title: High concern chemicals in top layer sediments of the northern Adriatic seabed as markers of old waste dumpings.
abstract: The results are presented of a survey planned to assess the presence of high concern chemicals in sediments collected in a northern sector of the Adriatic sea neighboring the Venice lagoon. For the assessment, persistent marker chemicals were selected from the families of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorobiphenyls, polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorodibenzofurans (PCDFs), and chlorinated pesticides. Based on the chemical-specific concentrations and PCDD+PCDF profiles determined in the sediments analyzed, dumping zones appear to have existed approximately 5-6km away from lagoon shoreline. Contamination levels exceed the quality criteria established by the pertinent Italian national regulation at many sampling sites, eventually reflecting ("fingerprinting") industrial activities once performed in the industrial settlement of Porto Marghera within the Venice lagoon. In coastal samples, concentration levels appear to be lower than those determined at offshore sampling sites.
authors.affiliation: Toxicological Chemistry Unit, Department of the Environment and Primary Prevention, National Institute for Health, Rome, Italy. roberto.miniero@iss.it
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Miniero
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ingelido
authors.forename: Anna Laura
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Iamiceli
authors.forename: Fabiola
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ferri
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Iacovella
authors.forename: Anna Rita
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Fulgenzi
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Felip
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: di Domenico
mesh_terms: D001572:Benzofurans / Q000032:analysis; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis; D007558:Italy; D019083:Mediterranean Region; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D001572:Benzofurans; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D010575:Pesticides; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls