Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals along Three Main Drains in Nile Delta and Potential Phytoremediation by Macrophyte Plants
The use of drainage water in the irrigation of agroecosystem is associated with environmental hazards, and can pose threats to human health. Nine heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Co, Cr, Ni, Cd and Pb) along three main drains in the middle Nile Delta were measures in the sediments, roots and shoots of...
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MDPI AG
2020-07-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/7/910 |
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| author | Yasser A. El-Amier Giuliano Bonanomi Saud L. Al-Rowaily Ahmed M. Abd-ElGawad |
| author_facet | Yasser A. El-Amier Giuliano Bonanomi Saud L. Al-Rowaily Ahmed M. Abd-ElGawad |
| author_sort | Yasser A. El-Amier |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The use of drainage water in the irrigation of agroecosystem is associated with environmental hazards, and can pose threats to human health. Nine heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Co, Cr, Ni, Cd and Pb) along three main drains in the middle Nile Delta were measures in the sediments, roots and shoots of three common macrophytes (<i>Echinochloa stagnina</i>, <i>Phragmites australis</i> and <i>Typha domingensis</i>). The physicochemical characteristics, as well as the enrichment factor (Ef), contamination factor (Cf), geoaccumulation index (Igeo), ecological risk factor (Er), degree of contamination (Dc) and potential ecological risk index (PERI), were determined for sediment. The metal bioaccumulation factor (BAF) and translocation factor (TF) were assessed for plants. Data revealed high contents of Cr, Zn and Cd in the upstream of the drains, while Mn, Cu and Ni were recorded in high concentrations in the downstream. Mn, Cr, Co, Cu, Ni and Zn were recorded to be within EU (2002), CSQGD (2007) and US EPA (1999) limits, while Cd and Pb showed high a ecological risk index. This high concentration of pollutants could be attributed to unremitting industrial activities, which can bioaccumulate in the food chains and cause serious problems for humans. The root of <i>P. australis</i> showed the effective accumulation of most of the elements, while <i>T. domingensis</i> revealed the highest accumulation of Pb. However, the highest BAF shoot value was found in <i>T. domingensis</i> for most of the heavy metals, except for Fe and Zn in <i>P. australis</i> and Mn in <i>E. stagnina</i>. Thus, <i>P. australis</i> could be used as a potential phytoextractor of these hazardous metals, as an eco-friendly and cost-efficient method for remediation of the polluted drains. Further, <i>T. domingensis</i> could be integrated as a hyperaccumulator of Pb. Strict laws and regulations must be taken into consideration by the policymaker against unmanaged industrial activities, particularly near the water streams in the Nile Delta. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:24:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e1eeb8edee0f479dbe08d15260778198 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:24:10Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-e1eeb8edee0f479dbe08d152607781982023-11-20T07:11:42ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472020-07-019791010.3390/plants9070910Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals along Three Main Drains in Nile Delta and Potential Phytoremediation by Macrophyte PlantsYasser A. El-Amier0Giuliano Bonanomi1Saud L. Al-Rowaily2Ahmed M. Abd-ElGawad3Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, EgyptDepartment of Agriculture, University of Naples Federico II, Portici, 80055 Naples, ItalyPlant Production Department, College of Food & Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Botany, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, EgyptThe use of drainage water in the irrigation of agroecosystem is associated with environmental hazards, and can pose threats to human health. Nine heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Co, Cr, Ni, Cd and Pb) along three main drains in the middle Nile Delta were measures in the sediments, roots and shoots of three common macrophytes (<i>Echinochloa stagnina</i>, <i>Phragmites australis</i> and <i>Typha domingensis</i>). The physicochemical characteristics, as well as the enrichment factor (Ef), contamination factor (Cf), geoaccumulation index (Igeo), ecological risk factor (Er), degree of contamination (Dc) and potential ecological risk index (PERI), were determined for sediment. The metal bioaccumulation factor (BAF) and translocation factor (TF) were assessed for plants. Data revealed high contents of Cr, Zn and Cd in the upstream of the drains, while Mn, Cu and Ni were recorded in high concentrations in the downstream. Mn, Cr, Co, Cu, Ni and Zn were recorded to be within EU (2002), CSQGD (2007) and US EPA (1999) limits, while Cd and Pb showed high a ecological risk index. This high concentration of pollutants could be attributed to unremitting industrial activities, which can bioaccumulate in the food chains and cause serious problems for humans. The root of <i>P. australis</i> showed the effective accumulation of most of the elements, while <i>T. domingensis</i> revealed the highest accumulation of Pb. However, the highest BAF shoot value was found in <i>T. domingensis</i> for most of the heavy metals, except for Fe and Zn in <i>P. australis</i> and Mn in <i>E. stagnina</i>. Thus, <i>P. australis</i> could be used as a potential phytoextractor of these hazardous metals, as an eco-friendly and cost-efficient method for remediation of the polluted drains. Further, <i>T. domingensis</i> could be integrated as a hyperaccumulator of Pb. Strict laws and regulations must be taken into consideration by the policymaker against unmanaged industrial activities, particularly near the water streams in the Nile Delta.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/7/910phytoremediation<i>Phragmites australis</i><i>Typha domingensis</i>bioaccumulationheavy metalspollution indices |
| spellingShingle | Yasser A. El-Amier Giuliano Bonanomi Saud L. Al-Rowaily Ahmed M. Abd-ElGawad Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals along Three Main Drains in Nile Delta and Potential Phytoremediation by Macrophyte Plants Plants phytoremediation <i>Phragmites australis</i> <i>Typha domingensis</i> bioaccumulation heavy metals pollution indices |
| title | Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals along Three Main Drains in Nile Delta and Potential Phytoremediation by Macrophyte Plants |
| title_full | Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals along Three Main Drains in Nile Delta and Potential Phytoremediation by Macrophyte Plants |
| title_fullStr | Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals along Three Main Drains in Nile Delta and Potential Phytoremediation by Macrophyte Plants |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals along Three Main Drains in Nile Delta and Potential Phytoremediation by Macrophyte Plants |
| title_short | Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals along Three Main Drains in Nile Delta and Potential Phytoremediation by Macrophyte Plants |
| title_sort | ecological risk assessment of heavy metals along three main drains in nile delta and potential phytoremediation by macrophyte plants |
| topic | phytoremediation <i>Phragmites australis</i> <i>Typha domingensis</i> bioaccumulation heavy metals pollution indices |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/7/910 |
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