Distribution and speciation of metals in surface sediments of Taranto [corrected] gulf (Ionian Sea, Southern Italy).
Concentrations of metals (Al, Fe, Ti, Ni, Mn, Cr, Zn, Cu, Pb) were determined in surface sediments from Taranto gulf (Ionian Sea, Southern Italy) in order to assess the distribution and the bioavailability of metals. Total metal content and speciation of Fe, Ni, Mn, Zn, Cu and Pb were determined. Sediment cores were also sampled in some stations of particular interest. The analytical results show that metals distribution does not show significant variations in relation to depth. Metal distribution in the Taranto gulf is mainly influenced by industrial wastes from Taranto town, by rivers of the Basilicata region and by prevailing anticlockwise marine currents. These factors cause an accumulation of metals in the sediments near to the coasts of Calabria. The statistical analysis, effected by HCA and PCA methods, can be considered a good starting point in order to classify sediment samples and to locate accumulation areas. Metal speciation shows that Fe, Ni and Zn are present in sediments mainly as sulphides, Mn is present principally in an ion-exchange form or bound to carbonate, while Cu and Pb are mainly present in the fraction bounds to humic acids.
Buccolieri
Alessandro
A
Dipartimento di Scienza dei Materiali, Università di Lecce, via per Amesano, 73100 Lecce, Italy.
Buccolieri
Giovanni
G
Cardellicchio
Nicola
N
Dell'Atti
Angelo
A
Di Leo
Antonella
A
Maci
Antonella
A
Petronio
Bianca Maria
BM
D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D006812:Humic Substances / Q000032:analysis; D007558:Italy; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D013440:Sulfides / Q000032:analysis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D006812:Humic Substances; D008670:Metals; D013440:Sulfides; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical