DOI: 10.2478/jwld-2019-0008 © Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN), Committee on Agronomic Sciences JOURNAL OF WATER AND LAND DEVELOPMENT Section of Land Reclamation and Environmental Engineering in Agriculture, 2019 2019, No. 40 (I–III): 81–86 © Institute of Technology and Life Sciences (ITP), 2019 PL ISSN 1429–7426, e-ISSN 2083-4535 Available (PDF): http://www.itp.edu.pl/wydawnictwo/journal; http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/jwld; http://journals.pan.pl/jwld Received 13.01.2018 Reviewed 19.07.2018 Accepted 20.08.2018 Evaluation of heavy metal contamination A – study design B – data collection in sediments of the Seybouse River, C – statistical analysis D – data interpretation E – manuscript preparation Guelma – Annaba, Algeria F – literature search Hanane TALBI BCDEF, Slimane KACHI AE University 8 may 1945, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences and Earth and Universe Sciences, Department of Biology, P.O Box 401, 24000 Guelma, Algeria; e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] For citation: Talbi H., Kachi S. 2019. Evaluation of heavy metal contamination in sediments of the Seybouse River, Guelma – Anna- ba, Algeria. Journal of Water and Land Development. No. 40 (I–III) p. 81–86. DOI: 10.2478/jwld-2019-0008. Abstract The surface sediments of Seybouse River and its affluents have been studied and assessed to determine their degree of heavy metal contamination (Cd, Pb, Cu, Ni, Zn and Fe). The contamination factor (CF), the contamination degree (CD) and statistical tools (correlation and APC) has been used in assessing: metal contamination, sediment toxicity and to identify the origin of metals which have enriched the sediments. Heavy metals concentrations of sediments are generally heterogeneous and vary according to the metal and the sampling site. The results have been compared to the reference values of the unpol- luted sediments and have shown that Seybouse River sediments are more contaminated by Pb, Cd and Zn respectively. CF values indicate moderate to considerable contamination for most stations. CD values show that the most toxic sediments are located mainly at the estuary and downstream of large agglomerations. The matrix correlation between the metallic ele- ments shows a very strong correlation between Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn indicating that they have a similar source. These differ- ent metallic elements appear as traces of anthropogenic pollution. Despite using wastewater treatment plants as protective measures, Seybouse River pollution is remaining a big issue and more efforts has to be done by local authorities. Key words: contamination, Guelma – Annaba basin, heavy metals, sediments, Seybouse River INTRODUCTION In the catchment area of Guelma-Annaba, Seybouse River represents a fundamental source of life for these re- Metallic contamination of aquatic environments has gions and the water is used for domestic, industrial and become a global concern over the world due to uncon- agricultural purposes. These activities associated with ur- trolled industrial and urban discharges, the intensive use of banization and wastewater discharges without prior treat- chemical fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture as well as ment are the potential sources of heavy metals that threaten the non-rational use of water resources. water quality of the Seybouse River. The contaminants that reach these environments con- Many studies have already been carried out on the stitute always a major environmental problem. The con- study area [ATTOUI et al. 2016; BOURHANE-EDDINE 2010; centration of most of contaminants rises sometimes up to DEBIECHE 2002; KHALED-KHODJA et al. 2016; LARABA, levels which are very toxic. HADJ ZOBIR 2009], indicating the main role of the indus- Among these pollutants, metal residues which are con- try, agriculture and wastewater in the deterioration of water sidered as serious pollutants that could affect the aquatic quality. The World Bank (1996) intervened to finance life as well as human health through the use of water (food, a study in the region, in order to control pollution at El- agriculture) [COOK et al. 1990; DENISEGER et al. 1990]. Hadjar steel complex. According to the Ministry of Spatial Heavy metals from natural or anthropogenic sources Planning, Environment and City [Ministère de l'Aména- released into an aquatic environment are largely trapped in gement du Territoire et de l'Environnement 2007], the pol- sediments [SIN et al. 2001]. As a result, sediments are of- lution reaches a high degree. ten used to assess the degree of pollution of aquatic envi- With all these changes and important anthropogenic ronments [BUGGY, TOBIN 2008]. activities, these regions are aroused a strong concern and © Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN) in Warsaw, 2019; © Institute of Technology and Life Sciences (ITP) in Falenty, 2019 82 H. TALBI, S. KACHI growing interest to study its consequences on the water The sampling points have been divided according to quality and the environment. the strategic locations of the Seybouse River, downstream It is in this context, this study has been conducted to of the affluents, agglomerations and industrial zones likely assess the level of heavy metals pollution of Seybouse to be the source of the pollution. The sampling campaign River through the analysis of sediments. has been conducted in July 2015. A set of thirty-one stations has been considered in this MATERIALS AND METHODS study where eighteen among the Seybouse River and thir- teen from its affluents (Fig. 1). In a plastic hand shovel, STUDY AREA approximately, a quantity of 500 g of wet sediment is col- lected in vacuum-sealed polyethylene bags and carried-out The Seybouse basin is located in the northeastern re- to the laboratory at 4°C. Then, the sediments are dried at gion of Algeria and covers an area of 6471 km2 and its 105°C for 48 hours to eliminate moisture. After drying lands are more fertile. Annual rainfall varies on average process, the sediments are ventilated, milled and sieved from 450 mm in the south to 735 mm in the North. The through the 63 μm sieve. Five grams of sediment are Seybouse River is formed near Guelma by the confluence weighed and put in a 100 ml beaker with 70 cm3 of bi- 3 3 of the Cherf River and the Bouhamdane River, it joins the distilled water, 25 cm of nitric acid (HNO3) and 5 cm of Mediterranean Sea near Annaba (Fig. 1). hydrochloric acid (HCl), brought to a gentle boiling on a sand bath for 24 hours, allowed to cool and resumed by SAMPLING adding a few drops of 1 mol per l HCl. Next, samples are filtered using a cellulose membrane without ash, and then 3 The sampling area is spread out over the entire length adjusted to 100 cm with HCl (37%) solution [AMINOT, of Seybouse, from the confluence (near Guelma) to the CHAUSSEPIED 1983]. estuary (Annaba). Fig. 1. Location of the study area and sampling stations on the Seybouse River and its affluents (Guelma – Annaba Basin); source: own elaboration © PAN in Warsaw, 2019; © ITP in Falenty, 2019; Journal of Water and Land Development. No. 40 (I–III) a) e) Evaluation of heavy metal contamination insedime metalcontamination heavy Evaluation of gie) in Algiers. Algiers. in gie) (Fr. Institut National de Criminalistique et de Criminolo- National Institute of Forensic Sciences and sponding Criminology to the analysed element (toxicology laboratory, hollow cathode lamp which emits the wavelength Thermo corre- Electron Corporation MGF95Z series, lysed with the by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer c) c) –1 –1 –1 Cu (mg∙kg ) Zn (mg∙kg ) 1.5 Cd (mg∙kg ) 0 The trace elements (Fe, Cu, Zn, Ni, Cd, Pb) are ana- are Pb) Cd, Ni, Zn, Cu, (Fe, elements trace The A1 A1 A1 A2 A2 A2 Fig. 2. Metal contents in the se inthe Fig. 2.Metalcontents S1 S1 S1 S2 S2 S2 basin Guelma Guelma basin basin Guelma S3 S3 S3 S4 S4 Guelma basin basin Guelma S4 S5 S5 S5 A3 A3 A A3 (S) River Seybouse A4 A4 ffluents (A) A4 S6 S6 S6 A5 A5 A5 S7 S7 S7 Sampling stations S8 Sampling stations S8 S8 A Seybouse River (S) (S) River Seybouse A6 A6 Sampling stations A6 ffluents (A) S9 S9 S9 A7 A7 A7 S10 A S10 (S) River Seybouse S10 ffluents (A) A8 A8 A8 S11 S11 diments of the Seybouse River a SeybouseRiver ofthe diments S11 A9 A9 Annaba basin basin Annaba A9 basin Annaba S12 Annaba basin basin Annaba S12 sampling stations as in Fig. 1; source: own study source: Fig.1; asin stations sampling S12 A10 A10 A10 S13 S13 S13 S14 S14 S14 A11 A11 nts of the Seybouse River, Guelma – Annaba, Algeria Algeria Annaba, the SeybouseRiver,Guelma– nts of A11 S15 S15 © PAN in Warsaw, 2019; © ITP in Falenty, 2019; Journal of Water and Land Development. No. 40 No. (I–III) Journalof andLand Development. PANinWater 2019; © 2019; inFalenty, Warsaw, © ITP S15 A12 A12 A12 S16 S16 S16 S17 S17 S17 A13 A13 S18 A13 S18 S18 f) d) –1 b) RESULTS AND DISCUSSION –1 have [F sediments polluted concentrations metal heavy been compared to The average reference Cd. concentrations in > un- Ni > Cu > Pb clearly be seen that the order of abundance is: Fe > Zn and Zn in as stations all shown sampling Figure in 2. It can > Ni (mg∙kg ) Fe (mg∙kg ) –1 nd its affluents; a) Cd, b) Pb, c) Zn, d) Fe, e) Cu, f) Ni; Ni; f) Cu, e) d)Fe, c) Zn, Pb, b) Cd, a) affluents; its nd Pb (mg∙kg ) The results reveal the presence of Cd, Cu, Ni, Fe, Pb Pb Fe, Ni, Cu, Cd, of presence the reveal results The A1 A1 A2 A1 A2 S1 A2 S1 S2 S1 S2 S2 Guelma basin Guelma S3 basin Guelma Guelma basin Guelma S3 S4 S3 S4 S5 S4 S5 A3 S5 A3 A3 A4 A4 A4 S6 S6 S6 ÖRSTNER A A5 (S) River Seybouse ffluents (A) ffluents (A) A5 A5 S7 S7 Sampling stations S7 Sampling stations S8 Sampling stations S8 S8 A6 A6 A6 S9 S9 S9 A A7 (S) River Seybouse , S A7 ffluents (A) A A7 (S) River Seybouse S10 ffluents (A) S10 S10 ALOMONS A8 A8 A8 S11 S11 S11 A9 A9 Annaba basin Annaba A9 Annaba basin Annaba S12 S12 S12 Annaba basin A10 A10 A10 S13 S13 S13 1980].