Relationship between heavy metals in mud sediments and beach soil of the River Nile

Abstract The chemical partitioning of selected inorganic ions was investigated in mud sediments taken from the bottom of the main stream of the River Nile by means of sediment sampler and beach soil samples collected from seven sectors (three subsamples from each location) between Aswan and Giza (Aswan, Qena, Sohag, Assiut, El Menya, Beni Suef, and Giza). The samples were analyzed by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results showed that iron and lead were found at levels higher in beach soil than in the river sediments at all sites except for iron in sediments of Aswan where the region was subjected to volcanic activities in the ancient geological eras (granites,........etc.). At some sites, some heavy-metal concentrations seemed to be higher in sediment than in beach soil as a result of weathering of beach soil by the effect of wind and currents of water. In other sites, sediment pollution by these metals might be attributed to inputs from industrial effluents and domestic wastewater drained directly into the Nile. Statistical analysis of data shows significant correlation coefficient values (r = up to 0.915).