Detecting long-term temporal trends in sediment-bound metals in the western Adriatic (Mediterranean Sea). Issue 1 (15th November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lopes-Rocha, Marilia; Langone, Leonardo; Miserocchi, Stefano; Giordano, Patrizia; Guerra, Roberta
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 124:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: 270
• Page End: 285
• Publication Date: 2017-11-15
• Subjects: Trace metals -- Background levels -- Sediment records -- Historical trends of contamination -- Inventories of trace metals excess -- Adriatic Sea; Marine pollution -- Periodicals; Marine Biology -- Periodicals; Water Pollution -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Périodiques; Publications périodiques; Pollution des mers; Lutte antipollution; Electronic journals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.07.026
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: Major and trace metal concentrations were determined in western Adriatic sediment cores. Based on sediment chronology, the earliest anthropogenic influence appeared as a Zn and Pb increase in the Po River prodelta starting from ~ 1914. The increasing contamination signal of these trace metals propagated southward as far as 450 km with a growing delay, taking ~ 10 years to reach the south Adriatic Sea. Although greater inventories of excess trace metals in the northern sector pointed to the influence of the intense human activities in the Po River drainage basin and Venice lagoon system, we observed a reduction of excess trace metals from mid-1980s, related to the implementation of stricter environmental regulations on chemical wastewaters. In contrast, an increase in trace metal accumulation in surficial sediment from the 2000s in front of the cities of Ancona and Bari suggested a recent local input of trace metals, probably due to harbor activities. Highlights: Unprecedented data on excess, inventories and historical trends of trace metals were assessed The Po River remains the main source of contaminants at basin scale The Adriatic Sea is being covered by surficial sediments that are less contaminated than those accumulated before ~1985 A first estimate of ~10 years for the mean transfer of Zn and Pb from the Po River mouth to the south of the Adriatic Sea Trace metal peaks recorded from ~2000 at Ancona and Bari stations, pointed to a recent influence of human activities