Evaluation of water pollution using physicochemical parameters, heavy metals concentrations, and organic pollutants: Study area El-Behaira Governorate.

The objective of this study was to examine the extent of bioaccumulation of organic contaminants and heavy metals in water within the El-Behaira Governorate region. Water is a fundamental need for life. The issue of water pollution has risen to a worldwide scale, necessitating a continuous assessment of water resource policies to combat this problem. Heavy metals are not often found in the Earth's crust; nevertheless, they are the main cause of water pollution and are found in many aspects of modern life. Three water catchment areas (Damanhur, Kafr-El Dawar, El-Mahmoudia) in EL-Behaira Governorate, Egypt were collected to assess the types of water pollutants. The physicochemical properties of water as temperature, pH value, electric conductivity (EC), total alkalinity (CaCO 3 ), Turbidity (NTU), and salinity (NaCl) were appreciated. Heavy metals such as Aluminum (Al), Iron (Fe), Lead (Pb), Nitrite (NO 2), and Sulphate (SO 4-2 ) were determined by the atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Also, organic pollutants were analyzed using the gas-chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The obtained results showed that the mean values of temperature (24.44 - 26.12 ○ C), pH value was (6.76 - 8.23), electric conductivity (EC) ranged between (443.4-2001.1 mS/ cm), total alkalinity was (19.4-137 ppm), turbidity was (6.43 - 9.17 NTU) and salinity was (0.0183-0.0358 mg/l). The results confirmed the presence of some heavy metals such as Al (1175-9002 mg/l), Fe (0.210-0.724 mg/l), Pb (19.21-20.73 mg/l), NO 2-(0.012-0.120 mg/l) and SO 4-2 (114.54 - 818.5 mg/l). The obtained values were compared with allowable levels stated by WHO guidelines (2017) and Egyptian guidelines (No 92/2013) for the River Nile protection from pollution. Organic pollutants were detected in the study area and verified in the NIST 2008 (National Institute of Standard and Technology Library). This reveals a high exposure potential for human health. It is thus recommended that further research be conducted to determine the potential health risks associated with these organic pollutants among vulnerable communities, through epidemiological studies. It was recommended that surface water quality be shielded from environmental contamination.


Introduction
Water is a crucial substance required for sustaining important human functions such as nutrition, respiration, circulation, waste elimination, and reproduction.Hence, it is essential to ensure the sustenance of sufficient food availability and a healthy habitat for all living organisms (1).
Enhanced water quality will expedite the achievement of the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) as Getting rid of extreme poverty and hunger, providing basic education, lessening child mortality, improving the health of mothers, and preventing human immunodeficiency (2).
Pollution has caused major alterations to water systems.A lot of issues like industrial debris, herbicides, pesticides, heavy metals, and air pollutants contaminated water led to severe illnesses in humans.Water contamination is disrupting the overall ecosystem of aquatic environments (3).Polluted water is a global source of deaths and diseases, resulting in roughly 19,000 fatalities every day (4).Various physicochemical factors have been identified as indicators of water quality, including taste, color, odor, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), hardness, alkalinity, and salts.These characteristics are influenced by a variety of factors including precipitation, climate, soil type, vegetation, geology, flow conditions, groundwater, and human activities (5).The most significant risk to water quality induced by industries and municipalities is the primary sources of pollution that represent.The increasing global population, the consequences of climate change, and lifestyle changes are causing major stresses on our essential water supplies, resulting in widespread water stress in numerous countries (6).Industrial zones, mining activities, waste materials from mining operations, fertilizers, runoff from agricultural activities, sewage sludge, animal waste, irrigation with wastewater, organic pollutants, and pesticides all contribute to the poisoning of water with heavy metals.Several water resources in Egypt are contaminated with heavy metals such as iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), Nitrite and sulfide.These elements have a specific gravity larger than four and their atomic weight ranges from 63.545 to 200.5 grams.The elevated quantities and accumulation of these metals present a significant health risk to humans (7).In this study on El-Behaira Governorate, it was aimed to determine heavy metals concentrations, reveal the pollution problems, determine the suitability level in terms of aquatic life, and classify the quality of water following Environmental Protection Laws.

Methodology Environmental Description of the Study Area
The location of the study area (Fig. 1) is located in

Preparation of the Samples
To prevent microbiological activity, approximately 2 milliliters of 10% HNO3 acid were applied to each 500-milliliter plastic bottle before adding the samples.Before analysis, all water samples were properly labeled, placed in plastic bottles, and then transferred to the laboratory.A zooplankton net with a mesh size of 100 μm and a Whatman GF/F filter with a pore diameter of 0.7 μm were used to filter and sift the samples that were collected (15).

Physicochemical Analyses
Chemical analysis was performed at the Central Laboratory for Water and Environmental

Appreciation of Organic Pollutants
The technique of Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) was employed to identify the chemical components present in water samples from various locations.The GC-MS analysis was conducted using an Agilent GC 7890A coupled with a triple-axis detector 5975C single quadrupole mass spectrometer.The chromatographic column used was an Agilent HP 5MS column with dimensions of 30m in length, 0.25mm in diameter, and a film thickness of 0.25µm.The gas carrier used was high-purity helium, and it was flowing at a rate of 1mL/min.The temperature of the injector was set to 250°C, and it was fitted with a splitless injector operating at a ratio of 20:1.The source temperature of the mass spectrometer (MS) was adjusted to 230°C, while the quad temperature was set at 150°C.The oven temperature started at 40°C and was maintained for 1 minute.It was then raised to 150°C at a rate of 10°C per minute and kept for 1 minute.Finally, it was further increased to 300°C at a rate of 10°C per minute and held for 1 minute.
The injection volume was 1μL, and the scan range

Statistical Analysis
Data were expressed as mean± standard deviation and analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Duncan's test as a post-hoc test using the IBM SPSS Statistics 22.0 software package.

Physicochemical properties of water samples
The physical and chemical characteristics are crucial in regulating life in aquatic ecosystems, resulting in alterations to the variety and community structure of the aquatic environment Electrical conductivity (EC) is a crucial factor for aquatic goods, and the conductivity exceeds 100 µs/cm as pollution levels rise (25).EC of the surface water was found to be within the usual range, but the groundwater exhibited mild to moderate salt issues.Thus, the electrical conductivity of groundwater, as per this threshold, might lead to a mild salinity issue (26).Indeed, to combat this salinity it is possible to apply normal water to remove the salts and these results are in agreement with the current study.Water conductivity is the measure of water's capacity to conduct electrical current in the presence of dissolved minerals such as chloride, magnesium, and calcium.Conductivity can be employed as a method for detecting the presence of chemicals in water (27).
The presence of total alkalinity (CaCO3) is crucial in aquatic biology since it enhances the accessibility of inorganic carbon for plants.
Additionally, it tends to act as a buffer for water, preventing significant fluctuations in pH levels.A grasp of water quality requires a fundamental understanding of the interconnections between pH, carbon dioxide, and alkalinity (28).Furthermore, it is defined as the overall concentration of bases that may be titrated, given in terms of calcium carbonate (CaCO3).Calcium carbonate is used as a reference for measuring alkalinity, as it is frequently added to raise the pH and alkalinity of acidic water (29).The total alkalinity in pure water would be only 1.58 mg/L as CaCO3.
The turbidity level of samples in the present study is higher than the permissible limit value of WHO is 5 (NTU).Turbidity varies from muddy particles in water.Turbidity is the quantification of the

Heavy metals in water samples
The atomic absorption spectrophotometer was performed to assess the concentration of heavy metals (Al, Fe, Pb, NO2 -and SO4

Organic pollutants in water samples
The GC-MS analysis of organic pollutants was

Recommendations
Every industry should have its dedicated industrial waste treatment facility to handle its trash.In the same way, urban runoff pounds should be in place The rivers as the ecosystems are essential for establishing the natural, cultural, and economic features of any country.The Nile is Egypt's main water source and a crucial economic river that supports agriculture and sustains the surrounding ecology (8).A multitude of pollutants are significantly contributing to the contamination of the river water.The Nile Valley and Delta are among the most ancient agricultural regions on Earth.The Nile Delta is among the locations that face threats such as water logging, soil compaction, salinization, and alkalinization.The Delta region has surface water irrigation, leading to a swift elevation in water tables and a subsequent rise in soil salinity (9).Now, Egypt is confronted with a significant issue of environmental water contamination, which needs more effort and environmental consciousness.According to the 2020 study by the African Development Bank, 80% of the nation's industrial waste is released into surface water bodies without undergoing any treatment.Surface water sources in Egypt are regarded as highly susceptible water sources (10).The growing population necessitates more social, economic, and environmental needs, resulting in heightened environmental effects.Consequently, it is crucial to identify an appropriate and efficient approach to promptly monitor these environmental impacts and fluctuations (11).Water shortages in Egypt are caused by various factors, including the contamination of surface water bodies and streams due to industrial activity and harmful human practices (12).Most of the wastewater is discharged into rivers and canals, in both urban and rural areas due to improper irrigation practices and water mismanagement.Consequently, the monitoring, collecting, analysis, and interpretation of data are necessary to assess water quality.
. The area at concern accounts for around 9% of Egypt's total land area.The governorate has dry Mediterranean climatic conditions.The United Nations study provides a describe the geological parameters of El-Behaira governorate (13).The presence of two aquifers can be observed in its formation: the Nile aquifer, which is mostly located along the eastern border and to a lesser extent along the northern shore, and the Moghra aquifer, which covers the rest of the governorate.The Nile aquifer is a relatively shallow underground water source that is mostly replenished by the seepage of surplus irrigation water.It accounts for approximately 85% of the total amount of groundwater extracted in Egypt (14).The Moghra aquifer is replenished by both rainfall and lateral input from the Nile, which also includes salty water.The average lowest and maximum annual temperatures are 12.6 °C and 26.2°C respectively, indicating a Thermal temperature regime.The yearly precipitation is 83.7 mm.This location is chosen due to its wellestablished reputation for agricultural land being susceptible to erosion and urban encroachment.Samples Collection In this survey, samples were collected from three areas each area (10 samples) Fig (2): Area I: Damanhur district located in the northcentral part of the Nile Delta is representative of the territory of the Nile River (from drinking Water Station).Area II: Kafr-EL-Dawar is a major industrial city on the Nile Delta and is surrounded by many industrial activities (from plastic factory drainage named MEGA PLAST for packaging materials).Area III: El-Mahmoudia Canal is near the northern edge of the west Nile valley.The route of the canal starts at the Rosetta branch of the Nile and goes for 77.170 km.Most of the water treatment plants (WTPs) in Alexandria and El-Behaira are supplied by the El-Mahmoudia canal.
Technology (CLWET) of the Faculty of Science, Damanhur University, Egypt.Temperature, pH value measured by pH-meter (model, 181, serial No.0708149, UK), electric conductivity (EC) measured by a calibrated conductivity meter, total alkalinity (CaCO3), turbidity (NTU) and salinity (NaCl) were measured according to the reference methodology reported by American Public Health Association APHA (16).Data were compared to the listed permissible limits of Egyptian guidelines (No 92/2013) for the River Nile protection from pollution (17) and WHO (2017) (18).
was set from 50 to 800 mass ranges.The electron energy was set at 70eV, and there was a solvent delay of 3 minutes.Ultimately, unidentified substances were recognized by contrasting the spectra with those of the NIST 2008 (National Institute of Standard and Technology Library).The time needed to analyze one sample was 29 minutes (20).

(
21). Results in table (1) show the physicochemical properties of water samples (Damanhur-Kafr-EL-Dawar-El-Mahmoudia) compared with Egyptian guidelines (No 92/2013) and WHO (2017).The quality of water considerably varies from location to location.There exist significant variations in typical surface temperatures and pH values across three distinct locations.The water temperature is a crucial determinant that influences the biological activity of aquatic organisms and the overall water quality (22).The changes in this parameter result from seasonal temperature changes (23).The pH value serves as an indicator of the chemical and biological characteristics of water.It is utilized for categorizing weak acids and bases.This segregation impacts the toxicity of several substances.The pH value was determined to be below the standard levels, maybe as a result of organic matter drainage (24).Moreover, pH is not only influenced by CO2 exchange but also by organic and inorganic pollution in the water.The previous observations recorded a significant increase (p< 0.05) in EC in the El-Mahmoudia sample than Damanhur and Kafr-EL-Dawar areas.
haziness and cloudiness of water resulting from the presence of suspended solid particles.It is often measured in Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU).Elevated turbidity levels can lead to a rise in water temperature due to the absorption of heat by the suspended particles from sunlight.The development rate of aquatic plants is hindered by the inability of sunlight to penetrate through murky water, leading to disruption of the photosynthesis process.In the present research, the concentration turbidity of the El-Mahmoudia area rises from other areas (Damanhur-Kafr-EL-Dawar).According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tap water is deemed safe as long as its turbidity level remains below 5 NTU, which is the threshold for drinkability (30).On the contrary, the water of Damanhur shows high turbidity measurement.The salinity gradient is a prominent element of every ecosystem (31).In the present study, the concentration of NaCl in Kafr-EL-Dawar and El-Mahmoudia areas significantly increased in the Damanhur sample.A multitude of industrial sectors are prone to producing wastewater with high salinity content.The release of wastewater that simultaneously contains significant levels of salt and organic matter.Marine and freshwater environments exhibit significant disparities in the concentration and ratio of ions.
and Benzeneacetic acid.Results in El-Mahmoudia showed the presence of Silane, trimethyl[5-methyl-2-(1-methylethyl) trimethylsiloxy) Silicic acid and diethyl bis(trimethylsilyl) ester as the major compounds detected mostly in this area.These results were identified and confirmed using NIST 2008 mass spectral libraries.Organic substances exhibit resistance to degradation via chemical, biological, and photolytic mechanisms.They possess hazardous properties and have a detrimental impact on both human health and the global ecosystem.In recent years, there has been widespread concern about the presence of emerging organic pollutants (EOPs) in the aquatic environment (41).These pollutants come from both direct sources and diffuse sources.The substances mentioned encompass medications, industrial goods and by-products, personal care items, and insecticides.These pollutants are generated daily in significant quantities and purposefully or accidentally discharged into bodies of water.Water pollution caused by persistent organic aromatic compounds is a growing environmental concern that is gaining the interest of environmental experts.The bulk of these stubborn pollutants consist of industrial waste, textile dyes, medicines, and personal care items that are released into wastewater (42).In Egypt, the widespread and frequent use of pesticides in agriculture, often applied over large areas of crop fields, is acknowledged as a significant cause of water pollution through the spread of organic pollutants.This pollution occurs primarily through the leaching of pesticides into the underlying aquifers or through runoff into surface waters (43).The origins, behavior, and environmental impacts of key types of organic pollutants often found in water, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides, dye pollutants, and antibiotics, are analyzed (44).
This means within the same raw carry different superscripts are significantly different (P <0.05).Represented data mean ± SD.

Table ( 3
): GC-MS analysis of Damanhur sample area and verified in the NIST 2008 (National Institute of Standard and Technology Library).

Table ( 4
): GC-MS analysis of Kafr-El Dawar sample area and verified in the NIST 2008 (National Institute of Standard and Technology Library).

Table ( 5
): GC-MS analysis of El-Mahmoudia sample area and verified in the NIST 2008 (National Institute of Standard and Technology Library).