Abstract
El-Ratma is among the largest non-organized "Sayha" solar saltworks in Egypt. Its importance rises from its position near to Damietta City, famous for its food industry. The harvested raw salt, known as "Sayha", is used without washing and purification. The site and its concentration ponds lack the infrastructure necessary to purify the crystalline halite. Analyses of samples of salt, brines and cores indicate serious contamination, so that the quality does not meet the Egyptian quality standard for processed crude salt for food and industrial purposes. Contaminants include gypsum, heavy minerals, bitter salts and mineralized fecal pellets. The salt thus endangers human health, and the salterns cause severe soil degradation and other environmental hazards, constituting threats to the ecosystem of the area.