[Characterisation and correlation of biotic and non biotic parameters of Nahr El Bared waters]

Nahr el Bared is one of the main Lebanese coastal rivers. It crosses down a rather deep valley and passes by several urban agglomerations and industrial zones, which use its water as a discharge system of their waste. This study shows the impact of the anthropic activities on the water quality of this river. The application of the diversity and the similarity index, and the biological normalized index IBGN, as well as the statistical analyses of correlation permit to characterize a sector close to the source free of pollution whereas most of the course downstream is subjected to strong anthropic disturbances which degrade the quality of water to more or less high intensities according to the inputs and the self-purification. A positive correlation of the chemical, biological and bacteriological pollution indicators is highlighted

Cd and Pb extractability with EDTA in sediments of three contrasted sites of the Lebanese coast

Cd and Pb extractability with EDTA were measured from sediment samples collected at three contrasted sites along the Lebanese coastal zones: Akkar, Dora and Selaata. Akkar is located away from any direct source of contamination, while Dora and Selaata receive respectively urban and industrial wastes. The extractability of Cd and Pb from sediments of the aforementioned sites was studied by applying kinetic and equilibrium extractions with EDTA 0.05M. The adjustment of Pb kinetic extractions curves to a two-first order reactions model permitted to kinetically fractionate Pb in the studied sediments into three fractions [readily extractable, less extractable and non extractable] and allowed to conclude that Pb in Selaata represents the highest environmental risk