Temporal changes in the concentrations of zinc and cadmium in the sedimentary strata of Nozha Hydrodrome, Alexandria, Egypt

This study is concerned with the temporal changes in the levels of zinc and cadmium in the sediments of Nozha Hydrodrome duringthe past 100 years. Seven sediment core samples, covering the study area, were collected from the bottom of the Hydrodrome.A five-step sequential extraction technique was ap...

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Main Authors: Ahmed E. Rifaat, Hoda H.H. Ahdy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2011-11-01
Series:Oceanologia
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.iopan.gda.pl/oceanologia/53_4.html#A5
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author Ahmed E. Rifaat
Hoda H.H. Ahdy
author_facet Ahmed E. Rifaat
Hoda H.H. Ahdy
author_sort Ahmed E. Rifaat
collection DOAJ
description This study is concerned with the temporal changes in the levels of zinc and cadmium in the sediments of Nozha Hydrodrome duringthe past 100 years. Seven sediment core samples, covering the study area, were collected from the bottom of the Hydrodrome.A five-step sequential extraction technique was applied to determine the solid phase concentrations of zinc and cadmium. Zinc givesan idea of the quantities of sewage effluents, while cadmium provides an indication of the amounts of agricultural discharges.The vertical distribution curves show that the average total concentrations of zinc in the sediments increased at a rate of2.5 &#181;g g<sup>-1</sup> y<sup>-1</sup> from 1900 to 1950 and at 1.5 &#181;g g<sup>-1</sup> y<sup>-1</sup> from 1950 to 1990. Since 1990 the zincconcentration in Nozha Hydrodrome sediments has been decreasing at 1.5 &#181;g g<sup>-1</sup> y<sup>-1</sup>. The average total cadmium concentration exhibitsa different vertical distribution pattern: it increased at a rate of 0.42 &#181;g g<sup>-1</sup> y<sup>-1</sup> from 1900 to 1950, afterwhich it became constant from 1950 to 1970. Since 1970 it has been increasing at 0.53 &#181;g g<sup>-1</sup> y<sup>-1</sup>. The ongoing increasein cadmium concentrations in the sediments is due to the increase in agricultural discharges into the Hydrodrome, especially assignificant amounts of phosphate fertilizers are used to nourish the soil around the Hydrodrome. The rise in cadmium concentrationssince 1900 has been accompanied by a similar increase in zinc concentrations with time resulting from the discharge of untreatedsewage into the Hydrodrome. In 1990 a sewerage system and sewage treatment plant came into operation, as a result of which dischargesof domestic effluent into the Hydrodrome ceased. Since then the amount of zinc in sediments has been decreasing steadily.
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spelling doaj.art-2d41049ec02c4bdaae0435d004c0b4872022-12-21T22:11:10ZengElsevierOceanologia0078-32342011-11-015349931004Temporal changes in the concentrations of zinc and cadmium in the sedimentary strata of Nozha Hydrodrome, Alexandria, EgyptAhmed E. RifaatHoda H.H. AhdyThis study is concerned with the temporal changes in the levels of zinc and cadmium in the sediments of Nozha Hydrodrome duringthe past 100 years. Seven sediment core samples, covering the study area, were collected from the bottom of the Hydrodrome.A five-step sequential extraction technique was applied to determine the solid phase concentrations of zinc and cadmium. Zinc givesan idea of the quantities of sewage effluents, while cadmium provides an indication of the amounts of agricultural discharges.The vertical distribution curves show that the average total concentrations of zinc in the sediments increased at a rate of2.5 &#181;g g<sup>-1</sup> y<sup>-1</sup> from 1900 to 1950 and at 1.5 &#181;g g<sup>-1</sup> y<sup>-1</sup> from 1950 to 1990. Since 1990 the zincconcentration in Nozha Hydrodrome sediments has been decreasing at 1.5 &#181;g g<sup>-1</sup> y<sup>-1</sup>. The average total cadmium concentration exhibitsa different vertical distribution pattern: it increased at a rate of 0.42 &#181;g g<sup>-1</sup> y<sup>-1</sup> from 1900 to 1950, afterwhich it became constant from 1950 to 1970. Since 1970 it has been increasing at 0.53 &#181;g g<sup>-1</sup> y<sup>-1</sup>. The ongoing increasein cadmium concentrations in the sediments is due to the increase in agricultural discharges into the Hydrodrome, especially assignificant amounts of phosphate fertilizers are used to nourish the soil around the Hydrodrome. The rise in cadmium concentrationssince 1900 has been accompanied by a similar increase in zinc concentrations with time resulting from the discharge of untreatedsewage into the Hydrodrome. In 1990 a sewerage system and sewage treatment plant came into operation, as a result of which dischargesof domestic effluent into the Hydrodrome ceased. Since then the amount of zinc in sediments has been decreasing steadily.http://www.iopan.gda.pl/oceanologia/53_4.html#A5MetalsCore sedimentEnclosed pondTemporal change
spellingShingle Ahmed E. Rifaat
Hoda H.H. Ahdy
Temporal changes in the concentrations of zinc and cadmium in the sedimentary strata of Nozha Hydrodrome, Alexandria, Egypt
Oceanologia
Metals
Core sediment
Enclosed pond
Temporal change
title Temporal changes in the concentrations of zinc and cadmium in the sedimentary strata of Nozha Hydrodrome, Alexandria, Egypt
title_full Temporal changes in the concentrations of zinc and cadmium in the sedimentary strata of Nozha Hydrodrome, Alexandria, Egypt
title_fullStr Temporal changes in the concentrations of zinc and cadmium in the sedimentary strata of Nozha Hydrodrome, Alexandria, Egypt
title_full_unstemmed Temporal changes in the concentrations of zinc and cadmium in the sedimentary strata of Nozha Hydrodrome, Alexandria, Egypt
title_short Temporal changes in the concentrations of zinc and cadmium in the sedimentary strata of Nozha Hydrodrome, Alexandria, Egypt
title_sort temporal changes in the concentrations of zinc and cadmium in the sedimentary strata of nozha hydrodrome alexandria egypt
topic Metals
Core sediment
Enclosed pond
Temporal change
url http://www.iopan.gda.pl/oceanologia/53_4.html#A5
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