PARENT SESSION

1D - Soil and Sediment Contamination
Poster Hall
8:30 AM - Tuesday, 29 April 2003
Chair: Van Noort, P.¹, ¹
Co-chair: Gerhardt, A.², Gerhardt, A.², ²

(TUP/16) Levels of PCBs, PAHs and heavy metals in surface sediments of 15 Italian Marine Protected Areas.

Perra, Guido¹, Pozo, Karla¹, Balocchi, Cristiana¹, Menchi, Valentina¹, Lazzeri, Denise¹, Corsolini, Simonetta¹, Focardi, Silvano¹, ¹ Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy, Italy

ABSTRACT- Marine sediments are usually regarded as the ultimate sink for persistent pollutants discharged into the environment. The aim of the present study is to determine the levels of organic and inorganic contaminants in order to assess the contamination status in Italian Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Sediments from Portofino, Cinque Terre, Punta Campanella, Ventotene, Tavolara, Penisola Sinis, Capo Carbonara, Isole Egadi, Ustica, Isole Ciclopi, Capo Rizzuto, Porto Cesareo, Torre Guaceto, Isole Tremiti and Miramare were analysed for PCBs, PAHs and heavy metals. Sediment samples were lyophilizated and extracted for organic contaminants with ultrasonic bath system and GC-ECD and HPLC quantified. Heavy metals analyses were performed by wet digestion with HNO3 and determined by atomic absorption spectrofotometry. Organic carbon percentage was also determined. Results of PCBtot, PAHtot and heavy metals (Hg, Cd and Pb) showed highest concentrations in the sediment collected from Miramare area. PCB and PAH concentrations were 310.8 ng/g and 6424 ng/g dry weight, respectively. Trace elements values were 0.6242 ug/g for Hg, 0.296 ug/g, for Cd and 65.62 ug/g d.w for Pb. Organic carbon content fluctuated between 0.16 - 2.30 %. PCBs levels were low and comparable with concentrations found elsewhere in unpolluted Mediterranean marine sediments, except for Miramare area. Unexpected high concentrations were obtained for PAHs (Tremiti and Porto Cesareo) and for heavy metals (Ustica, Portofino and Cinque Terre) in areas located far away from human activity. Our results suggest that MPAs cannot prevent pollution originating outside their boundaries. These boundaries will not turn away an oil spill adjacent to the protected area or polluted runoff from land.

Key words: sediments, MPAs , organic contaminants, heavy metals