title: Interannual heavy element and nutrient concentration trends in the top sediments of Venice Lagoon (Italy).
abstract: The elemental composition of surficial sediments of Venice Lagoon (Italy) in 1987, 1993, 1998 and 2003 were investigated. Zn and Cr concentrations resulted in higher than background levels, but only Cd and Hg were higher than legal quality standards (Italian Decree 2010/260 and Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC). Contaminants with similar spatial distribution are sorted into three groups by means of correlation analysis: (i) As, Co, Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, Zn; (ii) Ni, Cr; (iii) Hg. Interannual concentrations are compared by applying a factor analysis to the matrix of differences between subsequent samplings. A general decrease of heavy metal levels is observed from 1987 to 1993, whereas particularly high concentrations of Ni and Cr are recorded in 1998 as a consequence of intense clam fishing, subsequently mitigated by better prevention of illegal harvesting. Due to the major role played by anthropogenic sediment resuspension, bathymetric variations are also considered.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, Informatica e Statistica, Università Ca' Foscari Venezia, Dorsoduro 2137, 30123 Venezia, Italy; Division of Environmental Health and Risk Management, School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Masiol
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, Informatica e Statistica, Università Ca' Foscari Venezia, Dorsoduro 2137, 30123 Venezia, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Facca
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, Informatica e Statistica, Università Ca' Foscari Venezia, Dorsoduro 2137, 30123 Venezia, Italy.
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Visin
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, Informatica e Statistica, Università Ca' Foscari Venezia, Dorsoduro 2137, 30123 Venezia, Italy.
authors.forename: Adriano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sfriso
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, Informatica e Statistica, Università Ca' Foscari Venezia, Dorsoduro 2137, 30123 Venezia, Italy. Electronic address: brown@unive.it.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pavoni
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D007558:Italy; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D019216:Metals, Heavy
keywords: Factor analysis; Heavy metals; Lagoons; Nutrients; Venice