World Applied Sciences Journal 24 (3): 282-294, 2013 ISSN 1818-4952 © IDOSI Publications, 2013 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.wasj.2013.24.03.75115 Corresponding Author: Mona Kh. Khalil, National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF), Al Anfushi 21556, Alexandria, Egypt. 282 Geochemistry of Some Major and Trace Elements in Sediments of Edku and Mariut Lakes, North Egypt Mona Kh. Khalil, Gehan M. El Zokm, Mamdouh A. Fahmy, Tarek O. Said and Mohammed A. Shreadah National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF), Al Anfushi 21556, Alexandria, Egypt Submitted: Jul 1, 2013; Accepted: Aug 12, 2013; Published: Aug 25, 2013 Abstract: Concentrations of Na, K, Ca, Mg, Li, Bi, Co, Se, B, carbonates, organic carbon and granulometry from 26 sites in Mariut and Edku lakes were studied. The metal concentrations inside Lake Mariut varied from 0.29 to 1.13%, 0.08 to 0.32%, 8.4 to 16.3%, 1.9 to 6.7 %, 17.92 to 116.40 µg/g, 68.59 to 309.79µg/g, 0.63 to 17.19 µg/g, 0.34 to 35.67µg/g and 0.04 to 4.92 µg/g for Na, K, Ca, Mg, B, Li, Co, Bi and Se, respectively. For Lake Edku metal concentrations varied from 0.30 to 1.19%, 0.13 to 0.38%, 4.9 to 16.8%, 1.8 to 7.9 % 21.95 to 66.22 µg/g, 61.00 to 145.94µg/g, 7.43 to 24.79 µg/g for 5.99 to 13.40 µg/g and 0.12 to 1.39µg/g for Na, K, Ca, Mg, B, Li, Co, Bi and Se, respectively. Metal data were normalized against Li in order to determine the level of metal contamination and to detect any anthropogenic contribution of metals to the lakes. The results revealed that all surface sediments in both studied lakes (Co, Bi, Na, K and Ca) are originated predominantly from lithogenous sources confirming their natural origin. While, the sediment are contaminated with Se and B which might be affected by man’s activities (municipal discharges, industrial development, agricultural drainage, Fish farms…..etc. Data set obtained for Na, K, Ca, Mg, B, Li, Co, Bi, Se and TOC and TCO in sediments of both lakes are treated using 3 principal component analysis (PCA), which identified four factors responsible for data structure explaining 82.32% of total variance in Lake Edku and 85.95% Lake Mariut. Key words: Lake Mariut Lake Edku Major Element Trace Element Enrichment Factor INTRODUCTION decreased to less than 12.22% [6]. The present work Coastal zones and lakes are important issues in the located west of the Rosetta branch of the River Nile. international debate for the environmental and sustainable Lake Mariut , the smallest of the northern Egyptian development. They have become the major site for lakes, located in the north western coast of Egypt, is a extensive and diverse economic activities [1]. Coastal shallow, brackish-water lake located southeast of the lakes occupy 13% of worldwide coastal areas and are highly populated urban areas in Egypt and in the often subjected to both natural and man-made factors [2]. world [7]. Since 1950, the total area of the lake has been Importance of many lakes is coming from fishing and salt reduced to a third of its original size [8]. Lake Edku is extraction along their borders [3, 4]. the third largest wetland area in the northern delta. It The northern Egyptian lakes represented by the main supports a fishery of moderate importance. five lakes (Mariut, Edku, Burullus, Manzalla and Bardawil) Pollution of the lake is as a result of discharge of are distributed along the northern shoreline of Egypt, ever-increasing quantities of agricultural drainage from west to east, respectively. All of them, with the water with heavy fertilizer and pesticide loads to lakes, exception of Lake Mariut, are directly connected to occasional siltation and closure of Bughaz, expansion the sea. They represent 25% of total wetlands of the of reed swamps and submerged aquatic vegetation and Mediterranean [5]. The lakes are an important natural over-fishing [5]. resource for fish production in Egypt. Until 1991, Natural and anthropogenic material accumulates these lakes have always contributed than 40% of the simultaneously in sediments. The problem is exacerbated country’s total fish production, but at present this has by the magnitude of the variation in the loading of focused to study both Mariut and Edku lakes which