Lead and cadmium in Nile River water and finished drinking water in greater Cairo, Egypt

Lead and cadmium were measured in raw Nile River water and in finished drinking water at four treatment plants in Greater Cairo, Egypt. Samples were collected monthly during the period September 1993 to August 1994. The river water mean concentrations were 29.6 +/- 8.74 mu g/L for lead and 4.15 +/- 0.88 mu g/L, for cadmium. These levels were 14 and 24 times less than levels reported in a study published in 1995 (Gomaa 1995). In the drinking water, the means were 9.93 +/- 0.5 mu g/L for lead and 2.2 +/- 0.63 mu g/L for cadmium. The drinking water mean concentrations were below internationally-recognized drinking water standards. Comparison of the raw and finished drinking water data showed that the water treatment facilities reduced concentrations of lead by 33% and cadmium by 53%. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.