Polychlorinated Biphenyls Water Pollution along the River Nile, Egypt

Ten polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners were determined in water samples collected along the River Nile using gas chromatography-electron capture detector (GC-ECD). PCB concentrations ranged from 14 to 20 μg/L, which were higher than those reported in previous studies, indicating serious PCB po...

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Main Authors: Ayman Mohamed Megahed, Hesham Dahshan, Mahdy A. Abd-El-Kader, Amr Mohamed Mohamed Abd-Elall, Mariam Hassan Elbana, Ehab Nabawy, Hend A. Mahmoud
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2015-01-01
Series:The Scientific World Journal
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/389213
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author Ayman Mohamed Megahed
Hesham Dahshan
Mahdy A. Abd-El-Kader
Amr Mohamed Mohamed Abd-Elall
Mariam Hassan Elbana
Ehab Nabawy
Hend A. Mahmoud
author_facet Ayman Mohamed Megahed
Hesham Dahshan
Mahdy A. Abd-El-Kader
Amr Mohamed Mohamed Abd-Elall
Mariam Hassan Elbana
Ehab Nabawy
Hend A. Mahmoud
author_sort Ayman Mohamed Megahed
collection DOAJ
description Ten polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners were determined in water samples collected along the River Nile using gas chromatography-electron capture detector (GC-ECD). PCB concentrations ranged from 14 to 20 μg/L, which were higher than those reported in previous studies, indicating serious PCB pollution in the River Nile. PCB congener profiles varied depending on the sampling sties. PCB-138 was the predominant congener accounting for more than 18% of total PCBs. The composition of PCB congeners in the water revealed that highly chlorinated PCB technical mixtures such as Aroclor 1254 was the main PCB production historically used in Egypt. An increasing trend in PCB levels from the upper stream to the Nile estuaries was observed. The calculated flux of PCBs indicated that 6.8 tons of PCBs is dumped into the Mediterranean Sea each year from the River Nile. The hazard quotients and carcinogenic risk caused by PCB pollution in the River Nile were above the acceptable level indicating that PCBs in the River Nile water pose adverse health effects for all age groups. Our findings revealed that PCBs possess a serious risk to the Egyptian population that depends mainly on the River Nile as a source of water. Thus, stricter legislation and regulatory controls should be applied to reduce the risk of PCBs in Egypt.
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spelling doaj-art-991febcf84e84d899245e1b5db1e97e72025-02-03T01:32:43ZengWileyThe Scientific World Journal2356-61401537-744X2015-01-01201510.1155/2015/389213389213Polychlorinated Biphenyls Water Pollution along the River Nile, EgyptAyman Mohamed Megahed0Hesham Dahshan1Mahdy A. Abd-El-Kader2Amr Mohamed Mohamed Abd-Elall3Mariam Hassan Elbana4Ehab Nabawy5Hend A. Mahmoud6Department of Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Sharkia Governorate 44519, EgyptDepartment of Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Sharkia Governorate 44519, EgyptDepartment of Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Sharkia Governorate 44519, EgyptDepartment of Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Sharkia Governorate 44519, EgyptDepartment of Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Sharkia Governorate 44519, EgyptDepartment of Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Sharkia Governorate 44519, EgyptResidue Analysis Department, Central Agricultural Pesticides Lab, Dokki, Giza, EgyptTen polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners were determined in water samples collected along the River Nile using gas chromatography-electron capture detector (GC-ECD). PCB concentrations ranged from 14 to 20 μg/L, which were higher than those reported in previous studies, indicating serious PCB pollution in the River Nile. PCB congener profiles varied depending on the sampling sties. PCB-138 was the predominant congener accounting for more than 18% of total PCBs. The composition of PCB congeners in the water revealed that highly chlorinated PCB technical mixtures such as Aroclor 1254 was the main PCB production historically used in Egypt. An increasing trend in PCB levels from the upper stream to the Nile estuaries was observed. The calculated flux of PCBs indicated that 6.8 tons of PCBs is dumped into the Mediterranean Sea each year from the River Nile. The hazard quotients and carcinogenic risk caused by PCB pollution in the River Nile were above the acceptable level indicating that PCBs in the River Nile water pose adverse health effects for all age groups. Our findings revealed that PCBs possess a serious risk to the Egyptian population that depends mainly on the River Nile as a source of water. Thus, stricter legislation and regulatory controls should be applied to reduce the risk of PCBs in Egypt.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/389213
spellingShingle Ayman Mohamed Megahed
Hesham Dahshan
Mahdy A. Abd-El-Kader
Amr Mohamed Mohamed Abd-Elall
Mariam Hassan Elbana
Ehab Nabawy
Hend A. Mahmoud
Polychlorinated Biphenyls Water Pollution along the River Nile, Egypt
The Scientific World Journal
title Polychlorinated Biphenyls Water Pollution along the River Nile, Egypt
title_full Polychlorinated Biphenyls Water Pollution along the River Nile, Egypt
title_fullStr Polychlorinated Biphenyls Water Pollution along the River Nile, Egypt
title_full_unstemmed Polychlorinated Biphenyls Water Pollution along the River Nile, Egypt
title_short Polychlorinated Biphenyls Water Pollution along the River Nile, Egypt
title_sort polychlorinated biphenyls water pollution along the river nile egypt
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/389213
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