Spectroscopic Study of Heavy Metals at Different Depths in Southeastern Soil of Nile Delta, Egypt

The present work has been conducted to study the level of pollutants in six sectors at southeastern soil of Nile delta of Egypt. The level of major, minor and trace metals were surveyed by conventional atomic emission spectroscopy. Flame atomic absorption spectroscopy was used to study Cd, Cu, Ni, and Pb in both soil and irrigating water at different depths up to 100cm. Results indicate that heavy metals were found with higher concentrations in soil that is irrigated with untreated wastewater. Some samples from locations irrigated with clean surface water also showed higher metal concentrations because of uncontrolled use of fertilizers. The level of metals in surface samples down to 100cm depth, indicate the possible mobilization of heavy metals that subsequently transported to groundwater and/or the drainage water in these areas. The possible pollution of groundwater and/or drainage water leads to further contamination of soil in other areas through infiltration and diffusion causing wide deterioration of Nile delta agricultural land.