Contaminant fate and transport in the Venice Lagoon: Results from a multi-segment multimedia model

Contaminant loadings to the Venice Lagoon peaked from 1950s–1980s and although they have since declined, contaminant concentrations remain elevated in sediment and seafood. In order to identify the relative importance of contaminant sources, inter-media exchange and removal pathways, a modified 10-s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ecotoxicology and environmental safety 2010-03, Vol.73 (3), p.222-230
Main Authors: Sommerfreund, J.K., Gandhi, N., Diamond, M.L., Mugnai, C., Frignani, M., Capodaglio, G., Gerino, M., Bellucci, L.G., Giuliani, S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Air pollution
Basins
Circulation
Contaminant fate modelling
Contaminants
Environmental Monitoring - methods
Environmental Sciences
Finite Element Analysis
Furans - analysis
In-place pollution
Italy
Lagoons
Life Sciences
Mediterranean Sea
Metals
Metals, Heavy - analysis
Models, Theoretical
OCDD/F
PCBs
Polychlorinated Biphenyls - analysis
Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins - analogs & derivatives
Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins - analysis
Seawater - chemistry
Sediments
Source apportionment
Toxicology
Transport
Trapping
Venice Lagoon
Water Movements
Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
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Summary:Contaminant loadings to the Venice Lagoon peaked from 1950s–1980s and although they have since declined, contaminant concentrations remain elevated in sediment and seafood. In order to identify the relative importance of contaminant sources, inter-media exchange and removal pathways, a modified 10-segment fugacity/aquivalence-based model was developed for octachlorodibenzodioxin/furan (OCDD/F), PCB-180, Pb and Cu in the Venice Lagoon. Results showed that in-place pollution nearby the industrial area, current industrial discharges, and tributary loadings were the main sources of contaminants to the lagoon, with negligible contributions from the atmosphere. The fate of these contaminants was governed by sediment-water exchange with simultaneous advective transport by water circulation. Contaminants circulated amongst the northern and central basins with a small fraction reaching the far southern basin and the Chioggia inlet. As a consequence, we estimated limited contaminant transfer to the Adriatic Sea, trapping the majority of contaminants in the sediment in this “average” circulation scenario which does not account for periodic flooding events.
ISSN:0147-6513
1090-2414
DOI:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2009.11.005