Study of Radioactive Substance Transfer in Nasser Lake: Analysis of Environmental and Biological Impacts on Aquatic Ecosystems

This study analyzed the transfer of radioactive elements into aquatic ecosystems in Nasser Lake, Egypt. The focus is on the concentrations of four elements—Radon-222 ( ²²² Rn), Radium-226 ( ²²⁶ Ra), Thorium-232 ( ²³² Th), and Potassium-40 ( ⁴⁰ K)—in sediments, water, plants, and fish gathered from a specific region around the lake. A geographic information system was employed to determine the spatial distribution of radioactivity levels around the lake and to trace the correlation between these regions and the surrounding environment. The environmental impact caused by these radioactive elements was determined and defined through various statistical techniques and analyses. The study found that higher concentrations of radioactive elements in sediments were strongly correlated with increased ²²² Rn emissions, suggesting potential health and environmental risks in areas with high sediment accumulation closer to the High Dam area. Furthermore, the correlation between the deposits of sediment and mass accumulations of radioactive elements in the living ecosystems was deduced. Likewise, it was proposed that pollution levels in these regions could pose a risk to human health. The last component of fish radioactive bioaccumulation was utilized, in part, to determine fish-based radiation doses sustained by an adult consumer. The findings showed that the radiation levels were still below international safety guidelines, but contamination observed near the High Dam due to heavy fish consumption raised concerns for the future. Such results underline the need for routine assessment of the radioactive contaminants in Nasser Lake. On the other hand, the hydrographic context of the Nasser Lake has higher contamination closer to the High Dam, and the fact that people are exposed to fish from the lake compromises the safety of individuals in the long term. The study also provides observations that will deepen our understanding of the distribution and movement of radioactive elements in the environment. To this end, it suggests that such pollutants' environmental and health impacts require further study. Such conclusions improve understanding that radioactive pollutants in Nasser Lake do exist, and in the future, humans and marine life could be influenced negatively, so they must be predicted.