Pb-210 and Cs-137 distribution in Burullus lagoon sediments of Nile river delta, Egypt: Sedimentation rate after Aswan High Dam

This paper examines the Burullus lagoon deposits of the Nile delta coast and the distribution of Pb-210 and Cs-137. Three vibrocores from the lagoon have revealed densely concentrated shell fragments of brackish water origin in the upper (<ca. 15cm, in general) core sediments. Pb-210 and Cs-137 are in general measurable above this sediment core horizon, but, the rest downcore remains as an irregular distribution pattern, probably incurred due to secondary sediment transport or seawater seepage related processes. The present study of Pb-210 and Cs-137 and associated sediment nature of Burullus lagoon prefers sediments of < 15 cm in vibrocores to after Aswan High Dam constructed in 1964, with sedimentation rate of 0.42-0.56 cm/a.