| Title | Use of compost to restore a contaminated site in Southern Italy: preliminary study to assess compost efficiency in remediating a heavily polluted soil in Taranto city. |
| Abstract | Soil pollution is one of the most soil relevant threats recognized in the world. Contamination affects soil quality
and soil capacity to react against several land degradation processes (erosion, organic depletion, desertification,
etc.). The identification of opportune strategies to hinder pollution is a fundamental requirement to restore soil
quality. In particular, large attentions have got the techniques, which promote the decontamination, and at the
same time, improve fertility allowing a new use of a soil restored.
In this work we present a preliminary study to assess the use of compost (an organic fertilizer produced through
a process of transformation and controlled stabilization of selected organic waste at the source) in remediating a
heavily polluted soil in southern Italy. The study site is located in Taranto city (Apulia Region) and is contaminated
predominantly by heavy metals and lightly by organic toxic compounds such us polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
An exhaustive chemical characterization has been carried out on soil samples and then, a treatment with compost
was applied on the study site. Successively, two data acquisition campaigns have been realized (after 4 and 7
months by compost treatment, respectively).
Soil chemical analyses of texture, electrical conductivity, pH, organic carbon content, total nitrogen, available
phosphorous, carbonate and water content have been carried out to investigate soil properties.
In the polluted site chemical analyses of characterization showed low content of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorous)
and high level of carbonate. Heavy metals screenings, carried out through ICP-MS equipment, evidenced
a massive contamination by Be, Se, Sn, Pb, Cr, Zn, while GC-MS investigations revealed a lower pollution by
PCBs.
The results of the monitoring campaigns showed a consistent reduction of the heavy metals concentrations: a
higher decrease is observed after 7 months by compost treatment. At the same time, a considerable increase of
organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus is also registered.
The overall results suggest that the use of compost contributed to improve soil physico-chemical properties and
promote a relevant decrease of pollution suggesting that a process of soil quality restoration is performing. |
| Source | EGU General Assembly 2014, Vienna, 27th April - 2th MayGeophysical research abstracts (Online), pp. 5570–5570 |
| Journal | Geophysical research abstracts (Online) |
| Editor | Copernicus GmbH, Katlenburg-Lindau, Germania |
| Year | 2014 |
| Type | Abstract in atti di convegno |
| Authors | Valeria Ancona, Claudia Campanale, Angelantonio Calabrese, Uricchio Vito Felice, and Regano Simona |
| Text | 299935 2014 Use of compost to restore a contaminated site in Southern Italy preliminary study to assess compost efficiency in remediating a heavily polluted soil in Taranto city. Valeria Ancona, Claudia Campanale, Angelantonio Calabrese, Uricchio Vito Felice, and Regano Simona Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Ricerca sulle Acque UoS di Bari EGU General Assembly 2014 Vienna 27th April 2th May Internazionale Contributo Soil pollution is one of the most soil relevant threats recognized in the world. Contamination affects soil quality and soil capacity to react against several land degradation processes erosion, organic depletion, desertification, etc. . The identification of opportune strategies to hinder pollution is a fundamental requirement to restore soil quality. In particular, large attentions have got the techniques, which promote the decontamination, and at the same time, improve fertility allowing a new use of a soil restored. In this work we present a preliminary study to assess the use of compost an organic fertilizer produced through a process of transformation and controlled stabilization of selected organic waste at the source in remediating a heavily polluted soil in southern Italy. The study site is located in Taranto city Apulia Region and is contaminated predominantly by heavy metals and lightly by organic toxic compounds such us polychlorinated biphenyls PCBs . An exhaustive chemical characterization has been carried out on soil samples and then, a treatment with compost was applied on the study site. Successively, two data acquisition campaigns have been realized after 4 and 7 months by compost treatment, respectively . Soil chemical analyses of texture, electrical conductivity, pH, organic carbon content, total nitrogen, available phosphorous, carbonate and water content have been carried out to investigate soil properties. In the polluted site chemical analyses of characterization showed low content of nutrients nitrogen and phosphorous and high level of carbonate. Heavy metals screenings, carried out through ICP MS equipment, evidenced a massive contamination by Be, Se, Sn, Pb, Cr, Zn, while GC MS investigations revealed a lower pollution by PCBs. The results of the monitoring campaigns showed a consistent reduction of the heavy metals concentrations a higher decrease is observed after 7 months by compost treatment. At the same time, a considerable increase of organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus is also registered. The overall results suggest that the use of compost contributed to improve soil physico chemical properties and promote a relevant decrease of pollution suggesting that a process of soil quality restoration is performing. Abstract in atti di convegno Copernicus GmbH 1607 7962 Geophysical research abstracts Online Geophysical research abstracts Online Geophys. res. abstr. Online Geophysical research abstracts. Online angelantonio.calabrese CALABRESE ANGELANTONIO claudiacampanale CAMPANALE CLAUDIA vitofelice.uricchio URICCHIO VITO FELICE valeria.ancona ANCONA VALERIA TA.P04.005.005 Gestione integrata delle informazioni ambientali |
