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Burullus lagoon is part of Egypt's protected area network. The lagoon serves as a reservoir for drainage water discharged from agricultural areas, and the lake's sediments provide a unique opportunity to record environmental behavior and reconstruct of the heavy metal contamination history. In the present study, the sediment chronology, sedimentation rates, and metal accumulation fluxes were estimated in four sediment cores using 210 Pb dating models to evaluate how human activities have affected the coastal environment. Using the radioisotopes 210 Pb and 137 Cs, radiometric dating was carried out using gamma-ray spectrometry. At the Egypt Second Research Reactor (ETRR-2), the element concentrations were determined using the instrumented neutron activation analysis (INAA- k 0 method). Our findings show that the constant rate of supply (CRS), which has been verified with the peak of artificial radionuclide 137 Cs, is the best model performed for the chronology of Burullus Lagoon. The average sedimentation rate, according to 210 Pb dating models, is 0.85 cm/year. The large variation in sedimentation rates, especially after the 1990s, is consistent with an increase in the anthropogenic flux of heavy metals. This may be led into a significant environmental problem such as reducing the size of the lake and degrading the quality the water in Burullus Lagoon. Enrichment factor (EF) of the studied elements displayed the following order: Cl > Ca > Na > Br > Zn > Ta > Ti > V > Cr > Sc > Mg > Mn > Fe > Hf which is higher than unity. Furthermore, the Nemerow pollution index (PI Nemerow ) revealed that pollution was increasing in the direction of the drains and slightly polluted. Consequently, pollutant indices showed that urbanization and industrial development may have increased the depositional fluxes of the metals in sediments over time., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

In the twenty-first century, numerous forms of pollution have adversely impacted freshwater and the entire aquatic ecosystem. The higher population density in urban areas also contributes to increased releases of substances and thermal contaminants, significantly stressing the ecosystem of industrial companies. This study aimed to assess the potential pressure of industrial and municipal activities on water quality, radioactivity levels, and biological diversity, focusing on the consequences of radionuclides on periphytic diatom communities. Furthermore, the environmental impact of pollutants will be evaluated to monitor the ecological condition of the Ismailia Canal. Chemical analyses employed various instruments and methods to identify and quantify matter, with radionuclide elements measured by gamma spectrometry and diatoms counted and identified by inverted microscopy. Our results revealed that the canal was classified as excellent for irrigation, aquatic life, and drinking water based on FAO, CCME, and EWQS water quality indices, with high nutrient levels at Abu Za'baal fertilizer company. The activity concentration of 226 Ra-series, 232 Th-series, and 40 K in the water and sediment samples for two seasons was within the guideline values, except for a few stations in the zone [B] (the industrial zone). Fertilizer samples (raw material) showed a high value of the 226 Ra-series activity. Diatom community structure significantly varied across the different canal locations regarding the presence or absence of industrial activities, with no discernible variations between the study seasons. A specific variety of algal species was found to be predominant at the highest radioactive sites. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed a significant correlation between parameters (pH, Na, TDS, PO 4 , SO 4 , SiO 2 , K, and CO 3 ), radionuclides, environmental conditions, and the composition of the diatom community, especially in the area affected by industrial discharges. Moreover, the radiological hazard index in water and sediment remained below the maximum for two seasons. This research provides valuable data and information for communities and decision-makers, suggesting the strategic use of phycoremediation as a water biotreatment process to protect the valuable economic resources of the Ismailia Canal., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Nasser Lake provides more than 95% of the Egyptian freshwater budget. The levels, spatial distributions, and risk assessments of heavy metals and natural radioactivity were investigated in the water and sediments in the main channel and khors (side extensions) of Nasser Lake in January 2017. Several indices were used to determine the quality and pollution degree of the water and sediments. The water indices included the heavy metal pollution index and metal contamination index, while the sediment indices were based on the (a) the metal levels as the enrichment factor and geo-accumulation index, and (b) the radioactivity as radium equivalent activity, absorbed dose rate, and external hazard indices. All index values were lower than their global mean values. Also, the results of the noncarcinogenic human health risk via water ingestion were below the threshold risk level. The obtained results indicate the safely used of Nasser Lake water for different purposes.