Abstract
Some environmental challenges in the aquatic environment of the River Nile.
Dr. Medhat Ibrahim
Spectroscopy Department, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt.
The Nile is the creator of the fertile land of Egypt, it has sustained its existence and supported our earliest civilizations. It is the longest river in the world; and supplies Egypt with water for different purposes. After the construction of the Aswan High Dam (AHD) the Nile water long-term annual peak discharge of 8430 m3/s has been reduced to 2550 m3/s. The peak suspended sediment concentration of 3500 mg/l which was supplied with the flood has nearly disappeared which in turn leads to lower level of nutrients in Egyptian soils. As a result of increasing the industrial activities many pollutants find their ways to the river Nile. The molecular structure of the sediment is affected by the discharge of pollutants. A model based on experimental as well as theoretical basis is presented. This model illustrates that pollutants may release from sediment once more to the Nile water or even transported to the ground water. Environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the Nile aquatic environment is necessary in order to control such release.
