Capsized of a barge carrying Phosphate in Upper Egypt's Qena in river Nile .

Capsizing of a barge carrying 500 tons of Phosphate in 

Upper Egypt's Qena.

Egypt's Irrigation Minister Hossam Moghazi declared a state of extreme emergency at his ministry due to the capsizing of a barge carrying 500 tons of phosphate in Upper Egypt's Qena.

The ship capsized after colliding with the foundations of the city's Dandara Bridge. An operations room at the ministry was set up to follow up on the situation and to coordinate between different administrative, policing and environmental bodies in the city to control the situation, MENA said.

Risk of Phosphate in the water :

There may be a risk to human health at reservoirs where recreational contact with water is possible and animals may be at risk where footpaths and bridleways allow access to water. Where access to river Nile  is permitted, warning signs are must installed to alert the public to the risk of contact with the water, or allowing their animals to drink from or enter the water.

*Some species of cyanobacteria or (blue-green algae) produce toxins within their cell structure. These toxins can be released when the algae die and decay.

** Toxin release can also occur during the growth phase of young algae.

***The implications of toxic algal blooms are significant and likely to become more so if global warming results in reduced flow in rivers with correspondingly less dilution for effluents and agricultural run-off.

****In its 2003 Background Document for the Development of WHO Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality, WHO noted that recreational use of water contaminated with toxic algae had been linked to incidents of human illness in many countries. Symptoms ranged from sickness with diarrhoea to muscle and joint pains and irritation of the skin, eyes and throat.

Control Measures

 *Possible short-term measures include dosing algicides such as copper sulphate or adding chemicals that adsorb or precipitate dissolved phosphates. These measures may be impracticable in the large reservoirs that are used for water supply purposes.

**Reduction in the algal load on water treatment processes is also achieved by the use of multiple draw-off levels i.e. a number of outlet valves are provided at different depths on the draw-off tower. By monitoring algal concentrations against water depth, it is possible to ensure that high concentrations of algae are avoided.