The investigated area is located in Campania region (Italy) and it extends for about 3058 Km2. It is drained by the Calore River, a tributary of the Volturno: the biggest south-Italian river. The aim of the study is to determine the geographic distribution of concentration values for each element, therefore, to provide reliable analytical data to allow a quantitative assessment of the metal pollution threat to ecosystem and human health. For this purpose, 562 stream sediment samples were collected at a sampling density of 1 site per 5 Km2. All samples were airdried, sieved to < 100 mesh fraction and analyzed for 37 elements after an aqua regia extraction by a combination of ICP-AES and ICP-MS. Statistical analyses were performed to show the single element distribution and the distribution of elemental association factor scores resulting from R-mode factor analyses. Maps showing elements distributions have been obtained using GeoDAS and ArcGIS software. Multifractal inverse distance weighted is the used interpolation method. In some areas, especially residential areas, a strong heavy metal contamination (Pb, Zn, Cu, Sb, Ag, Au, Hg) was identified likely due to both motor vehicles and industrial plants. The enrichment factor of these elements is 3 - 4 time higher than the background values. The four-factor model, accounting for 79.48 % of data variability, has been deemed appropriate for stream sediments of the Calore river. The element association of Factor 1 (Al, Fe, K, Na, As, Cd, La, Pb, Th, Tl, U) is controlled by the presence of sediments developed from pyroclastics and alkaline volcanic lithologies covering the south-west area of the basin. The factor scores association F2 (Co, Cr, Mn, Ni) is certainly related to the presence of manganese oxides, specifically, the highest factor score values are found in correspondence of the sedimentary lithologies in the northern part of the basin. The factor scores associations F3 (Cu, Pb, Sb, Zn) and F4 (Ag, Au, Hg) can be explained by elements introduced into the environment by human activities. The highest F3 and F4 factor scores are generally concentrated in correspondence with main road junctions, urban settlements and industrial areas.
Assessment of the environmental conditions of the Calore river basin (south Italy): a stream sediment approach
Guagliardi I;
2015
Abstract
The investigated area is located in Campania region (Italy) and it extends for about 3058 Km2. It is drained by the Calore River, a tributary of the Volturno: the biggest south-Italian river. The aim of the study is to determine the geographic distribution of concentration values for each element, therefore, to provide reliable analytical data to allow a quantitative assessment of the metal pollution threat to ecosystem and human health. For this purpose, 562 stream sediment samples were collected at a sampling density of 1 site per 5 Km2. All samples were airdried, sieved to < 100 mesh fraction and analyzed for 37 elements after an aqua regia extraction by a combination of ICP-AES and ICP-MS. Statistical analyses were performed to show the single element distribution and the distribution of elemental association factor scores resulting from R-mode factor analyses. Maps showing elements distributions have been obtained using GeoDAS and ArcGIS software. Multifractal inverse distance weighted is the used interpolation method. In some areas, especially residential areas, a strong heavy metal contamination (Pb, Zn, Cu, Sb, Ag, Au, Hg) was identified likely due to both motor vehicles and industrial plants. The enrichment factor of these elements is 3 - 4 time higher than the background values. The four-factor model, accounting for 79.48 % of data variability, has been deemed appropriate for stream sediments of the Calore river. The element association of Factor 1 (Al, Fe, K, Na, As, Cd, La, Pb, Th, Tl, U) is controlled by the presence of sediments developed from pyroclastics and alkaline volcanic lithologies covering the south-west area of the basin. The factor scores association F2 (Co, Cr, Mn, Ni) is certainly related to the presence of manganese oxides, specifically, the highest factor score values are found in correspondence of the sedimentary lithologies in the northern part of the basin. The factor scores associations F3 (Cu, Pb, Sb, Zn) and F4 (Ag, Au, Hg) can be explained by elements introduced into the environment by human activities. The highest F3 and F4 factor scores are generally concentrated in correspondence with main road junctions, urban settlements and industrial areas.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
