Environmental Radioactivity, Ecotoxicology ( 238 U, 232 Th and 40 K) and Potentially Toxic Elements in Water and Sediments from North Africa Dams

Younes Hamed (), Yosra Ayadi, Rihab Hadji, Amina Ben Saad, Matteo Gentilucci and Elimame Elaloui
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Younes Hamed: Laboratory for the Application of Materials to the Environment, Water and Energy (LAM3E), Faculty of Science of Gafsa, University of Gafsa, Gafsa 2112, Tunisia
Yosra Ayadi: Laboratory for the Application of Materials to the Environment, Water and Energy (LAM3E), Faculty of Science of Gafsa, University of Gafsa, Gafsa 2112, Tunisia
Rihab Hadji: Laboratory of Applied Research in Engineering Geology, Geotechnics, Water Sciences, and Environment, Setif 1 University, Setif 19000, Algeria
Amina Ben Saad: Laboratory for the Application of Materials to the Environment, Water and Energy (LAM3E), Faculty of Science of Gafsa, University of Gafsa, Gafsa 2112, Tunisia
Matteo Gentilucci: School of Science and Technology, Geology Division, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
Elimame Elaloui: Laboratory for the Application of Materials to the Environment, Water and Energy (LAM3E), Faculty of Science of Gafsa, University of Gafsa, Gafsa 2112, Tunisia

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 2, 1-20

Abstract: The natural radioactivity of 238 U, 232 Th and 40 K was measured in water and sediment samples collected from Sidi Salem dam (Tunisia) and Aïn Dalia dam (Algeria) in the Tuniso-Algerian transboundary basin. The samples were measured using a TERRA detector of gamma, beta, and alpha rays, and atomic absorption and gamma-ray spectrometry were used to analyze the levels of radionuclides and toxic elements, respectively. Potentially toxic elements (Fe, Pb, Zn, Ni, Cr, Cu and Cd) and associated health risks in surface water and sediment of dams were investigated in this present study. The concentrations of Fe, Pb, Zn, Ni, Cr, Cu and Cd in surface water ranged from 5.430 to 9.700 mg·L −1 , 0.022 to 0.168, 0.018 to 0.142, 0.065 to 0.366, BDL to 0.0351, BDL to 0.071 and BDL to 0.048 mg·L −1 , respectively. In the sediments, the concentrations of Fe, Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cd and Cr were of the order of 136.7, 3.41, 3.22, 0.213, 0.182, 0.15 mg·L −1 and BDL, respectively. The mean radioactivity rates in the water samples were 1.72, 0.068 and 94.6 Bq·L −1 for 238 U, 232 Th and 40 K, respectively (Tunisia dam), and were 1.9, 0.09 and 131.43 Bq·L −1 for 238 U, 232 Th and 40 K, respectively (Algeria dam). The mean 238 U, 232 Th and 40 K radioactivity concentrations measured in the sediment samples were 2.67, 0.18 and 197.87 Bq·kg −1 , respectively (Tunisian dam), and were 4.34, 0.27 and 287.61 Bq·kg −1 , respectively (Algeria dam). The activity concentration of 40 K was higher than that of 238 U and 232 Th for the water and sediment samples. The activity concentrations follow the order 40 K > 238 U > 232 Th. The cumulative impact of these radio-geochemical elements can cause immediate serious problems in the ecosystem due to their high potential toxicity to the environment and human health in this study area and can be transposable to any other similar region. A good knowledge of monitoring quality and quantity for transboundary water resources and international collaborations are essential to safeguard human health (women’s breast cancer, thyroid cancer, neurological impact) and avoid conflicts, especially during climatic upheavals of drought.

Keywords: radioactivity; water quality; potentially toxic elements; health risks; potential toxicity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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