| Title | Metal distribution in marine sediments of the Mar Piccolo in Taranto (Ionic Sea, Southern Italy). |
| Abstract | The spatial distribution of selected metals (Fe, Ni, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Hg and Cd) and their partition in the different chemical forms (speciation) were determined in benthic sediments from Mar Piccolo, Taranto (Ionic Sea, Southern Italy). The aim of this study was to assess the degree of sediment contamination and bioavailability of metals, very important for Italian mussel culture, in a semi-enclosed marine ecosystem. In sediments, grain size distribution, total organic carbon (TOC), and humic (HA) and fulvic (FA) acids contents were also determined. The compounds TOC, HA and FA, in fact, have a great influence on metal complexation. High concentrations of copper, lead, zinc and mercury were found, especially in sediments of the first inlet of Mar Piccolo. Statistical analysis of results shows significant correlation among Cu, Pb and Zn concentrations and the influence of organic matter on the sediment distribution of Cu, Pb and Zn. Metal speciation analysis, carried out with sequential extraction method, shows that Fe and Ni are present in sediments mainly as sulphides. Mn and Pb are present principally in an ion-exchangeable form or bound to carbonate and Cu is associated to organic matter. Metal pollution index (MPI), calculated as a weighed mean of the metal contamination factors in each station, shows that with regard to Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn, some stations investigated are unpolluted (MPI <1), whereas in other areas, pollution level is not very high. On the contrary, for mercury, the pollution level in the first inlet of the basin is very high. |
| Keywords | Heavy metalsdistributionspeciationenrichment factorsmarine sediments |
| Year | 2007 |
| Type | Articolo in rivista |
| Authors | Calace N., Cardellicchio N., Ciardullo S., Petronio B.M., Pietrantonio M., Pietroletti M. |
| Text | 6481 2007 Heavy metals distribution speciation enrichment factors marine sediments Metal distribution in marine sediments of the Mar Piccolo in Taranto Ionic Sea, Southern Italy . Calace N., Cardellicchio N., Ciardullo S., Petronio B.M., Pietrantonio M., Pietroletti M. IAMC Sez. Taranto Talassografico, CNR Dipartimento di chimica, Universita La Sapienza Roma The spatial distribution of selected metals Fe, Ni, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Hg and Cd and their partition in the different chemical forms speciation were determined in benthic sediments from Mar Piccolo, Taranto Ionic Sea, Southern Italy . The aim of this study was to assess the degree of sediment contamination and bioavailability of metals, very important for Italian mussel culture, in a semi enclosed marine ecosystem. In sediments, grain size distribution, total organic carbon TOC , and humic HA and fulvic FA acids contents were also determined. The compounds TOC, HA and FA, in fact, have a great influence on metal complexation. High concentrations of copper, lead, zinc and mercury were found, especially in sediments of the first inlet of Mar Piccolo. Statistical analysis of results shows significant correlation among Cu, Pb and Zn concentrations and the influence of organic matter on the sediment distribution of Cu, Pb and Zn. Metal speciation analysis, carried out with sequential extraction method, shows that Fe and Ni are present in sediments mainly as sulphides. Mn and Pb are present principally in an ion exchangeable form or bound to carbonate and Cu is associated to organic matter. Metal pollution index MPI , calculated as a weighed mean of the metal contamination factors in each station, shows that with regard to Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn, some stations investigated are unpolluted MPI <1 , whereas in other areas, pollution level is not very high. On the contrary, for mercury, the pollution level in the first inlet of the basin is very high. Articolo in rivista nicola.cardellicchio CARDELLICCHIO NICOLA TA.P04.002.001 Fascia Costiera e Ambienti di Transizione analisi strutturale e funzionale delle componenti biotiche ed abiotiche degli ecosistemi per lo sviluppo sostenibile delle attivita |
