Solubility and rates of heavy metals dry deposition over the complex industrial district, southern of Cairo

ABSTRACT

This work presents the outcome of a research project to evaluate the rates of heavy metals deposition over the heaviest industrial area in Egypt. Heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, nickel and zinc were analysed in both soluble and insoluble fractions of dustfall. The results show high rates of heavy metals deposition over the area. The highest rates of heavy metals deposition were found at locations close to iron and steel company and lead and zinc smelter. One of the intersting findings of this work is that the ratio between water soluble and insoluble metals were significantly different from one location to the other and also between the different investigated metals. Several other conclusions are included