Open Access

Integrated approach to quality indices and health risk assessment of water in the Bahr Yusuf Canal, Fayoum, Egypt

Mohamed E.M. Hassouna
Mohamed E.M. Hassouna
, 
Mohamed E. Goher
Mohamed E. Goher
, 
Seliem M. El-Sayed
Seliem M. El-Sayed
 and 
Reda A.A.A. Hassan
Reda A.A.A. Hassan
   | Dec 10, 2019
Oceanological and Hydrobiological Studies's Cover Image
About this article
Previous Article
Next Article
Cite
Article Category: Research Article
Published Online: Dec 10, 2019
Page range: 337 - 354
Received: Mar 08, 2019
Accepted: May 07, 2019
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ohs-2019-0031
© 2019 Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, University of Gdańsk, Poland
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Figure 1

Location of the study area and sampling sites
Location of the study area and sampling sites

Figure 2

Multiple box and whisker plots of measured heavy metal concentrations (μg l−1) in the water of the Bahr Yusuf Canal in 2017
Multiple box and whisker plots of measured heavy metal concentrations (μg l−1) in the water of the Bahr Yusuf Canal in 2017

Figure 3

Hazard Quotient (HQ) and Hazard Index (HI) in relation to the human population and contamination of water in the Bahr Yusuf Canal with metals in 2017
Hazard Quotient (HQ) and Hazard Index (HI) in relation to the human population and contamination of water in the Bahr Yusuf Canal with metals in 2017

The reference dose level (RfD0; mg kg−1 day−1), the absorbed factor (ABS) and the dermal permeability coefficient (Kp; cm h−1) for boron and the measured heavy metals

Chemicals RfD0a $RfD_{0}^{a}$ ABSGiab $AB{{S}_{Gi}}^{ab}$ Kpab ${{K}_{\text{p}}}^{\text{ab}}$ Chemicals RfD0a $Rf{{D}_{0}}^{\text{a}}$ ABSGiab $AB{{S}_{\text{Gi}}}^{\text{ab}}$ Kpab ${{K}_{\text{p}}}^{\text{ab}}$
Al 1 1 0.001 Fe 0.7 1 0.001
B 0.2 1 0.001 Mn 0.024 0.04 0.001
Cd 0.0005 0.05 0.001 Ni 0.02 0.04 0.0002
Cr 0.003 0.013 0.001 Pb 0.015 1 0.0001
Cu 0.04 1 0.001 Zn 0.3 1 0.0006

Water rating according to different Water Quality Index methods

ATI OWQI WAWQI CWQI)
WQI Rating WQI Rating WQI Rating WQI Rating
60–100 Suitable for all fish species 90–100 Excellent 0–25 Excellent 95–100 Excellent
51–59 Suitable only for hardy fish species 85–89 Good 26–50 Good 80–94 Good
0–50 Totally unsuitable for normal fish life 80–84 Fair 51–75 Poor 65–79 Fair
60–79 Poor 76–100 Very poor 45–64 Marginal
0–59 Very Poor <100 Unsuitable 0–44 Poor

Physical and chemical characteristics of water in the Bahr Yusuf Canal in 2017

Parameter Winter Range Spring Range Summer Range Autumn Range Annual Average
Temperature (°C) 19.0–21.0 25.6–26.3 29.4–30.5 24.5–26.0 25.2±3.61
Transparency (cm) 34.0–78.0 66.0–94.0 67.0–94.0 53.0–80.0 73.92±10.53
EC (μS cm−1) 406–495 353–505 313–446 518–592 458.13±69.4
TDS (mg l−1) 243.6–297 211.8–303 187.8–267.6 310.8–355.2 274.9±41.65
TSS (mg l−1) 21.8–78.8 10.0–35.0 7.2–19.40 21.2–50.8 24.7±13.06
TS (mg l−1) 273.6–375.8 227.8–327 204.6–287 337.6–381.6 300±49.75
pH 7.7–7.86 8.17-8.38 8.01-8.25 7.49–7.92 7.95±0.24
DO (mg l−1) 8.19–9.3 7.89–9.23 7.01–8.69 6.52–7.67 8.58±0.64
COD (mg l−1) 5.2–8.88 5.0–7.8 6.18–9.6 6.82–10.2 7.59±1.31
BOD (mg l−1) 2.93–4.27 4.2–6.19 4.8–6.32 3.76–4.89 6.32±0.91
NO2-N (μg l−1) 18.8–45.2 4.8–40.2 14.2–23.0 27.2–38.2 23.35±11.06
NO3-N (μg l−1) 162–410 52.9–172.1 148–315 449–707 285.8±177.2
NH4-N (μg l−1) 231.6–299.2 137.6–192.6 11.4–142.4 239.16–331 209.9±72.68
TN (μg l−1) 500–945 365–517 436–665 1060–1393 725±305
PO4-P (μg l−1) 13.6–19.2 7.22–12.4 8.48–18.82 18.67–25.33 15.49±5.36
TP (μg l−1) 71–115 45.6–95.2 45.6–97.8 74.2–167 83.7±22.57
Silicate (mg l−1) 2.2–2.9 3.71–5.94 5.73–7.86 2.84–6.52 4.75±1.67
TA (mg l−1) 122.3–145.7 143.4–159.52 99.7–126.9 105.6–138.8 130.2±16.08
C O 3 2 − m g l − 1 ${\mathrm{CO}}_3^{2-}\left(\mathrm{mg}\,\text{l}^{-1}\right)$ 3.6–9.6 2.4–4.8 2.16–4.92 2.4–7.2 4.29±1.88
HCO3− (mg l−1) 132.1–161.7 166.5–187.3 114.4–148 122.8–161.8 150.1±19.18
Cl (mg l−1) 18.96–27.62 20.39–24.36 15.22–22.29 28.73–31.94 24.24±4.7
S O 4 2 − m g l − 1 ${\mathrm{SO}}_4^{2-}\left(\mathrm{mg}\,\text{l}^{-1}\right)$ 16.9–19.17 11.62–16.74 9.88–13.66 14.89–17.54 15.2±2.56
Na (mg l−1) 20.16–22.38 18.26–19.68 17.73–18.96 22.18–23.28 20.32±1.89
K (mg l−1) 5.8–6.41 4.8–5.44 4.3–4.89 5.4–6.55 6.1±0.73
TH 107.7–129.5 97.48–126.58 84.29–112.55 129.42–143.44 118.51±14.97
Ca (mg l−1) 18.52–22.7 16.47–21.78 14.65–20.45 23.07–26.03 20.96±2.86
Mg (mg l−1) 14.7–17.46 13.5–17.34 11.4–14.74 17.2–18.92 15.9±1.92
B (μg l−1) 25.28–47.22 26.39–49.44 28.61–48.89 45.28–77.22 44.07±12.91
Chlorophyll-a (μg l−1) 14.38–22.95 21.36–38.2 31.69–44.47 13.96–33.28 26.59±8.62

Guidelines for the measured parameters in mg l−1 (except Temp., EC and pH) according to national and international permissible levels

Parameter Drinking Water Irrigation Aquatic life Parameter Drinking Water Irrigation Aquatic life
EWQS WHO EPA EWQS WHO EPA
Temp. (°C) < 35 8–28 S O 4 2 − a,b ${\mathrm{SO}}_4^{2-\text{a,b}}$ 250 250 250 960
EC(μS cm−1)a,b 2000 3000 Naa,b 200 919
pHa,b,c 6.5–8.5 8.5 6.5–8.5 8.5 6.5–9 Kb 2
TDSa,b,c 1000 500 500 2000 500 THa 500 500
DOac 6 > 4 > 5.5 Caa,b 75 75 60
BODa 3 3* Mga,b 50 50 400
CODa 10 10 Ala,b,c 0.2 0.2 0.2 5 0.1
NO2-Na,c 0.06 0.9 1 0.06 Babc 0.5 2.4 0.5–2 1.5
NO3-Na,b,c 10 11 10 10 2.93 Cda,b,c 0.003 0.003 0.005 0.01 0.001
NH4-Na,b,c 0.41 0.2 5 1.27–0.077** Cra,b,c 0.05 0.05 0.1 0.1 0.01
PO4-Pb 2 Cua,b,c 2 2 1.3 0.2 0.004
TPa 1 Fea,b,c 0.3 0.3 5 0.3
TA 250 > 20 Mna,b,c 0.4 0.1 0.05 0.2 0.05
C O 3 b ${\mathrm{CO}}_3^\text{b}$ 3 Nia,b,c 0.02 0.07 0.1 0.2 0.025
HCO3b $\text{HC}{{\text{O}}_{3}}^{\text{b}}$ 610 Pba,b,c 0.01 0.01 0.015 0.2 0.007
Cla,b,c 250 200 250 1036 120 Zna,b,c 3 4 5 5 0.05
Reference EWQS WHO EPA Ayers & Westcot CCME EWQS WHO EPA Ayers & Westcot CCME
2007 2017 2018a,b 1985 2007 2007 2017 2018a,b 1985 2007

WQI and their categorization of Bahr Yusuf water in 2017 for different purposes

Location OWQI ATI CWQI WAWQI
Drinking Irrigation Aquatic life Drinking Irrigation Aquatic life
1 62.46 Poor 90.26 Suitable 78 Fair 92 Good 73 Fair 30.09 Good 0.87 Excellent 17.16 Excellent
2 63.82 Poor 89.49 Suitable 74 Fair 92 Good 65 Fair 50.34 Poor 1.46 Excellent 28.51 Good
3 58.82 Very poor 88.86 Suitable 73 Fair 91 Good 65 Fair 52.35 Poor 1.93 Excellent 37.77 Good
4 59.38 Very poor 89.23 Suitable 76 Fair 92 Good 69 Fair 54.94 Poor 1.99 Excellent 38.59 Good
5 62.72 Poor 88.7 Suitable 72 Fair 92 Good 63 Marginal 51.75 Poor 2.00 Excellent 38.84 Good
6 64.77 Poor 88.34 Suitable 75 Fair 91 Good 67 Fair 44.67 Good 1.89 Excellent 37.04 Good
7 62.15 Poor 88.63 Suitable 73 Fair 91 Good 63 Marginal 51.90 Poor 1.81 Excellent 35.44 Good
8 60.9 Poor 89.14 Suitable 73 Fair 92 Good 65 Fair 59.11 Poor 1.74 Excellent 34.28 Good
9 60.27 Poor 88.45 Suitable 72 Fair 92 Good 65 Fair 65.36 Poor 1.83 Excellent 35.85 Good
10 61.11 Poor 87.77 Suitable 71 Fair 93 Good 65 Fair 57.02 Poor 2.02 Excellent 39.03 Good
11 60.85 Poor 87.93 Suitable 73 Fair 92 Good 66 Fair 53.72 Poor 1.66 Excellent 32.67 Good
12 59.53 Very poor 87.8 Suitable 71 Fair 91 Good 60 Marginal 45.34 Good 1.86 Excellent 35.90 Good
Overall 61.6 Poor 88.34 Suitable 73 Fair 92 Good 64 Marginal 52.31 Poor 1.76 Excellent 34.26 Good

Heavy Pollution Index of the measured metals in water of the Bahr Yusuf Canal in 2017 according to guideline levels for drinking, irrigation, and aquatic life

Station Drinking Irrigation Aquatic
HPI Category HPI Category HPI Category
1 104.44 Polluted 16.81 Unpolluted 219.07 Polluted
2 153.66 Polluted 27.88 Unpolluted 347.70 Polluted
3 198.93 Polluted 36.66 Unpolluted 461.37 Polluted
4 206.32 Polluted 37.96 Unpolluted 472.24 Polluted
5 200.49 Polluted 38.25 Unpolluted 468.55 Polluted
6 193.40 Polluted 36.01 Unpolluted 444.86 Polluted
7 187.96 Polluted 34.42 Unpolluted 427.57 Polluted
8 187.49 Polluted 33.08 Unpolluted 415.61 Polluted
9 187.89 Polluted 34.81 Unpolluted 430.82 Polluted
10 201.31 Polluted 38.48 Unpolluted 469.04 Polluted
11 175.02 Polluted 31.52 Unpolluted 393.04 Polluted
12 191.44 Polluted 35.04 Unpolluted 434.95 Polluted
Overall 182.36 Polluted 33.62 Unpolluted 417.46 Polluted

Water parameters of the Bahr Yusuf Canal compared to the Nile River and other Egyptian Nile canals

Parameters Units Water resource
Nile River Nile River Bahr Yusuf Canal El-Sharkawia Canal Ismailia Canal Beni-Suef Water Resources Bahr Yusuf Canal
Temp. °C 17.8–30.7 24.5–25.16 14.50–33.10 16–33 19–30.5
Transparency cm 15–950 50–150 35–120 34–94
EC ms cm−1 210–1014 424.6–797.7 313–531 350–544 319–1473 313–592
TDS 128.8–409.9 137–659 260.6–518.6 212.5–348.2 210–365 204–943 187.8–355.2
TSS mg l−1 10.67–46.00 39–176 7.2–78.8
TS 230.5–358.8 286–528 204.6–381.6
pH 7.43–8.68 7.3–9.0 7.89–8.59 7.09–8.46 7–7.93 7.49–8.38
DO 3–13.2 1.60–9.68 5.78–9.98 7.01–9.3
BOD 1.2–8.0 1.40–6.84 0.3–7.18 2.93–6.32
COD 3.78–14.04 3.68–15.08 5–10.2
CO3 5.20–20.09 0.0–22.2 2.16–9.6
HCO3 122–517.4 94.1–324.6 110.4–186.1 105.9–162.4 128–297 114.35–187.2
Cl 6.18–96.80 23.46-84.47 15.10–23.11 14.25–33.16 21–274 15.22–31.94
SO4 mg l−1 5–50 3.83–58.94 31.7 -86.19 14.60–34.46 8.71–98.8 20–118 9.88–19.17
Ca 18.4–59.6 9.43–41.16 29.58 to 53.75 16.33–30.54 24.17–38.82 34–79 14.65–26.03
Mg 18.5–52.6 6.08–44.93 10.04–15.09 11.05–22.40 9.78–17.62 9–24 11.4–18.9
TH 102–169.34 84.29–143.44
Na 14.4–99.5 11.25–72.7 20.86–57.58 19.73–41.18 15.14–39.7 18–204 17.73–23.28
K 1.4–6.9 3.67–12.08 1.51–5.09 8.06–12.35 5.77–8.89 2.5–16 4.3–6.4
NO3-N 0–23.8 3–1878 1320–4930 24.37–177.3 31–584 300–16000 52.92–707
NO2-N μg l−1 0.5–6943 UDL–460 3.55–19.64 2–27 4.8–45.2
NH4-N 21–17928 119.0–1793.6 88–569 111.4–331
TN mg l−1 0.52–139
PO4-P 4–383 5.69–52.43 8–399 7.22–25.33
TP 15–998 35.43–251.8 38–480 44.1–167
SiO3 0.39–14.62 1.50–10.95 0.37–8.78 2.2–7.86
Ba UDL 20–225 25.83–77.22
Fe 199–2211 490–2900 125.8–1478.5 109–223.9 13–1415 169.55–460.5
Mn 30–298 104–850 1.80–119.00 20–483 37–713 23.29–69.35
Zn μg l−1 50–700 10–115 UDL 1.60–40.40 2–127 <1–1700 16.03–42.18
Cu UDL–170 10–51 UDL 0.60– 4.12 3–21 <1–1080 3.04–13.94
Ni 1–33 UDL 1.75–20.20 0.0–25 16.07–47.56
Cr 1.7–467 5.20–25.20 8.62–21.44
Cd UDL–5 0.2–8.1 UDL 0.00–1.21 0–3 <1–400 1.86–8.25
Pb 163–402 5–51 UDL 3.40–32.60 11–34 17.62–49.62
Al 370–2800 55–45400 1608–2545 49.27–145.77
Reference Elnazer et al. (2018) Abdel-Satar et al. (2017) Mahmoud et al. (2016) El-Degwy (2016) Goher et al. (2014a) Melegy et al. (2014) Present study

Characteristics, longitude and latitude of the sampling locations

Location Features of the locations Latitude (N) Longitude (E)
1 Hawara before Tafreea (Tema Bridge) (El-Lahon) 30°27’55” 32°32’50.7”
2 Hawarat Adnan 30°27’56” 32°32’50.6”
3 Ezbet Al-Khawaja (Taha) 30°27’58” 32°32’50.5”
4 Ezbet Ameen 30°27’61” 32°32’51.0”
5 Manshiet Kamal 30°27’64” 32°32’52.0”
6 The upper bridge at Dmishqin 30°23’66” 32°33’34.0”
7 Kobry El-Fell 30°02’54” 32°34’74.7”
8 Hawarat Elmaktaa 29°91’16” 32°36’17.6”
9 Village of Snovr 29°24’91” 32°39’45.7”
10 Outlet Qhafa (drinking water plant) 29°16’18” 32°43’56.3”
11 Kobry Baghos 29°15’65” 32°43’58.4”
12 El-Sofi 28°94’18” 32°44’23.6”
eISSN:
1897-3191
Language:
English
Publication timeframe:
4 times per year
Journal Subjects:
Chemistry, other, Geosciences, Life Sciences
Journal RSS Feed