A systematic investigation on the concentration values of a selected number of trace elements (Cd, Co, Cu, Li, Ni, Pb, V and Zn) in carbonate of the benthonic foraminifera A. tepida collected from surface sediments of the highly polluted harbour of Naples is proposed. Application of cleaning procedures, combined to investigation by Scanning Electron Microscope of the analysed shells allowed a reliable quantification of the elements present in the carbonate lattice. Adoption of biogenic carbonate/seawater distribution coefficients reported in the literature provided the ranges of variability of total dissolved trace elements in the studied marine environment. Very high concentrations of Zn, Cd, Cu calculated in seawater (from 100 to 10000-folds those reported for uncontaminated Mediterranean seawaters) testify intense effects of anthropic impact on the harbour mainly related to the industrial and commercial activities present on the close lands. Instead, very reducing bottom sediments seem to limitedly influence the bulk contents of heavy elements in the overlaying seawater. The ensemble of the achieved results emphasizes the high potential of measurements of trace elements in the biogenic carbonates of benthonic foraminifera as tracers of anthropic pollution of seawater and reliable proxies of potentially bioavailable forms (as free ions and/or more labile organic complexes) of seawater dissolved metals.
Heavy metals in benthic foraminifera from the highly polluted sediments of the Naples harbour (southern tyrrhenian sea,Italy)
Rumolo P;Salvagio Manta D;Sprovieri M;Ferraro L;Marsella E
2009
Abstract
A systematic investigation on the concentration values of a selected number of trace elements (Cd, Co, Cu, Li, Ni, Pb, V and Zn) in carbonate of the benthonic foraminifera A. tepida collected from surface sediments of the highly polluted harbour of Naples is proposed. Application of cleaning procedures, combined to investigation by Scanning Electron Microscope of the analysed shells allowed a reliable quantification of the elements present in the carbonate lattice. Adoption of biogenic carbonate/seawater distribution coefficients reported in the literature provided the ranges of variability of total dissolved trace elements in the studied marine environment. Very high concentrations of Zn, Cd, Cu calculated in seawater (from 100 to 10000-folds those reported for uncontaminated Mediterranean seawaters) testify intense effects of anthropic impact on the harbour mainly related to the industrial and commercial activities present on the close lands. Instead, very reducing bottom sediments seem to limitedly influence the bulk contents of heavy elements in the overlaying seawater. The ensemble of the achieved results emphasizes the high potential of measurements of trace elements in the biogenic carbonates of benthonic foraminifera as tracers of anthropic pollution of seawater and reliable proxies of potentially bioavailable forms (as free ions and/or more labile organic complexes) of seawater dissolved metals.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
