Trace metals in fish of economic interest from the west of Alexandria,Egypt

The concentration of some heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in the muscle, liver, and gills in eight fish species, Caranx crysos, Euthynnus alleferatus, Scomberomorus commerson, Sphyraena viridensis, Sargus sargus, Siganus rivulatus, Mugil species, and Sardinella aurita were collected seasonally from the Mediterranean Sea in the region of Alexandria. The highest concentrations of Cd, Cu, Fe, and Zn were measured in liver tissue, while gill tissue yielded the highest concentrations of Mn, Ni, and Pb. Muscle is the organ of poor accumulation factor for all metals under investigation. Concentration of cadmium in muscle in Mugil species exceeds the permissible limit in summer, while Siganus rivulatus exceeds it in the summer and autumn seasons. On the other hand, copper, nickel, lead, and zinc are still much lower than the permissible levels. The metal pollution index (MPI) for metals was studied, revealing that Siganus rivulatus, Mugil species and Sardinella aurita had the highest MPI. Provisional tolerable daily intake (PTDI) indicates that the concentration levels of Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the muscle of all fish species under investigation are much lower than recommended PTDI values, and accordingly there is no risk for the human consumption of these fish species.     

An application of a simple computer program for neutron activation analysis

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Impact of Climate Change on Possible Scenarios for Egyptian Agriculture in the Future

If no timely measures are taken to adapt Egyptian agriculture to possible climate warming, the effects may be negative and serious. Egypt appears to be particularly vulnerable to climate change because of its dependence on the Nile River as the primary water source, its large traditional agricultural base, and its long coastline, already undergoing both intensifying development and erosion. A simulation study characterized potential yield and water use efficiency decreases on two reference crops in the main agricultural regions with possible future climatic variation, even when the beneficial effects of increased CO₂ were taken into account. On-farm adaptation techniques which imply no additional cost to the agricultural system, did not compensate for the yield losses with the warmer climate or improve the crop water-use efficiency. Economic adjustments such as the improvement of the overall water-use efficiency of the agricultural system, soil drainage and conservation, land management, and crop alternatives are essential. If appropriate measures are taken, negative effects of climate change in agricultural production and other major resource sectors (water and land) may be lessened. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Use of environmental isotopes and hydrochemistry as indicators for the origin of groundwater resources in El Dabaa area,northwestern coastal zone of Egypt

The EI-Dabaa area is located on the northwestern coastal zone of Egypt and is considered to be one of the most important regions for land reclamation and agriculture. In addition, it has been selected as a potential site for constructing Egypt's first nuclear power plant.In April 1989, 14 groundwater samples were collected from the area as well as collecting samples from the Mediterranean sea and from local rainwater. These samples were subjected to chemical and environmental isotope analyses. The results of the analyses for stable isotopes (oxygen-18 and deuterium) indicate that the main recharge source of the groundwater in El-Dabaa is the local precipitation during the rainy season. Variation of the environmental tritium content as well as in the chemical composition of both major cations (Na,K,Ca,Mg) and major anions (Cl,SO₄,HCO₃) between different groundwaters in the studied area reflect the high degree of inhomogeneity of the aquifer and different recharging conditions due to permeability of the water bearing formation.The chemical water type of the El-Dabaa groundwater is sodium sulphate (Na₂SO₄) and the SAR values illustrate the suitability of these groundwaters for agricultural purposes.     

Tributyltin pollution in sediments from Alexandria's coastal areas

Presence of Tributyltin (TBT) in Alexandria's coastal water areas has been demonstrated by measuring concentrations of this compound. The TBT was measured in sediments from three docking areas namely: Western Harbour, Eastern Harbour and Abu Qir Bay. The sediment of those areas has been affected by marine traffic and other industrial activities. This is reflected by the distribution of TBT in the sediments nearby the shipyards in the three docking areas of the region where the average values of 258.6 ηg TBT/g for Western Harbour; 126.4 ηg TBT/g dw for Abu Qir Bay and 42.3 ηg TBT/g dw for the Eastern Harbour were recorded. This fact reflects the effect of industry and marine traffic on the marine environments of the Alexandria region.     

Sustainable Development and Environmental Impact Assessment in Egypt: Historical Assessment

The achievement of sustainable development demands the integration of environment and development. To achieve sustainable development requires a close collaboration and cooperation between environmentalists and the decision-makers. The evidence is that in developing countries (Egypt, as an example) the gap is widening rather than closing. Intensive research programs are needed, for instance in the field of sustainable development and urban environmental management, to narrow that gap. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has become a management tool for achieving acceptable forms of environmentally sound development and sustainability; at best it is proving nothing more than a permit to move a project ahead.It is recommended that indicators for sustainable development and their progress be fully monitored. Performance indicators should always be established, not only for project implementation, but also during and after the implementation process to make sure that all mitigation measures are satisfactorily implemented. This can be achieved by linking the license granting authority for action to the actual implementation of these measures. To secure the environmental sustainability of an environmental project, it is also important to have the EIA document as an integral part of the license application document, and to make it available to inspectors during their necessarily frequent inspection visits.     

Metal accumulation by three Tilapia spp. from some Egyptian inland waters

Five trace metals (Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn and Cd) were determined in different tissues and organs (muscle, liver, brain, gills, gonads and intestines) of some Tilapia spp. (Oreochromis spp. and Sarotherodon galilaues) collected from two Egyptian Lakes (Edku and Mariut, exposed to different types of pollutants), El-Umum Drain, and from the fishing farm El-Nozha Hydrodrome. Our results indicate that metal accumulation in different organs vary considerably between the same and among different Tilapia spp. There is a preferential accumulation of metals by different organs. Liver is a target organ for Cu accumulation, whereas the brain and flesh tissues clearly accumulate more levels of Zn than the other studied elements. Amongst the studied elements, Cd concentrations in the different organs are the lowest. It was found that edible parts of Tilapia spp. collected from Lake Mariut accumulate the highest levels of the studied elements (Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu for S. galilaues and Cd for Oreochromis niloticus), compared with those in the other studied areas. In general, the levels of Cd (0.0-0.11 ppm), Cu (0.25-1.85 ppm) and Zn (3.58-8.46 ppm) in the edible parts of studied fish cannot be considered as hazardous levels.     

Abstracts to forthcoming papers

Food is the major source of metal exposure for the nonsmoking general population. Food samples of plant and animal origin from Ismailia, Egypt, were analyzed for the content of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) using AAS. The Cr, Zn, and Cu concentrations were in the range of 1.7–249?µg?kg^?1 wet weight (ww), 2–66?mg?kg^?1?ww, and 0.5–3.46?mg?kg^?1?ww, respectively. The mean daily intake of Cr, Zn, and Cu was 28.9?µg day^?1, 8.55?mg day^?1, and 1.7?mg day^?1, respectively. The intake estimates are within the range of the recommended intake established internationally. Concentrations of Cd and Pb were in the range of 10–321?µg?kg^?1?ww and 31–1200?µg?kg^?1?ww, respectively. The weekly dietary intake for Cd and Pb (4.02 and 20.4?µg?kg^?1 b.w, respectively) is lower than the FAO/WHO PTWI. Bread is the foodstuff that provided the highest rate of Pb and Cd (62 and 46% of the daily intake) to adults in Ismailia city.     

Metal accumulation by three Tilapia spp. from some Egyptian inland waters

Five trace metals (Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn and Cd) were determined in different tissues and organs (muscle, liver, brain, gills, gonads and intestines) of some Tilapia spp. (Oreochromis spp. and Sarotherodon galilaues) collected from two Egyptian Lakes (Edku and Mariut, exposed to different types of pollutants), El-Umum Drain, and from the fishing farm El-Nozha Hydrodrome. Our results indicate that metal accumulation in different organs vary considerably between the same and among different Tilapia spp. There is a preferential accumulation of metals by different organs. Liver is a target organ for Cu accumulation, whereas the brain and flesh tissues clearly accumulate more levels of Zn than the other studied elements. Amongst the studied elements, Cd concentrations in the different organs are the lowest. It was found that edible parts of Tilapia spp. collected from Lake Mariut accumulate the highest levels of the studied elements (Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu for S. galilaues and Cd for Oreochromis niloticus), compared with those in the other studied areas. In general, the levels of Cd (0.0–0.11?ppm), Cu (0.25–1.85?ppm) and Zn (3.58–8.46?ppm) in the edible parts of studied fish cannot be considered as hazardous levels.