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DatoValore
TitlePhosphorus content in a deep river sediment core as a tracer of long-term (1962-2011) anthropogenic impacts: A lesson from the Milan metropolitan area
AbstractReconstructions of past fluvial contamination through the analysis of deep sediment cores are rarely reported in literature. We examined the phosphorus fractions in a deep (2.6 m) sediment core of the Lambro River down- stream of the highly anthropized Milan metropolitan area and upstream of the Po river the main Italian watercourse. The core covered the period 1962-2011. Total phosphorus concentrations resulted typical of a strongly impacted environment (4788 mg P kg DW-1 on average) with the highest concentrations related to the 1960s (7639 mg P kg DW-1) reflecting the period of maximum demographic growth. Afterwards, phosphorus concentrations decreased thanks to the infrastructural and legislative initiatives carried out in the 1980s and the 1990s to reduce the impact of urban point sources. Subsequently, total phosphorus concentrations stabilized on values around 3000 mg P kg DW-1 and did not diminish further, even after the second phase of infrastructural interventions carried out in the second half of the 2000s. This was related to the increasing relative impact of the combined sewer overflows in the sewage system and to the strong phosphorus enrichment of the basin. Most of the phosphorus was in inorganic forms (86% of the total) that have been identified as the final target of the domestic effluent inputs. The contribution of organic phosphorus was lower but constant over the period 1962-2011. It likely originated from the agricultural areas located south of the city of Milan. In conclusion, this study underlines how past interventions have been effective in reducing urban point sources but it also highlights the current difficulties related to the growing importance of other sources influenced by the surface runoff (i.e., combined sewer overflows and agriculture). The study also emphasizes a general phosphorus enrichment of the Lambro River basin and its impact on the Po River and the Adriatic Sea.
SourceScience of the total environment 646, pp. 37–48
KeywordsAnthropogenic tracersEutrophying loadsHuman impactsManagementPhosphorus fractionsRiver sediments
JournalScience of the total environment
EditorElsevier, Lausanne ;, Paesi Bassi
Year2019
TypeArticolo in rivista
DOI10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.07.256
AuthorsCopetti, Diego; Tartari, Gianni; Valsecchi, Lucia; Salerno, Franco; Viviano, Gaetano; Mastroianni, Domenico; Yin, Hongbin; Viganò, Luigi
Text389711 2019 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.07.256 Scopus 2 s2.0 85050140412 ISI Web of Science WOS WOS 000445164800005 Anthropogenic tracers Eutrophying loads Human impacts Management Phosphorus fractions River sediments Phosphorus content in a deep river sediment core as a tracer of long term 1962 2011 anthropogenic impacts A lesson from the Milan metropolitan area Copetti, Diego; Tartari, Gianni; Valsecchi, Lucia; Salerno, Franco; Viviano, Gaetano; Mastroianni, Domenico; Yin, Hongbin; Vigano, Luigi Istituto di Ricerca sulle Acque, Italy; Istituto di Ricerca sulle Acque, Italy; Chinese Academy of Sciences Reconstructions of past fluvial contamination through the analysis of deep sediment cores are rarely reported in literature. We examined the phosphorus fractions in a deep 2.6 m sediment core of the Lambro River down stream of the highly anthropized Milan metropolitan area and upstream of the Po river the main Italian watercourse. The core covered the period 1962 2011. Total phosphorus concentrations resulted typical of a strongly impacted environment 4788 mg P kg DW 1 on average with the highest concentrations related to the 1960s 7639 mg P kg DW 1 reflecting the period of maximum demographic growth. Afterwards, phosphorus concentrations decreased thanks to the infrastructural and legislative initiatives carried out in the 1980s and the 1990s to reduce the impact of urban point sources. Subsequently, total phosphorus concentrations stabilized on values around 3000 mg P kg DW 1 and did not diminish further, even after the second phase of infrastructural interventions carried out in the second half of the 2000s. This was related to the increasing relative impact of the combined sewer overflows in the sewage system and to the strong phosphorus enrichment of the basin. Most of the phosphorus was in inorganic forms 86% of the total that have been identified as the final target of the domestic effluent inputs. The contribution of organic phosphorus was lower but constant over the period 1962 2011. It likely originated from the agricultural areas located south of the city of Milan. In conclusion, this study underlines how past interventions have been effective in reducing urban point sources but it also highlights the current difficulties related to the growing importance of other sources influenced by the surface runoff i.e., combined sewer overflows and agriculture . The study also emphasizes a general phosphorus enrichment of the Lambro River basin and its impact on the Po River and the Adriatic Sea. 646 Published version http //www.scopus.com/record/display.url eid=2 s2.0 85050140412 origin=inward phosphorus content ... pdf Copetti_2019_STOTEN.pdf Articolo in rivista Elsevier 0048 9697 Science of the total environment Science of the total environment Sci. total environ. lucia.valsecchi VALSECCHI LUCIA gianni.tartari TARTARI GIANNI diego.copetti COPETTI DIEGO franco.salerno SALERNO FRANCO gaetano.viviano VIVIANO GAETANO luigi.vigano VIGANO LUIGI domenico.mastroianni MASTROIANNI DOMENICO