Seasonal Variation of Metallic Contamination of Water and Sediments in Navigation Canal and Industrial Zone South Port Said, Egypt

Abstract

In the present study, water and sediment samples were collected from Navigation Canal and from Industrial Zone South Port Said to assess heavy metals contamination. It was shown that, the highest mean concentration of heavy metals in water samples was observed in summer, and the lowest mean was observed in winter. It has been made evident that the industrialization in Industrial Zone South Port Said was responsible for the present deteriorating conditions. However, it was shown that, the highest mean concentration of heavy metals in sediment samples was observed in winter, and the lowest mean was observed in summer. Pollution status was evaluated using some indices: geo-accumulation index (Igeo), contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI) and ecological risk index (RI). Based on Igeo, all metal values were unpolluted. On the basis of the values of CF, sediments are high in winter and low in summer. Metals concentrations were in the following order: Ni > Fe > Mn > Pb > Cu > Zn > Co > Cd. According to CF classification, Ni contamination was considerable. RI of winter season can be classified as moderate pollution. No pollution was classified for PLI in all seasons. The decrease in PLI and RI values were indicated dilution and dispersion of metal content with increasing distance from source areas. It is suggested that PLI can give an indication about the trend spatially and temporarily. In addition, it also provides significant data and advice to the policy and decision makers on the contamination degree of the area.