- Cairo, Egypt
Mouataz T. Mostafa
Arish University, Geology, Faculty Member
- The leader of the Egyptian chapter at the International Medical Geology Associationedit
Wadi Abu Subeira area contains many farms and houses and is one of the promising areas for iron mining. Therefore, 21 surface soil samples were collected and investigated for toxic heavy metals (Pb, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Co, and As) using... more
Wadi Abu Subeira area contains many farms and houses and is one of the promising areas for iron mining. Therefore, 21 surface soil samples were collected and investigated for toxic heavy metals (Pb, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Co, and As) using inductively coupled plasma (ICP) to establish a geochemical baseline for these metals during pre-mining conditions. To decipher the sources of these metals and their interrelationships, multivariate statistical analysis was applied, while to evaluate the degree of pollution and potential environmental risks the environmental indices were used. Abundances of Pb, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Co, and As fluctuated from 17.72 to 0.06, 47.12 to 10.86, 47.88 to 9.25, 45.04 to 6.23, 51.93 to 17.82, 10.55 to 1.24, and 7.04 to 1.66 mg/kg, respectively, displaying a declining trend of Zn > Cr > Ni > Cu > As > Co > Pb. Additionally, the mean concentrations of all studied metals were found to be significantly lower than the selected international reference stan...
Research Interests:
Traffic emissions, overpopulation, and poor urban planning have degraded the environmental quality of the Greater Cairo megacity. As road dust is considered the main sink of pollutants in urban environments, thirty road dust samples from... more
Traffic emissions, overpopulation, and poor urban planning have degraded the environmental quality of the Greater Cairo megacity. As road dust is considered the main sink of pollutants in urban environments, thirty road dust samples from six major roads were collected. ICP-OES was used to analyze the samples in order to determine the contamination grade using the pollution indices, decipher metal sources and geochemical associations using multivariate analysis, and evaluate the ecological and human health risks. The average contents of heavy metals were arranged in decreasing order: Fe (1181.12), Zn (201.36), Pb (66.10), Ni (32.42), Cu (26.07), Cr (26.00), Co (14.78), As (2.76), and Hg (0.93) mg/kg. The spatial pattern showed that new urban communities exhibited lower contamination levels compared to unplanned old districts, especially for traffic elements (Pb, Zn, and Cu). The highest Igeo mean value was observed for Hg (3.34) followed by Zn (1.34), Pb (1.24), Ni (0.10), As (− 0.19), Co (− 0.24), Cu (− 0.73), and Cr (− 1.05). Additionally, CF values indicated very high contamination levels for Pb and Zn, whereas the highest PLI value was observed at Ramses Street. All EF values were higher than 1.5, indicating the anthropogenic enrichment of metals. RI values classified Cairo as a region with considerable ecological risk, observing that Hg was the main contributor. Correlation analysis and PCA showed that Pb and Zn originated from vehicle exhaust, Hg, Cu, and As from domestic and industrial activities, and Fe and Co from natural origin. Cr and Ni exhibited potential carcinogenic risks for children through ingestion; conversely, the non-carcinogenic risks were within safe levels. As a result, the use of clean energy is recommended to mitigate the accumulation of heavy metals in road dust and to improve the quality of life.
Research Interests:
ased on the contents of heavy metals (Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mo, Mn, Pb, and Zn) in 22 road dust samples, the urban environmental quality of Wadi El-Qamar area was evaluated. It is a residential area suffering from unplanned industrial... more
ased on the contents of heavy metals (Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mo, Mn, Pb, and Zn) in 22 road dust samples, the urban environmental quality of Wadi El-Qamar area was evaluated. It is a residential area suffering from unplanned industrial activities, overpopulation, and uncontrolled urbanization. Heavy metal sources and geochemical associations were deciphered using a multivariate statistical approach, while the contamination degree and ecological risks were identified using various pollution indices. Moreover, the human health risks (carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic) for residents were estimated via different exposure pathways. The mean abundances of elements were as follows: Fe > Mn > Zn > Cr > Cu > Pb > Mo > Co, while the individual contamination grades decreased in the following order: Mo > Cu > Zn > Pb > Cr > Fe > Mn > Co, according to the geoaccumulation index (I geo) and the contamination factor (CF) average values. The high correlation between Zn and Cu (r = 0.92) reflected their common origin (traffic-related emissions). Notably, only Cu showed individual ecological risk; meanwhile, the overall ecological risk index (RI) classified the study area as having low ecological risk (RI < 150), with an average of 75.20. The health risk assessment indicated the absence of adverse non-carcinogenic risks and the presence of unacceptable carcinogenic risks posed by Cr and Pb. Ultimately, heavy-duty vehicular emissions (e.g., tire and brake wear) and industrial emissions from cement and refining companies are likely the main contributors to heavy metal loadings in the study area. The results of this research will be useful in developing strategies for pollution control and management and can be utilized for comparison in future studies.
Research Interests:
Wadi Abu Subeira area contains many farms and houses and is one of the promising areas for iron mining. Therefore, 21 surface soil samples were collected and investigated for toxic heavy metals (Pb, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Co, and As) using... more
Wadi Abu Subeira area contains many farms and houses and is one of the promising areas for iron mining. Therefore, 21 surface soil samples were collected and investigated for toxic heavy metals (Pb, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Co, and As) using inductively coupled plasma (ICP) to establish a geochemical baseline for these metals during pre-mining conditions. To decipher the sources of these metals and their interrelationships, multivariate statistical analysis was applied, while to evaluate the degree of pollution and potential environmental risks the environmental indices were used.
Research Interests:
Caves are commonly used for the purposes of geological conservation and tourism, but such experience is very limited in desert areas of northeastern Africa. The Sannur Cave discovered near Beni Suef in Egypt a few decades ago has been... more
Caves are commonly used for the purposes of geological conservation and tourism, but such experience is very limited in desert areas of northeastern Africa. The Sannur Cave discovered near Beni Suef in Egypt a few decades ago has been investigated in order to judge about its importance as geological heritage. It is established that the study territory contains three principal elements that can be attributed to geological heritage. These are the Sannur Cave itself, two quarries of the so-called Egyptian alabaster (recrystallized Eocene limestones used for ornamental stones and sculptures), and the geological landscape in the vicinities of the cave with some outcrops of Cenozoic rocks representing various facies and bearing numerous fossils. Two dominant geological heritage types of the study territory are geomorphological and sedimentary types, which represent globally and nationally unique phenomena. The Sannur Cave and the relevant features can be used for the purposes of geological conservation, research, education, and tourism, which make it an important natural resource. Geopark creation can help in efficient exploitation of the latter.
Research Interests: Geology, Geomorphology, Tourism Studies, Ecology, Desert Ecology, and 13 moreKarst Environments, Spelean History (Caves and Caverns), Karst Geomorphology, Archaeology of Caves and Caverns (Archaeospeleology), Geopark and geotourism, Tourism, Karst and speleology, Cave and Karst Studies, Management of Caves, Geotourism- Sustainable Tourism- Tourism Geography, Caves, Karst and Caves, and Karst Geomorphology-Hydrogeology-Geoarchaeology-Geotourism
The challenges of sustainable development are ever more pressing, and the skills, interests and capabilities of the SEGH member are well-placed to continue to make more meaningful contributions to the environment , society and well-being.... more
The challenges of sustainable development are ever more pressing, and the skills, interests and capabilities of the SEGH member are well-placed to continue to make more meaningful contributions to the environment , society and well-being. We reflect on the historical development of the society, its response to the dynamic international research landscape and the great opportunities ahead. In 2018, SEGH implemented a new board structure after 2-3 years of consultation, with approval of a new constitution and a new strategy across the large number of international board members. While regions were represented by