Sediment Contamination by Heavy Metals and PAH in the Piombino Channel (Tyrrhenian Sea)

Pitacco Valentina,Mistri Michele,Sfriso Andrea Augusto,Munari Cristina,Massara Francesca,Meloni Maria Laura,Granata Tommaso,Moruzzi Letizia,Sfriso Adriano

doi:10.3390/w13111487

Abstract

Sediment contamination is of major concern in areas affected by heavy maritime traffic. The spatial variation and contamination of 11 trace elements and 17 PAHs in surface sediments were studied along a 31 km transect along the seaway from the port of Piombino (Tuscany) to the port of Portoferraio (Elba Island) in the Northern Tyrrhenian Sea. Heavy metal contamination was detected at sites near Piombino (Ni, Pb, Hg, Cu and Zn) and at sites near Portoferraio (Pb, Zn, Hg, Cr and Cd). Each of the 35 sampled sites showed PAH contamination, with the highest concentrations at sites near Portoferraio. The most abundant isomers detected were 2- and 4-ring PAHs. PAH ratio analysis showed a prevalence of PAHs of pyrolytic origin. High values of PAHs and heavy metals were related to high sediment water content, TOC, silt, and clay content. Arsenic increased with increasing depth. The correlation between concentrations of metals and PAHs suggests common anthropogenic sources and is of concern for possible synergistic adverse effects on the biota.

Highlights

Surface sediments were collected from 2nd to 4th November 2017, during an environmental study performed by TERNA
The values of pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) recorded in this study are quite similar to those reported for other polluted Tyrrhenian areas, such as Naples harbour (9 to 31,774 ng/g; [28]), the whole Gulf of Naples (15.3 to 678.6 ng/g; [29]), and the mouth of the river Tiber
The concentration of PAHs was highest in the area near Portoferraio port, where the concentration of Σ16PAH decreased as we move away from the port, suggesting that those pollutants arise from port activity sources

Summary

Introduction

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Sediment contamination is of major concern in areas affected by heavy maritime traffic [1,2,3]. In the Mediterranean Sea, the highest concentrations of persistent pollutants were reported in areas influenced by harbour and industrial activities [1]. The erosion and resuspension of sediments caused by shipping vessels [4,5] can lead to an increase in turbidity and resuspension of pollutants, with increasing toxicity for marine organisms [6]

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