1980's. However, concentration of HCHs increased continuously up to the present in spite of decreasing of DDTs and CHLs after 1980's. It was revealed that vertical profiles of organochlorine pesticides in sediment core from Manzala Lake are useful to estimate a temporal trend of pesticide use in Egypt.     

珠江三角洲地区典型菜地土壤与蔬菜重金属分布特征研究

通过对珠江三角洲地区的广州市、佛山市、江门市和惠州市典型菜地土壤和蔬菜中重金属（Pb、Cr、Cd、As和Hg）含量及其土壤中有效态（Pb、Cr、Cd）含量的调查,分析蔬菜重金属污染状况与土壤重金属含量的相关性,探讨了土壤重金属含量、有效态含量与土壤理化性质的相关性。结果表明,菜地土壤主要受Pb、Cd、Hg污染。Pb、Cd主要以轻度污染为主;而Hg污染在广州市菜地土壤以轻度污染和重度污染为主,佛山市菜地土壤以中度污染和重度污染为主,江门市和惠州市菜地土壤以轻度污染为主。蔬菜主要受Pb、Cd、Hg污染,少数蔬菜受到Cr污染,但并未检测出蔬菜受As污染。蔬菜中重金属含量与土壤中Pb、Cr、Cd的总量、有效态含量之间呈显著正相关关系,与土壤中As、Hg的总量无显著相关性。土壤中Pb、Cr含量与土壤有机质含量、黏粒含量、粉粒含量均达到显著相关。土壤中有效Pb与有效锰含量呈显著负相关关系,土壤中有效Cr含量与土壤粘粒含量、有效铁含量呈极显著正相关关系。     

Phosphorus in Sediments of Lake Edku, Egypt. The Influence of Chemical and Grain Size Parameters

Lake Edku is one of the Nile Delta shallow brackish water coastal lagoons with communications with the southeastern Mediterranean.

Sediment samples were recovered from the top 10 cm of the lake bottom to study principally their total, inorganic and organic phosphorus. Related sediment parameters such as particle size, organic carbon, carbonate and iron contents were also studied in detail.

It is shown that the lake sediments are generally a sand-silt-clay mud enriched with carbonate (11.4-42%), organic carbon (0.9-11.4%) and iron (1.6-5.6%).

The total phosphorus content in these sediments is 503-1329 μg/g, inorganic phosphorus, 468-954 μg/g and organic phosphorus, 35-526 μg/g.     

滇池水体磷的时空变化与藻类生长的关系

水体磷的时空变化与藻类生长的关系对研究水体富营养化具有十分重要的作用。采用GPS定位,对滇池海埂、斗南、罗家村、新街、昆阳等5个代表性位点监测断面水体总磷、可溶性磷及叶绿素a含量进行了为期1年（2003年5月至2004年5月）的动态研究,并在滇池海埂位点进行了日变化试验,全面分析了滇池不同区域、不同层次、不同时期水体总磷和可溶性磷的年变化、日变化及水体氮/磷比对藻类生长的影响。结果表明,滇池水体磷与藻类生长呈现显著的年变化和日变化特征,显示了滇池全湖水体总磷与叶绿素a周年变化呈显著正相关,水体可溶性磷与叶绿素a呈正相关趋势;海埂位点水体总磷与叶绿素a日变化呈显著正相关,水体可溶性磷与叶绿素a日变化呈显著的负相关,水体氮磷比与叶绿素a呈显著正相关。表明水体磷负荷对藻类生长影响呈现显著的水体区域性和水层差异性和季节性,藻类生长主要吸收水体中的可溶性磷,暗示了滇池水体磷是藻类生长的主要限制因子之一。