Contamination of the agricultural land due to industrial activities southern of greater Cairo

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1992 · Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A: Environmental Science and Engineering; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/10934529209375797· OSTI ID:6644602

Ali, E A; Ibrahim, Y H; Nasralla, M M ^[1]

---

1. National Research Centre, Cairo (Egypt)

The industrial processes in the investigated area include ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgical work, ceramics, fire bricks, cement industry, etc. Soil, weeds, vegetation and dust samples were collected and analysed for several heavy metals. High levels of Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr, Mn and zinc found in the soil close to a lead, zinc smelter. In the heavy contaminated area concentrations of more than 500 ug/g Pb, 1200 ug/g zinc and 50 ug/g Ni and Cd were recorded in the surface soil at 1500 m from the smelter. The concentrations of the heavy metals in the contaminated area (3-5) km from the smelter reached more than 200 ug/g Pb and 25 ug/g Ni and Cd and 160 ug/g zinc. Higher levels of these toxic elements were found in the dust on the leaves of the examined vegetations. Furthermore, accumulated concentrations reached more than 100 ug/g Pb and 10 ug/g Cd in leaves of herbs and maize. Soil close to cement industry found enriched with heavy metals but it is much less pronounced. 10 refs., 3 figs., 5 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6644602
• Journal Information: Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A: Environmental Science and Engineering; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A: Environmental Science and Engineering; (United States) Vol. 27A:5; ISSN 0360-1226; ISSN JESEDU
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
540220 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AFRICA
AGRICULTURE
AIR POLLUTION
ARAB COUNTRIES
CADMIUM
CEMENT INDUSTRY
CHROMIUM
CONTAMINATION
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
EGYPTIAN ARAB REPUBLIC
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
GASEOUS WASTES
INDUSTRY
LEAD
MANGANESE
METALS
MIDDLE EAST
NICKEL
POLLUTION
SOILS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WASTES
ZINC