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Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Trace Metals in Sediments from a Coastal Lagoon (Northern Adriatic, Italy)

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Abstract

Surface sediments (0–5 cm) were analysed to provide information on levels, spatial trends and sources of the 16 USEPA polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), 15 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and trace metals (copper, chromium, mercury, nickel and zinc) in channel and wetland habitats of Pialassa Baiona lagoon (Italy). The highest levels of PAHs, PCBs and Hg (3,032–87,150, n.d.–3,908 and 1.3–191 mg kg−1) were mainly found at channel habitats close to industrial sources. Pyrogenic PAH inputs were significant, with a predominance of four-ring PAHs and combustion-related PAHs in both channel and wetland habitats. Among PCB congeners, chlorination class profiles show that penta- and hexachlorinated PCBs are the most prevalent homologues accounting for approximately 33% and 47% of the total PCB concentrations in channel sediments. Total toxicity equivalent factors (TEQs) of potentially carcinogenic PAHs varied from 348 to 7,879 μg kg−1 and from 4.3 to 235 μg kg−1 in channel and wetland sediments; calculated TEQs for dioxin-like PCB congeners at channel habitats ranged from n.d. to 86.7 μg kg−1. Comparison of PAHs, PCBs and metal levels with Sediment Quality Guidelines suggests that more concern should be given to the southern area of the lagoon for potential risks of carcinogenic PAHs, dioxin-like PCBs and mercury.

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Acknowledgements

Many people played important roles in the completion of this work. To all of them, I am most grateful. In particular, I wish to thank the staff of the former CRA for their support and assistance with laboratory analyses. This research was funded by University of Bologna Young Researcher Prize.

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  1. Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca per le Scienze Ambientali (C.I.R.S.A.), University of Bologna, 163 Via S.Alberto, Ravenna, 48123, Italy

    Roberta Guerra

  2. Department of Physics, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, 40126, Bologna, Italy

    Roberta Guerra

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Guerra, R. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Trace Metals in Sediments from a Coastal Lagoon (Northern Adriatic, Italy). Water Air Soil Pollut 223, 85–98 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-011-0841-6

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