title: Highly contaminated areas as sources of pollution for adjoining ecosystems: The case of Augusta Bay (Central Mediterranean).
abstract: An assessment of trace element and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination based on surface sediments collected in summer 2012 was carried out in Priolo Bay adjoining one of the most polluted areas of the Mediterranean Sea, the industrial Augusta harbour (Italy, Central Mediterranean). Inorganic and organic contaminants were generally not remarkable. Occasional elevated concentrations of Hg, Cd, Ni and PAHs exceeding sediment quality guidelines were detected in the northern sector of Priolo Bay, close to Augusta harbour, possibly as a result of water drainage of industrialised and urbanised areas and/or potential direct export of contaminated material from Augusta harbour, whose influence on the adjoining Priolo Bay ecosystem cannot be ruled out. By domino effect, Priolo sediments may therefore become a potential source of pollutants and may represent a threat to the biota.
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, CoNISMa, via Archirafi 18, 90123 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Di Leonardo
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, CoNISMa, via Archirafi 18, 90123 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazzola
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, CoNISMa, via Archirafi 18, 90123 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Tramati
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, CoNISMa, via Archirafi 18, 90123 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vaccaro
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, CoNISMa, via Archirafi 18, 90123 Palermo, Italy. Electronic address: salvatrice.vizzini@unipa.it.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vizzini
mesh_terms: D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000187:drug effects; D061006:Bays; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D007558:Italy; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014131:Trace Elements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Mediterranean Sea; PAHs; Pollution; Sediments; Trace elements