摘要：Background and Objective: Nowhere has that situation been more complex and challenging than in Egypt, where combinations of water pollution and scarcity are the most important factors impacting on water safety in Egypt. Water pollution by cyanides is an issue threatening water safety and pose a huge risk to both human and animal health. This study aimed to determine the possibility of the existence of cyanide as a critical chemical contaminant in different water sources at Assiut, Egypt. Materials and Methods: Concentrations of free cyanidein98 water samples collected from the surface, drinking, irrigation and waste waters have been evaluated by Lovibond Multi direct Photometer. Results: The results showed that cyanide level in wastewater (0.2195±0.027 mg L1) was significantly higher than surface water (0.037±0.017 mg L1), irrigation water (0.016±0.009 mg L1) and drinking water (0.016±0.004 mg L1) (p<0.05). Moreover, cyanide levels in wastewater were found to be above the maximum permissible limit imposed by USEPA and WHO. The mean pH values of the different tested water samples were 7.6738±0.05007 in drinking water 7.7543±0.15602 in irrigation water, 7.6214±0.05570 in surface water and 4.4450±0.04500 in wastewater samples. Statistically, in positive water samples for cyanide, a robust significant negative correlation between pH value and free cyanide values were recorded. Conclusion: The presence of cyanide in 54.08% of the collected water samples and a higher concentration in waste waters exceeding the permissible limits is a real threat to the health of all living organisms, especially humans and animals. Therefore, the regular estimation of cyanide in different water sources and in biological materials that allow the assessment of risks resulting from environmental exposure to such hazard pollutant is highly recommended.
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