Sediment pollution and dynamic in the Mar Piccolo of Taranto (southern Italy): insights from bottom sediment traps and surficial sediments.
Major and trace element, PAH, and PCB concentrations were measured in surface sediments and particles from sediment traps collected in the First and Second Basin of the Mar Piccolo (Gulf of Taranto) in two periods (June-July and August-September, 2013). The aim of the study was to evaluate pollution degree, sediment transport and particle redistribution dynamic within the area. Results confirm the higher contamination of sediments from the First Basin observed by previous researches, particularly for Cu, Hg, Pb, total PAHs, and total PCBs. Advective transport from the First to the Second Basin appears to be the leading transfer mechanism of particles and adsorbed contaminants, as evidenced by measured fluxes and statistical analyses of contaminant concentrations in surficial sediments and particles from sediment traps. Long-range selective transports of PAHs and microbial anaerobic degradation processes for PCBs have been also observed. These results are limited to a restricted time window but are consistent with the presence of transport fluxes at the bottom of the water column. This mechanism deserves further investigation and monitoring activities, potentially being the main responsible of pollutant delivering to the less contaminated sectors of the Mar Piccolo.
National Research Council-Institute of Marine Sciences (CNR-ISMAR), Via Gobetti 101, Bologna, Italy. luca.bellucci@ismar.cnr.it.
Luca Giorgio
LG
Bellucci
National Research Council-Institute of Marine Sciences (CNR-ISMAR), Castello 2737/F, Venice, Italy.
Daniele
D
Cassin
National Research Council-Institute of Marine Sciences (CNR-ISMAR), Via Gobetti 101, Bologna, Italy.
Silvia
S
Giuliani
National Research Council-Institute of Marine Sciences (CNR-ISMAR), Castello 2737/F, Venice, Italy.
Margherita
M
Botter
National Research Council-Institute of Marine Sciences (CNR-ISMAR), Castello 2737/F, Venice, Italy.
Roberto
R
Zonta
D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D007558:Italy; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000032:analysis
D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
Bottom sediment traps; Mar Piccolo of Taranto; PAHs; PCBs; Sediment dynamics; Surficial sediments; Trace elements