FLOW AND ACCUMULATION OF POLLUTANTS IN AN AGROINDUSTRIAL ECOSYSTEM

The Mostorod agricultural area, which is a district of Cairo (0.6 km(2 )), lies between the El-Shabourah canal and the Mostorod collector int o which many factories discharge their effluents. The Mostorod collect or is connected to the canal by smaller canals. The Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Ca , Mg, Ca, Na and K content of freshwater used for irrigating during th e year 1990 was studied, as well as that of the soil and some plants. An increasing pattern of accumulation through the ecosystem was obtain ed as the Pb content showed a 6 fold concentration in the water, a 280 fold concentration in the soil and up to a 3760 fold concentration in some types of vegetation compared to the maximum concentration allowa ble in irrigation water recommended by the Egyptian Law 48/82 and the FAO (1985). Cadmium concentration showed a similar pattern. These resu lts are tabulated and discussed.