Skip to main content

Trace element occurrence and distribution problems in the irrigation water at El-Minia district, north upper Egypt

Arabian Journal of Geosciences volume 12, Article number: 582 (2019) Cite this article

Abstract

Water pollution by trace elements is a global problem, especially in developing countries. To understand the complex behavior of trace elements dynamics in aquatic systems, 45 water samples were collected from River Nile, Bahr Youssefi canal, El Ibrahemia canal, El Sabakha canal, and El Moheet drain at El-Minia district in northern Upper Egypt. The detected heavy metals were B, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Co, Hg, Ni, Al, Pb, Cd, Cr, Se, and As. Also, the samples were subjected to other water quality parameter measurements such as dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), alkalinity, oil and grease, cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, and K+), anions (HCO3−, SO42−, and Cl−), and minor constituents (NH4, NO3, and PO4). Overall, the irrigation water in El-Minia district is principally affected by the agricultural, industrial, and sewage input.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price includes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

References

  • Abou Heleika MM, Niesner E (2009) Configuration of the limestone aquifers in the central part of Egypt using electrical measurements. Hydrogeol J 17(2):433–446

    Google Scholar 

  • Al-Farawati R, van den Berg CMG (1999) Metal-sulfide complexation in seawater. Mar Chem 63:331–352

    Google Scholar 

  • APHA (1998) Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, 20th edn. American Public Health Association (APHA), American Water Works Association (AWWA), and Water Pollution Control Federation (WPCF), New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Ayers RS, Westcot DW (1985) Water quality for agriculture, FAO irrigation and drainage paper 29 rev 1. FAO, UN, Rome 174 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Balistrieri LS, Murray JW, Paul B (1992a) The cycling of iron and manganese in the water column of Lake Sammamish, Washington. Limnol Oceanogr 37(3):510–528

    Google Scholar 

  • Balistrieri LS, Muray JW, Paul B (1992b) The biogeochemical cycling of trace metals in the water column of Lake Sammamish, Washington; response to seasonally anoxic conditions. Limnol Oceanogr 37:529–548

    Google Scholar 

  • Balistrieri LS, Murray JW, Paul B (1994) The geochemical cycling of trace elements in a biogenic meromictic lake. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 58(19):3993–4008

    Google Scholar 

  • Berkowitz B, Dror I, Yaron B (2014) Contaminant geochemistry, interactions and transport in the subsurface environment, 2nd edn. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, p 577. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-54777-5

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Buffle J, De Vitre RR, Perret D, Leppard GG (1989) Physicochemical characteristics of a colloidal iron phosphate species formed at the oxic-anoxic interface of a eutrophic lake. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 53:399–408

    Google Scholar 

  • Catts JG, Langmuir D (1986) Adsorption of Cu, Pb, and Zn by SMn4: applicability of the site binding surface complexation model. Appl Geochem 1:255–264

    Google Scholar 

  • Chadwell SJ, Rickard D, Luther GW (1999) Electrochemical evidence for pentasulfide complexes with Mn2+, Fe2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+. Aquat Geochem 5:29–57

    Google Scholar 

  • Davison W (1993) Iron and manganese in lakes. Earth Sci Rev 34:119–163

    Google Scholar 

  • Davison W, Grime GW, Woof C (1992) Characterization of lacustrine iron sulfide particles with proton induced X-ray emission. Limnol Oceanogr 37:1770–1777

    Google Scholar 

  • Decree of Health Ministry (No.458) (2007) Egyptian standards for drinking water and domestic uses (in Arabic Lang.)

  • El-Kashouty M (2012) The hydrogeochemical evolution and modeling of the Quaternary aquifer west of the River Nile, El Minia district. Arab J Geosci 5:617–635

    Google Scholar 

  • Giggenbach W (1972) Optical spectra and equilibrium distribution of polysulfide ions in aqueous solution at 20 °C. Inorg Chem 6:1201–1207

    Google Scholar 

  • Hawkes SJ (1997) What is a heavy metal? J Chem Educ 74:1374

    Google Scholar 

  • Holland HD (1984) The chemical evolution of the atmosphere and oceans. Princeton University Press, Princeton, p 582

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang Q, Shindo H (2000) Effects of copper on the activity and kinetics of free and immobilized acid phosphatase. Soil Biol Biochem 32:1885–1892

    Google Scholar 

  • Huerta-Diaz MA, Morse JW (1992) The pyritization of trace metals in anoxic marine sediments. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 56:2681–2702

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs L, Emerson S (1982) Trace metal solubility in an anoxic fjord. Earth Planet Sci Lett 60:237–252

    Google Scholar 

  • Janetti EB, Dror I, Riva M, Guadagnini A, Sanchez-Vila X, Berkowitz B (2013) Mobility and interaction of heavy metals in a natural soil. Transp Porous Med 97:295–315

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamel AK (2012) Hydrochemical evaluation of the water sources in Minia district, Egypt. M.Sc. of Geology, Faculty of Science, Minia University, Minia 120 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Korany E (1984) Statistical approach in the assessment of the geohydrologic profiles. 9th International Congress. Statistics, Computer. Sciences. Social and Demerges Research, Cairo, Ain Shams University Press, Egypt, p 161–176

  • Korany E, Sakr S, Darwish M, Morsy S (2006) Hydrogeologic modeling for the assessment of contimnuous rise of groundwater levels in the quaternary aquifer, Nile valley, Egypt: case study. In: International conference of geology of the Arab world (GAW8). Cairo University, pp 703–711

  • Korany E, Sakr S, Darwish M, Morsy S (2008) Hydrogeologic modeling for the assessment of continuous rise of groundwater levels in the quaternary aquifer, Nile Valley, Egypt: case study. In: International Conference Geological Arab World (Gaw8). Cairo University, Giza, pp 703–711

    Google Scholar 

  • Landing WM, Westerlund S (1988) The solution chemistry of iron(II) in Framvaren Fjord. Mar Chem 23:329–343

    Google Scholar 

  • Maurice PA, Cabaniss SE, Drummond J, Ito E (2002) Hydrogeochemical controls on the variations in chemical characteristics of natural organic matter at a small freshwater wetland. Chem Geol 187:59–77

    Google Scholar 

  • Mohan D, Pittman CU Jr (2006) Activated carbons and low cost adsorbents for remediation of tri- and hexavalent chromium from water. A review. J Hazard Mater B137:762–811

    Google Scholar 

  • Morse J, Arakaki T (1993) Adsorption and coprecipitation of divalent metals with mackinawite (FeS). Geochim Cosmochim Acta 57:3635–3640

    Google Scholar 

  • Morse JW, Millero JM, Cornwell JC, Rickard D (1987) The chemistry of the hydrogen sulfide and iron sulfide systems in natural waters. Earth Sci Rev 24:1–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Murray JW (1987) Mechanisms controlling the distribution of trace elements in oceans and lakes. In sources and fates of aquatic pollutants. Adv Chem 216(6):153–184

    Google Scholar 

  • Pierce ML, Mwre CB (1982) Adsorption of arsenite and arsenate on amorphous iron hydroxide. Water Res 6:1247–1253

    Google Scholar 

  • Pullin MJ, Cabaniss SE (2003) The effects of pH, ionic strength, and iron–fulvic acid interactions on the kinetics of nonphotochemical iron transformations: I. Iron(II) oxidation and iron(III) colloid formation. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 67(21):4067–4077

    Google Scholar 

  • Pyzik AJ, Sommer SE (1981) Sedimentary iron monosulfides: kinetics and mechanism of formation. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 45:687–698

    Google Scholar 

  • Said R (1981) Geological evaluation of the Nile. Springer-Verlag, NY, p 151

  • Sanad EY (2010) Geophysical and hydrogeological studies for evaluation the groundwater potentiality in the reclaimed area, west Minia district, Egypt. Department. of Geology, Faculty of Science, Minia University, Minia 178 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Senn A, Kaegi R, Hug SJ, Hering JG, Mangold S, Voegelin A (2017) Effect of aging on the structure and phosphate retention of Fe (III)-precipitates formed by Fe (II) oxidation in water. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 202:341–360

    Google Scholar 

  • Snousy MG, Rashad AM, Ebiad MA,Helmy HM, Abd El Bassier MA (2018) Lead and Associated Micropollutant Propagations in the North Suez Gulf, Egypt. Int J Environ Res 12(3):357–371

    Google Scholar 

  • Snousy MG, Zawrah MF, Abdel-Moghny T, Ebiad MA, Rashad AM, Khalil MM, El Ella EMA, El-Sayed E, Tantawy MA (2017) Mobility and fate of pollutants in the aquifer system of the northwestern Suez Gulf, Egypt. Rev Environ Contam Toxicol 240:169–195

    Google Scholar 

  • Stumm W, Morgan JJ (1981) Aquatic chemistry, 2nd edn. Wiley, Hoboken

    Google Scholar 

  • Taillefert M, Lienemann CP, Gaillard JF, Perret D (2000) Speciation, reactivity, and cycling of Fe and Pb in a meromictic lake. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 64:169–183

    Google Scholar 

  • Taillefert M, MacGregor BJ, Gaillard JF, Lienemann CP, Perret D, Stahl DA (2002) Evidence for a dynamic cycle between Mn and Co in the water column of a stratified lake. Environ Sci Technol 36:468–476

    Google Scholar 

  • Theberge SM, Luther GW, Farrenkopf AM (1997) On the existence of free and metal complexed sulfide in the Arabian Sea and its OMZ. Deep Sea Res 44:1381–1390

    Google Scholar 

  • Town RM, Filella M (2002) Size fractionation of trace metal species in freshwaters: implications for understanding their behaviour and fate: metal size fractionation and speciation. Rev Environ Sci Biotechnol 1(4):277–297

    Google Scholar 

  • Visscher PT, Nijburg JW, van Gemerden H (1990) Polysulfide utilization by Thiocapsa roseopersicina. Arch Microbiol 155:75–81

    Google Scholar 

  • WHO (ed) (2011) Guidelines for drinking-water quality, 4th edn. WHO (World Health Organization), Geneva, p 541 ISBN 9789241548151

    Google Scholar 

  • Zaki R, El Bakry A, El Shemi A, Fanous FA (2001) Petrography and geochemistry of the Eocene limestone units, east El Minia district, North Upper Egypt. 5th International Conference on Geochemistry, Alexandria University, Egypt. II:113–148

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors appreciate the Staff Member of the Central Health Laboratories, Abdein, Cairo, Egypt, for their help during analyses.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Egyptian Petroleum Sector, Petrotrade Co, 1Anwar Al Moftty Street, Abbas El Akkad Street, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt

    Moustafa Gamal Snousy

  2. Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Minia University, P.O. Box 61519, El-Minia, Egypt

    Esam Ismail & Rafat Zaki

Authors
  1. Moustafa Gamal Snousy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Esam Ismail
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Rafat Zaki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Moustafa Gamal Snousy.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

This article is part of the Topical Collection on New Advances and Research Results on the Geology of Africa

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Snousy, M.G., Ismail, E. & Zaki, R. Trace element occurrence and distribution problems in the irrigation water at El-Minia district, north upper Egypt. Arab J Geosci 12, 582 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-019-4771-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-019-4771-8

Keywords

  • Water resources
  • Water quality
  • Health risk
  • Heavy metals
  • Pollution
  • Upper Egypt