title: Does salt water intrusion constitute a mercury contamination risk for coastal fresh water aquifers?
abstract: Four different sampling surveys were carried out in 1998 to evaluate the possible causes of severe mercury contamination involving many wells spread over a vast territory along the coast of southern Tuscany (Italy). Several samples of groundwater and coastal sea water were collected to determine the Hg, Cl, Ar, He and N contents. Anthropogenic or deep-seated sources of the Hg involved in the contamination event can be excluded. The observed coupling of Hg pollution with progressive salt water intrusion along the coastal aquifer indicates a close causal relation between these two phenomena.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Geochimica Ambientale e Conservazione del Patrimonio Culturale Lapideo, University of Siena, Via del Laterino 8, I-53100 Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Protano
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Riccobono
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sabatini