In 2003–2006, the distribution of macronutrients and pollutants of environmental interest was investigated in surficial sediments collected from 10 southern Italy harbors selected in four different regions. About 167 stations were sampled to determine levels of total organic carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorous, trace elements (Al, Cd, Pb, Ni, Cr, Cu, Zn, Hg, As), short- and long-chain aliphatic hydrocarbons (Hy C > 12 and Hy C < 12), and concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAHs], p-p-Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (4,4′-DDE), and Hexachlorobenzene (HCB). General relationships between studied variables and harbors systems were explored by multivariate statistical approaches. Results show that wide fluctuations are reported for all variables both among harbors and inside each studied system. Principal components analysis suggests that major significance in explaining total average variability is due to lead, copper, zinc, silts, sands, and PAHs. No significance has been observed when testing nonmetric multidimensional scaling distributions relating with the factor “region,” while performing analyses on factor “main human activity,” a higher significance is observed. These results suggest a strong relationship between the main human use of marine systems and observed pollution levels in sediments.
Arizzi-Novelli A Argese E Tagliapietra D Bettiol C Volpi Ghirardini A (2002) Toxicity of tributyltin and triphenyltin to early life stages of Paracentrotus lividus (Echinodermata: Echinoidea). Environ Toxicol Chem21: 859–864.
2.
Aspila KI Agemiam H Chau ASY (1976) A semi-automated method for the determination of inorganic, organic and total phosphate in sediments. Analyst101: 187–197.
3.
Ausili A Mecozzi M Gabellini M Ciuffa G Mellara F (1998) Phisico-chemical characteristics and multivarate analysis of contaminated harbour sediments. Water Sci Technol37: 131–139.
4.
Bargagli R Baldi F Leonzio C (1985) Trace metals assessment in sediments, mollusc and reed leaves in the bay of Follonica (Italy). Centro1: 15–25.
5.
Bernhard M (1978) Heavy metals and chlorinated hydrocarbons in the Mediterranean. Ocean Manag3: 253–313.
6.
Birch GF Taylor SE (2002) Assessment of possible sediment toxicity of contaminated sediments in Port Jackson, Sydney, Australia. Hydrobiologia472: 9–27.
7.
Borghini F (1998) Gli elementi in tracce negli ecosistemi costieri dell’Argentario. Atti Soc Toscana Sci Nat Mem Ser A105: 9–16.
8.
Bortone G Arevalo E Deibel I Detzner HD de Propris L Elskens F (2004) Sediment and dredged material treatment. J Soils Sediments4: 225–232.
9.
Calevro F Campani S Ragghianti M Bucci S Mancino G (1998) Tests of toxicity and teratogenicity in biphasic vertebrates treated with heavy metals (Cr3+, A13+, Cd2+). Chemosphere37: 3011–3017.
10.
Chatfield C Collins AJ (1980) Introduction to Multivariate Analysis.London: Chapman and Hall.
11.
Chefetz B Bilkis YI Polubesova T (2004) Sorption–desorption behavior of triazine and phenylurea herbicides in Kishon river sediments. Water Res38: 4383–4394.
12.
Clarke KR Green RH (1988) Statistical design and analysis for a “biological effects” study. Mar Ecol Prog Ser46: 213–226.
13.
Clarke KR Warwick RM (2001) Change in marine communities: an approach to statistical analysis and interpretation, second ed.Plymouth: Primer-E.
14.
Corsi I Mariottini M Sensini C Lancini L Focardi S (2003) Fish as bioindicators of brackish ecosystem health: integrating biomarker responses and target pollutant concentrations. Oceanol Acta26: 129–138.
15.
Corsolini S Aurigi S Focardi S (2000) Presence of polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) and coplanar congeners in the tissues of the Mediterranean loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta. Mar Pollut Bull40: 952–960.
16.
Corsolini S Focardi S Kannan K Tanabe S Borrell A Tatsukawa R (1995) Congener profile and toxicity assessment of polychlorinated biphenyls in dolphins, sharks and tuna fish from Italian coastal waters. Mar Environ Res40: 33–53.
17.
Covelli S Fantolan G (1997) Application of a normalization procedure in determining regional geochemical baselines. Environ Geol30: 34–45.
18.
Dalman, Ö, Demirak, A, Balci, A (2005) Determination of heavy metals (Cd, Pb) and trace elements (Cu, Zn) in sediments and fish of the Southeastern Aegean Sea (Turkey) by atomic easorption spectrometry. Food Chem 95: 157–162.
19.
De Luca G Furesi A Leardi R Micera G Panzanelli A Piu PC (2004) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) assessment in the sediments of the Porto Torres Harbor (Northern Sardinia, Italy). Mar Chem86: 15–32.
20.
De Luca G Furesi A Micera G Panzanelli A Piu PC Pilo MI (2005) Nature, distribution and origin of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the sediments of Olbia harbor (Northern Sardinia, Italy). Mar Poll Bull50: 1223–1232.
21.
El Nemr AM El Sikaily A Khaled A (2007) Total and leachable heavy metals in muddy and sandy sediments of Egyptian coast along Mediterranean Sea. Environ Monit Assess129: 151–168.
22.
Erftemeijer PLA Lewis RR (2006) Environmental impacts of dredging on seagrasses: a review. Mar Pollut Bull52: 1553–1572.
23.
Focardi S Bacci E Leonzio C Crisetig C (1983) Chlorinated hydrocarbons in marine animals from the Northern Tyrrhenian Sea (N.W. Mediterranean). Thalassia Jugosl20: 37–43.
24.
Focardi S Fossi C Leonzio C Corsolini S Parra O (1996) Persistent organochlorine residues in fish and water birds from the Biobio river, Chile. Environ Monit Assess43: 73–92.
25.
Focardi SE (2005) Relazione tecnico scientifica relativa alla caratterizzazione ambientale dell’area ex-SITOCO perimetrazione a mare. Relazione Scientifica finale, public report, p. 146.
26.
Fortune J; (2006) The grainsize and heavy metal content of sediment in Darwin Harbour. Report No. 14/2006D, Aquatic Health Unit, Environmental Protection Agency, p. 68.
27.
Gaudette HE Flight WR Toner L Folgher DW (1974) An inexpensive titration method for the determination of organic carbon in recent sediment. J Sediment Petrol44: 249–253.
28.
Gopalakrishnan S Thilagam H Raja PV (2006) Institute Toxicity of heavy metals on embryogenesis and larvae of the marine sedentary polychaete Hydroides elegans. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol52: 171–178.
29.
Gopalakrishnan S Thilagam H Raja PV (2008) Comparison of heavy metal toxicity in life stages (spermiotoxicity, egg toxicity, embryotoxicity and larval toxicity) of Hydroides elegans. Chemosphere71: 515–528.
30.
Hanson P Evans DW Colby DR (1993) Assessment of elemental contamination in estuarine and coastal environments based on geochemical and statistical modelling of sediments. Mar Environ Res36: 237–266.
31.
Herut B; Sandler A; (2006) Draft final report. Normalization methods for pollutants in marine sediments: review and recommendations for the Mediterranean. IOLR Report H18/2006, Submitted to UNEP/MAP.
32.
ICRAM Central Institute of Researches applied to the Sea (2001) Metodiche analitiche di riferimento. In: Cicero, AM, Di Girolamo, I, (eds), Ministero dell’Ambiente e della Tutela del Territorio. Central institute of marine applyed researches editions, p. 122.
33.
Jensen A Mogensen B (2000) Effects, ecology and economy. Environmental aspects of dredging. Guide No. 6. International Association of Dredging Companies (IADC) and Central Dredging Association (CEDA), p. 119.
34.
Kralik M Haslinger E Picer M Picer N Ottner F Sager M (2007) PCB-anomalies in the sediments of the harbour basin of Zadar (Croatia) as consequence of war action and /or industrial contamination. Geophys Res9: 2[abstract].
35.
Lenzi M Mattei N Solimeno P (1998) Lagunaggio degli effluenti civili depurati in un’area marginale della Laguna di Orbetello (Toscana) appositamente conterminata. Biologi Ital3: 23–28.
36.
Lenzi M Palmieri R Porrello S (2003) Restoration of the eutrophic Orbetello lagoon (Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy): water quality management. Mar Pollut Bull46: 1540–1548.
37.
Leoni L Sartori F Damiani V Ferretti O Viel M (1991) Trace element distributions in surficial sediments of the northern Tyrrenian Sea: contribution to heavy-metal pollution assessment. Environ Geol Water Sci17: 103–116.
38.
Mackay D Fraser A (2000) Bioaccumulation of persistent organic chemicals: mechanisms and models. Environ Pollut110: 375–391.
39.
Magi E Bianco R Ianni C Di Carro M (2002) Distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the sediments of the Adriatic Sea. Environ Pollut119: 91–98.
40.
Mariottini M Renzi M Ruta M Cellini E Guerranti C Focardi S (2007) An assessment of contamination status of surficial sediments in a flooded coastal area, Vibo Marina (southern Italy). Organohalogen Compd69: 1622–1625.
41.
McCarthy LH Thomas RL Mayfield CI (2004) Assessing the toxicity of chemically fractionated Hamilton Harbour (Lake Ontario) sediment using selected aquatic organisms. Lakes Reservoirs Res Manag9: 89–103.
42.
Meriç S De Nicola E Iaccarino M Gallo M Di Gennaro A Morrone G (2005) Toxicity of leather tanning wastewater effluents in sea urchin early development and in marine microalgae. Chemosphere61: 208–217.
43.
Meriläinen P Oikari A (2008) Uptake of organic xenobiotics by benthic invertebrates from sediment contaminated by the pulp and paper industry. Water Res42: 1715–1725.
44.
Niccolai I Ferretti O Manfredi-Frattarelli FM (1993) Distribuzione degli elementi in tracce nei sedimenti superficiali tra l’isola d’Elba e l’Argentario. In: Arcipelago Toscano, Studio Oceanografico, Sedimentologico, Geochimica e Biologico. New technology, energy and environment national research institute ENEA, Studi Ambientali series ENEA editions, pp. 185–195.
45.
Pearson K (1894) Contributions to the mathematical theory of evolution. Philos Trans R Soc London Ser A185: 71–110.
46.
Perra G Renzi M Volterrani M Focardi S (2007) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons assessment in the Orbetello Lagoon sediments (Tuscany, Central Italy). Istituti Geographici Universitatis Tartuensis104: 501–503.
47.
Renzi M Franchi E Tozzi A Volterrani M Focardi SE (2006) Mathematical modelling of sediment chemicophysical parameters in a coastal lagoon to estimate high density seagrass meadow (Ruppia cirrhosa) distribution. Int J Environ Health1: 360–374.
48.
Renzi M Perra G Guerranti C Franchi E Focardi S (2009) Abatement efficiency of municipal wastewater treatment plants using different technologies (Orbetello lagoon, Italy). Int J Environ Health3: 58–70.
49.
Ritcher S Nagel R (2007) Bioconcentration, biomagnification and metabolism of 14C-terbutryn and 14C-benzo[a]pyrene in Gammarus fossarum and Asellus aquaticus. Chemosphere66: 603–610.
50.
Romano E Ausili A Nadezhda Z Magno MC Pavoni B Gabellino M (2004) Marine sediment contamination of an industrial site at Porto of Bagnoli, Gulf of Naples, Southern Italy. Mar Pollut Bull49: 487–495.
51.
Shahidul Islam MD Tanaka M (2004) Impacts of pollution on coastal and marine ecosystems including coastal and marine fisheries and approach for management: a review and synthesis. Mar Pollut Bull48: 624–649.
52.
Shepard FP (1954) Nomenclature based on sand, silt, clay ratios. J Sediment Petrol24: 151–158.
53.
Somerfield PJ Clarke KR (1995) A comparison of some methods commonly used for the collection of sublittoral sediments and their associated fauna. Mar Environ Res43: 143–156.
54.
Sprovieri M Feo ML Prevedello L Salvagio Manta D Sammartino S Tamburrino S (2007) Heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls in surface sediments of the Naples harbor (southern Italy). Chemosphere67: 998–1009.
55.
Sternbeck J Östlund P (2001) Metals in sediments from the Stockholm region: geographical pollution patterns and time trends. Water Air Soil Pollut Focus1: 151–165.
56.
Storelli MM Storelli A Marcotrigiano GO (2001) Heavy metals in the aquatic environment of the Southern Adriatic Sea, Italy. Macroalgae, sediments and benthic species. Environ Int26: 505–509.
57.
Sun H Tatedaa M Ikea M Fujitaa M (2003) Short- and long-term sorption/desorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons onto artificial solids: effects of particle and pore sizes and organic matters. Water Res37: 2960–2968.
58.
Suntornvongsagul K Burke DJ Hamerlynck EP Hahn D (2007) Fate and effects of heavy metals in salt marsh sediments. Environ Pollut149: 79–91.
59.
US-EPA (1996a) SW-846, Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical Methods, Method 3051A, Microwave assisted acid digestion of sediments, sludges, soils and oils.Office of Solid Waste, Washington, DC, USA.
60.
US-EPA (1996b) SW-846, Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical Methods, Method 3545A Pressurized Fluid Extraction (PFE).Office of Water, Washington, DC, USA.
61.
US-EPA (1996c) SW-846, Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical Methods, Method 5021 Volatile organic compounds in soils and other solid matricesusing equilibrium headspace analysis.Office of Solid Waste, Washington, DC, USA.
62.
US-EPA (1996d) SW-846, Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical Methods, Method 6010B Inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry.Office of Solid Waste, Washington, DC, USA.
63.
US-EPA (1996e) SW-846, Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical Methods, Method 7010 Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry.Office of Solid Waste, Washington, DC, USA.
64.
US-EPA (1996f) SW-846, Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical Methods, Method 7473 Mercury in solids and solutions by thermal decomposition, amalgamation, and atomic absorption spectrophotometry.Office of Solid Waste, Washington, DC, USA.
65.
US-EPA (1996g) SW-846, Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical Methods, Method 8015B Nonhalogenated organics using GC/FID.Office of Water, Washington, DC, USA.
66.
US-EPA (1996h) SW-846, Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical Methods, Method 8021B Aromatic and halogenated volatiles by gas chromatography using photoionization and/or electrolytic conductivity detectors.Office of Solid Waste, Washington, DC, USA.
67.
UN ESCAP (2002) Commercial Development of Regional Ports as Logistics Centres. Transport and Tourism Division (TTD), eds, vol. ST/ESCAP/2194, p. 98.
68.
Volpi-Ghirardini A Arizzi Novelli A Borsetto E Delaney B Tagliapietra D (2001) Sediment toxicity assessment in the Venetian Lagoon using Paracentrotus lividus (Echinodermata: Echinoidea). Biol Mar Mediterr8: 489–496.
