Encapsulated in sediments: eDNA deciphers the ecosystem history of one of the most polluted European marine sites.

The Anthropocene is characterized by dramatic ecosystem changes driven by human activities. The impact of these activities can be assessed by different geochemical and paleontological proxies. However, each of these proxies provides only a fragmentary insight into the effects of anthropogenic impacts.

Heavy metal background levels and pollution temporal trend assessment within the marine sediments facing a brownfield area (Gulf of Pozzuoli, Southern Italy).

In this study, site-specific natural background levels (NBLs) were determined for 18 elements (Al, As, Be, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Fe, Hg, K, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Tl, U, V, and Zn) in two sediment cores collected offshore the Bagnoli-Coroglio brownfield site (Gulf of Pozzuoli, southern Italy) to accurately assess the degree of contamination and the historical trends in Heavy Metals (HMs) enrichment. This objective was pursued taking in account the high temporal and spatial variability of the geochemical properties of the area due to the local geothermal activity. Moreover, the temporal variation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) was investigated.

Baseline radionuclide and heavy metal concentrations in sediments of Sabaki River estuary (Kenya, Indian Ocean).

Baseline study of natural (Be, Pb, Ra, Th, Ra, K) and anthropogenic (Cs) radionuclides was carried out in two cores collected from Sabaki River estuary (Kenya, Indian Ocean). There was no exponential decrease of excess Pb down the cores, which did not allow dating and determination of heavy metal pollution history. The use of Cs as a time marker was not possible due to its low fallout rates in East Africa.

Mercury isotope signatures in sediments and marine organisms as tracers of historical industrial pollution.

Isotopic composition of mercury (Hg) in marine organisms and sediment cores was used to identify sources and reconstruct historical trends of contamination in the coastal-marine area of Rosignano Solvay (Italy), affected by Hg pollution from a chlor-alkali plant on the near land. Sediments show a wide range of Hg concentration and Hg isotope signatures. Particularly, coupled Hg concentration and δHg values trace inputs from different sources.

Pathways of inorganic and organic contaminants from land to deep sea: The case study of the Gulf of Cagliari (W Tyrrhenian Sea).

In continental margins, canyons appear to act as natural conduits of sediments and organic matter from the shelf to deep basins, providing an efficient physical pathway for transport and accumulation of particles with their associated land-produced contaminants. However, these mechanisms have not been yet sufficiently explored by geochemical markers. The continental slope of the south Sardinia has been used as a natural laboratory for investigating mechanisms and times of transfer dynamics of contaminants from land to sea and from shelf to deep sea through an articulated system of submarine canyons.

Environmental radioactivity analyses in Italy following the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear accident.

Following the Fukushima power plants accident on the 11th March 2011, the radioactivity monitoring programme at the Italian ENEA research centres was activated in order to detect the possible new input of radionuclides through atmospheric transport and precipitation. Measurements of (131)I and (134,137)Cs were carried out on atmospheric particulate, atmospheric deposition, seawater and mussels and sheep milk. In the daily samples of air particulate, (131)I was detectable between March 28 and April 12, with extremely low concentrations (<1 mBq m(-3); the detection limit for (131)I was ~0.

Sediment reworking rates in deep sediments of the Mediterranean Sea.

Different pelagic areas of the Mediterranean Sea have been investigated in order to quantify physical and biological mixing processes in deep sea sediments. Herein, results of eleven sediment cores sampled at different deep areas (> 2000 m) of the Western and Eastern Mediterranean Sea are presented. ²¹⁰Pb(xs) and ¹³⁷Cs vertical profiles, together with ¹⁴C dating, are used to identify the main processes characterising the different areas and, finally, controlling mixing depths (SML) and bioturbation coefficients (D(b)).