Heavy metals contents in Nasser Lake and the Nile River, Egypt: An overview

Abstract

Heavy metals (HMs) pollution of water is a continuous worldwide issue in both developing and developed countries. HMs are resistant and non-degradable elements that are introduced to the water bodies via natural and anthropogenic processes. The main anthropogenic sources are agriculture, industrial and domestic wastes that are increased due to the increase of the global population. The existence of HMs at high levels, both essential and nonessential HMs can cause dangerous complications in the aquatic system, plants, animals and human health. Nasser Lake and the Nile River are the main sources of freshwater in Egypt. Anthropogenic heavy metals may pass to Nasser Lake via the discharged of pollutants into the Nile upstream of the lake. Despite that, the Nile River in Egypt receives different wastes from point and non-point pollution sources along its banks, the levels of most HMs decline and are within the national and global permissible levels in the areas far from the hot spots (pollution sources). The present article’s interest is in the nature, sources and effects of the HMs in the aquatic environment in addition to the long-term changes of HMs content in the water and sediments of Nasser Lake and the Nile River in Egypt. Keywords: Heavy metals, Aquatic environment, Pollution, Nasser Lake, Nile River