The PAH level, distribution and composition in surface sediments from a Mediterranean lagoon: the Marano and Grado Lagoon (Northern Adriatic Sea, Italy).
The Marano and Grado Lagoon is one of the best conserved transitional environment in the whole Mediterranean area. On the other hand, it suffers from industrial, agricultural and fisheries activities, which could have an important impact on its environmental quality. With the application of the WFD, the sediment chemical status was investigated. In this work, 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons included by the US EPA within the priority pollutants were considered. PAHs values ranged from non-detectable to 1056 ng g(-1) showing the highest contamination close to the Aussa-Corno River mouth, which received the industrial inputs. The contamination level was comparable to that observed in low contaminated sites of the Mediterranean region, and lower than the adjacent Gulf of Trieste. The ratios of selected PAHs congeners pointed out the prevalence of pyrolitic sources. Moreover, the application of the ERL/ERM displayed an environment, which should not have a potential biological impact.
Agenzia Regionale per la Protezione dell'Ambiente del Friuli Venezia Giulia (ARPA-FVG), Via Cairoli 14, 33057 Palmanova, Italy. Electronic address: alessandro.acquavita@arpa.fvg.it.
Alessandro
A
Acquavita
Agenzia Regionale per la Protezione dell'Ambiente del Friuli Venezia Giulia (ARPA-FVG), Via Cairoli 14, 33057 Palmanova, Italy.
Jari
J
Falomo
Agenzia Regionale per la Protezione dell'Ambiente del Friuli Venezia Giulia (ARPA-FVG), Via Cairoli 14, 33057 Palmanova, Italy.
Sergio
S
Predonzani
Agenzia Regionale per la Protezione dell'Ambiente del Friuli Venezia Giulia (ARPA-FVG), Via Cairoli 14, 33057 Palmanova, Italy.
Francesco
F
Tamberlich
Agenzia Regionale per la Protezione dell'Ambiente del Friuli Venezia Giulia (ARPA-FVG), Via Cairoli 14, 33057 Palmanova, Italy.
Nicola
N
Bettoso
Agenzia Regionale per la Protezione dell'Ambiente del Friuli Venezia Giulia (ARPA-FVG), Via Cairoli 14, 33057 Palmanova, Italy.
Giorgio
G
Mattassi
D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D007558:Italy; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000737:chemistry*; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*
D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
Ecotoxicological effects; Isomeric ratio; Marano and Grado Lagoon; PAHs; Sediments