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Geochemical signature of the bed sediments at the outlet of the Ibrahim River (Lebanon): temporal variation

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Abstract

Bed sediments were collected monthly at the outlet of the Ibrahim River between May 2016 and July 2017. Their physical and chemical characteristics were studied to highlight the impact of seasonal variations and discharge on the sediments’ geochemical signatures. Granulometric analysis showed that samples collected after rain events contained abundant sand fractions (> 80%), while the clay fraction was more present at the beginning of the dry season, at low monthly average flows (1 m3/s). Ten major elements, 14 rare earth elements (REE), and 30 trace elements (TE) were analyzed. An excess of CaO reflected the contribution of the carbonate rocks of the Ibrahim karstic springs (30.35 ± 3.91%) but CaO concentration decreased during periods of high water. On another hand, no REE enrichment was detected, both in high and low flows. Most sediments collected at low flow had a pronounced REE depletion that occurred particularly for LREE composition (Nd, Pr, Ce, and La). A negative Ce anomaly (0.992) and a positive Eu anomaly (1.313) were revealed with an average La/Yb ratio of 0.570, reflecting a slight enrichment in HREE. Most studied TE were less concentrated than the averages mentioned in PAAS, UCC, and WSA references. However, a Ze enrichment was mainly due to the regional geochemical background, an As enrichment was associated with anthropogenic contribution, and a Zr enrichment was linked to discharges from pharmaceutical industries located at the river outlet. This study still needs to be complemented binding both spatial and temporal criteria for further fluvial sediments’ monitoring of the entire catchment area.

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(Source: Lebanese National Council for Scientific Research – Lebanon CNRS)

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Data availability

The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose. The datasets generated and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We give special thanks to the Lebanese-French Environmental Observatory O-LIFE (CNRS-L, CNRS-F, Lebanese, and French Universities), the Chamber of Commerce of Tripoli, and the CNRS Rocks and Minerals Analysis Service (SARM) part of the Center for Petrographic and Geochemical Research (CRPG) in Nancy, France, for their technical assistance as well as their scientific support.

Funding

This project was partly jointly funded by the National Council for Scientific Research in Lebanon CNRS-L and the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural and Food Engineering, School of Engineering, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, P.O. Box 446, Jounieh, Lebanon

    P. El Najjar, S. Chidiac, N. Ouaini & D. El Azzi

  2. FMPS HOLDING BIOTECKNO s.a.l. Research & Quality Solutions, Naccash, P.O. Box 60 247, Beirut, Lebanon

    P. El Najjar

  3. EcoLab, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, INPT, Campus ENSAT, Avenue de L’Agrobiopole, 31326, Castanet Tolosan, CEDEX, France

    J.-L. Probst

  4. Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon

    K. El Omari

  5. Quality Control Center Laboratories at the Chamber of Commerce, Industry Agriculture of Tripoli and North Lebanon, Tripoli, Lebanon

    K. El Omari

  6. Syngenta France SAS, Product Safety, Guyancourt, France

    D. El Azzi

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  1. P. El Najjar
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Najjar, P.E., Chidiac, S., Probst, JL. et al. Geochemical signature of the bed sediments at the outlet of the Ibrahim River (Lebanon): temporal variation. Environ Monit Assess 195, 509 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-023-11103-1

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