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Mercury Enrichment in Sediments of the Coastal Area of Northern Latium, Italy

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the extent of the Hg geochemical anomaly arising in the Amiata and Tolfa complex to the coastal area of northern Latium and to examine the possible influence on this area by the Mignone River, and by the small coastal basins, which are characterized by both previous mining activities and decades of past industrial impact. The results confirm the extension of the anomaly of concentrations of Hg in the coastal area of northern Latium, with the northern sector influenced by the contributions of the Fiora and Mignone Rivers and the southern sector influenced by the contributions of minor basins. The results show high values of the Adverse Effect Index throughout the considered area and highlight the need for further investigation in order to assess the impact of human activities on the present and past values of Hg in marine sediments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Experimental Oceanology and Marine Ecology, DEB, Tuscia University, Molo Vespucci, Port of Civitavecchia, 00053, Civitavecchia, RM, Italy

    Sergio Scanu, Daniele Piazzolla, Francesco Manfredi Frattarelli, Emanuele Mancini, Francesco Tiralongo & Marco Marcelli

  2. Department of Biological, Geological and Enviromental Sciences, Catania University, Via Androne 81, 95124, Catania, Italy

    Maria Violetta Brundo, Daniele Tibullo & Roberta Pecoraro

  3. Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, Catania University, Via Santa Sofia 87, 95123, Catania, Italy

    Chiara Copat & Margherita Ferrante

Authors
  1. Sergio Scanu
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  2. Daniele Piazzolla
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  3. Francesco Manfredi Frattarelli
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  4. Emanuele Mancini
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  5. Francesco Tiralongo
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  6. Maria Violetta Brundo
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  7. Daniele Tibullo
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  8. Roberta Pecoraro
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  10. Margherita Ferrante
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  11. Marco Marcelli
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Correspondence to Sergio Scanu.

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Scanu, S., Piazzolla, D., Frattarelli, F.M. et al. Mercury Enrichment in Sediments of the Coastal Area of Northern Latium, Italy. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 96, 630–637 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-016-1776-9

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