title: Heavy metal accumulation in surface sediments at the port of Cagliari (Sardinia, western Mediterranean): Environmental assessment using sequential extractions and benthic foraminifera.
abstract: Superficial sediments were taken at the port of Cagliari (Sardinia, Italy), which includes the oil terminal of one of the largest oil refineries in the Mediterranean. Significant trace metal concentrations were found in the whole port area. Sequential extraction of metals from the different sediment fractions (BCR method) showed a higher risk of remobilisation for Cd, which is mostly bound to the exchangeable fraction. Foraminiferal density and richness of species were variable across the study area. The living assemblages were characterized by low diversity in samples collected close to the port areas. Ammonia tepida and bolivinids, which were positively correlated with concentrations of heavy metals and organic matter content, appeared to show tolerance to the environmental disturbance. The sampling sites characterized by the highest values of biotic indices were located far from the port areas and present an epiphytic and epifaunal biocoenosis.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Sanità Pubblica, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Via GT Porcell 4, 09124 Cagliari, Italy. Electronic address: schintu@unica.it.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schintu
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Sanità Pubblica, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Via GT Porcell 4, 09124 Cagliari, Italy. Electronic address: alexmarrucci@unica.it.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marrucci
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Sanità Pubblica, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Via GT Porcell 4, 09124 Cagliari, Italy. Electronic address: bmarras@unica.it.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Marras
authors.affiliation: Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer, Ifremer, F-20600 Bastia, France. Electronic address: francois.galgani@ifremer.fr.
authors.forename: Francois
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Galgani
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Geologiche, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Via Trentino 51, I-09127 Cagliari, Italy. Electronic address: cbuosi@unica.it.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Buosi
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Geologiche, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Via Trentino 51, I-09127 Cagliari, Italy. Electronic address: aibba@unica.it.
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ibba
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Geologiche, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Via Trentino 51, I-09127 Cagliari, Italy. Electronic address: acherchi@unica.it.
authors.forename: Antonietta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cherchi
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D056908:Foraminifera / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D007558:Italy; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D011156:Population Density; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Benthic foraminifera; Harbour sediments; Sardinia; Sequential extractions; Trace metals