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Distribution of toxic elements and transfer from the environment to humans traced by using lead isotopes. A case of study in the Sarno River basin, south Italy

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Abstract

The results of a large geochemical study on various environmental media (soil, stream sediment, groundwater, surface water, lettuce and human hair) of the Sarno River basin, which is one of the most polluted areas in Italy, are presented. Further, it aims to deepen our understanding of the distribution of Pb and its isotope composition for the differentiation between natural and anthropogenic metal sources. Our results show the environmental media to be significantly enriched in Cr, Cu, Pb, Hg, Zn, and to a lesser extent in Sb, Cd and Ni compared to the natural local background variation. The numerous industrial activities (mainly tanneries) have caused environmental pollution especially Cr and Hg in soils and sediment samples. Such contamination is also evident in lettuce and in the hair of the resident population, which shows particularly high values for both Cr and Hg. The unusually high As, Be and Sn concentrations arise mostly from natural sources due to the volcanic nature of the investigated area. Lead isotope measurements indicate a trend suggesting mixing between two end-members, one of clear natural origin (geogenic) and another related to human activities (anthropogenic). Lead isotope results demonstrate that Pb in hair of inhabitants is similar to those in the local topsoil and that gasoline is one of the main, but not the only source of metal pollution. The most important exposure risks within the study area are associated with toxic elements levels in topsoil and stream sediment, and the ingestion of locally grown lettuce. The high concentrations of these elements in hair are a further confirmation of this exposure pathway.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a Grant from the Ministero dell’Università e della Ricerca Scientifica—Industrial Research Project “Integrated agro-industrial chains with high energy efficiency for the development of eco-compatible processes of energy and biochemicals production from renewable sources and for the land valorization (EnerbioChem)” PON01_01966, funded in the frame of Operative National Programme Research and Competitiveness 2007–2013 D. D. Prot. n. 01/Ric. 18.1.2010. The authors are grateful to all the barbers and hairdressers of the study area, who cooperated by providing their time and their workspaces for the collection of scalp hair.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Science and Technology, University of Sannio, via dei Mulini 59/A, 82100, Benevento, Italy

    Domenico Cicchella

  2. Department of Chemistry, University of Otago, 70 Union Place West, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand

    Jurian Hoogewerff

  3. Department of Chemistry, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK

    Jurian Hoogewerff

  4. Department of Earth, Environment and Resources Sciences, University of Napoli “Federico II”, 80138, Naples, Italy

    Stefano Albanese, Annamaria Lima, Manuela V. E. Taiani & Benedetto De Vivo

  5. Department of Agriculture, University of Napoli “Federico II”, via Università 100, 80055, Portici, Italy

    Paola Adamo

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  1. Domenico Cicchella
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  2. Jurian Hoogewerff
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  3. Stefano Albanese
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  7. Benedetto De Vivo
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Correspondence to Domenico Cicchella.

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Cicchella, D., Hoogewerff, J., Albanese, S. et al. Distribution of toxic elements and transfer from the environment to humans traced by using lead isotopes. A case of study in the Sarno River basin, south Italy. Environ Geochem Health 38, 619–637 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-015-9748-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-015-9748-2

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