Geochemical Assessment of Pollution at Manzala Lake, Egypt: Special Mention to Environmental and Health Effects of Arsenic, Selenium, Tin and Antimony

Background and Objective: Manzala Lake is the largest shallower lakes which located in the Northern shoreline of the Nile delta.The water quality has a brackish, mixed with Mediterranean Sea water through Boughaz El-Gamil opening at Eastern rim of the lake and strait of Sheikh Ali at Western rim East of Damietta Governorates.It link with Suez Canal through a navigation aqueduct.A few study were carried related to study of arsenic, selenium, tin and antimony elements, so, the main objective of this study was assessment of environmental effects for these toxic elements.Methodology: Twenty five samples were collected to carry out this study covering the sources of pollution near discharging drains which consider the main source of pollution.Sediment was digested and the measurement was performed using simultaneous inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometer.Results: Arsenic content ranges from 4.6-22 ppm, averaging 12 ppm, about 8 folds the average earthʼs crust.Selenium concentrations range from 3-5 ppm averaging 4 ppm, about 80 fold the average earthʼs crust.Tin in studied lake ranged from 25-90 ppm with an average 46 ppm, about 9 fold the average earthʼs crust.The highest values for arsenic selenium and tin are extended toward the industrial area in Port Said Governorate.Conclusion: Statistically, pollution indicators were reflects high level of pollutants in the vicinity of the industrial activity around Port Said and Damietta governorates while agricultural pollution focused at El-Serw and Bahr El-Baqar drains.The unsupervised anthropogenic activities are the main causes of pollution in the lake sediments.Routine program for monitoring the concentrations and distribution of arsenic, selenium and tin in the lake water, fish, sediments and aqueous organisms should be imposed.The relative order of abundance of the toxic metals in the lakeʼs water is As>Sn>Se.