Physics and Geology Lab., Freshwater and Lakes Division, National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, 101 Kaser El Aini Street, Cairo, 11516, Egypt.
Chemistry Lab., Freshwater and Lakes Division, National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Cairo, Egypt.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2024 Apr;31(18):26855-26879. doi: 10.1007/s11356-024-32672-9. Epub 2024 Mar 8.
In the twenty-first century, numerous forms of pollution have adversely impacted freshwater and the entire aquatic ecosystem. The higher population density in urban areas also contributes to increased releases of substances and thermal contaminants, significantly stressing the ecosystem of industrial companies. This study aimed to assess the potential pressure of industrial and municipal activities on water quality, radioactivity levels, and biological diversity, focusing on the consequences of radionuclides on periphytic diatom communities. Furthermore, the environmental impact of pollutants will be evaluated to monitor the ecological condition of the Ismailia Canal. Chemical analyses employed various instruments and methods to identify and quantify matter, with radionuclide elements measured by gamma spectrometry and diatoms counted and identified by inverted microscopy. Our results revealed that the canal was classified as excellent for irrigation, aquatic life, and drinking water based on FAO, CCME, and EWQS water quality indices, with high nutrient levels at Abu Za'baal fertilizer company. The activity concentration of Ra-series, Th-series, and K in the water and sediment samples for two seasons was within the guideline values, except for a few stations in the zone [B] (the industrial zone). Fertilizer samples (raw material) showed a high value of the Ra-series activity. Diatom community structure significantly varied across the different canal locations regarding the presence or absence of industrial activities, with no discernible variations between the study seasons. A specific variety of algal species was found to be predominant at the highest radioactive sites. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed a significant correlation between parameters (pH, Na, TDS, PO, SO, SiO, K, and CO), radionuclides, environmental conditions, and the composition of the diatom community, especially in the area affected by industrial discharges. Moreover, the radiological hazard index in water and sediment remained below the maximum for two seasons. This research provides valuable data and information for communities and decision-makers, suggesting the strategic use of phycoremediation as a water biotreatment process to protect the valuable economic resources of the Ismailia Canal.
在 21 世纪，多种形式的污染对淡水和整个水生生态系统造成了不利影响。城市地区较高的人口密度也导致了物质和热污染物的排放增加，这对工业企业的生态系统造成了巨大压力。本研究旨在评估工业和市政活动对水质、放射性水平和生物多样性的潜在压力，重点关注放射性核素对周丛硅藻群落的影响。此外，还将评估污染物的环境影响，以监测伊斯梅利亚运河的生态状况。化学分析采用了各种仪器和方法来识别和量化物质，放射性核素元素通过伽马谱测量，硅藻通过倒置显微镜计数和鉴定。我们的结果表明，根据粮农组织、加拿大环境与气候变化部和欧洲水质准则的水质指数，运河被评为可用于灌溉、水生生物和饮用水的优质水体，阿布扎巴尔化肥公司附近的营养水平较高。两个季节的水样和底泥样品中 Ra 系、Th 系和 K 的活度浓度均在指导值范围内，除了 [B]（工业区）的几个站点外。肥料样品（原材料）的 Ra 系活度值较高。硅藻群落结构在不同运河位置因工业活动的存在与否而有显著差异，两个研究季节之间没有明显差异。在放射性最强的地点发现了一种特定的藻类物种占优势。冗余分析（RDA）显示，参数（pH、Na、TDS、PO、SO、SiO、K 和 CO）、放射性核素、环境条件和硅藻群落组成之间存在显著相关性，尤其是在受工业排放影响的区域。此外，两个季节的水和沉积物的放射性危害指数均低于最大值。本研究为社区和决策者提供了有价值的数据和信息，建议战略性地利用藻体修复作为一种水生物处理过程，以保护伊斯梅利亚运河宝贵的经济资源。
