title: Interpretation of coastal sediment quality based on trace metal and PAH analysis, benthic foraminifera, and toxicity tests (Sardinia, Western Mediterranean).
abstract: An integrated approach for the assessment of coastal sediment quality was utilised in three areas of Sardinia (Western Mediterranean, Italy). Sediments were analysed for trace metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), while benthic foraminifera were used as bioindicators. Furthermore, the embryo-toxicity test was used to provide ecologically relevant information using rapid and cost-effective screening tools. The aim was to evaluate the usefulness of coupling different analytical tools. The results revealed the presence of polluted sediments in areas exposed to petrochemical industries, smelters or military settlements. However, while foraminifera have presented similar indications for chemical analysis of contamination levels in the different areas, the toxicity test exhibited a poor relationship with the contaminants measured individually. The results raise questions concerning the bioavailability of contaminants released by sediments in the water column. Overall, the toxicity rate was significant in many samples in comparison with other sites studied in other Mediterranean regions.
authors: Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica, Medicina Clinica e Molecolare, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Via GT Porcell 4, 09124 Cagliari, Italy. Electronic address: schintu@unica.it.
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Schintu
authors: Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Geologiche, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Via Trentino 51, I-09127 Cagliari, Italy. Electronic address: cbuosi@unica.it.
authors: Carla
authors: C
authors: Buosi
authors: Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer (Ifremer), ZI FURIANI, 20600 Bastia, France. Electronic address: francois.galgani@ifremer.fr.
authors: François
authors: F
authors: Galgani
authors: Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica, Medicina Clinica e Molecolare, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Via GT Porcell 4, 09124 Cagliari, Italy. Electronic address: alexmarrucci@unica.it.
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Marrucci
authors: Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica, Medicina Clinica e Molecolare, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Via GT Porcell 4, 09124 Cagliari, Italy. Electronic address: bmarras@unica.it.
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Marras
authors: Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Geologiche, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Via Trentino 51, I-09127 Cagliari, Italy. Electronic address: aibba@unica.it.
authors: Angelo
authors: A
authors: Ibba
authors: Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Geologiche, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Via Trentino 51, I-09127 Cagliari, Italy. Electronic address: acherchi@unica.it.
authors: Antonietta
authors: A
authors: Cherchi
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D056908:Foraminifera / Q000737:chemistry*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D007558:Italy; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D018675:Toxicity Tests; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Benthic foraminifera; Bioassays; Marine sediments; PAHs; Sardinia; Trace metals