Multivariate tools to investigate the spatial contaminant distribution in a highly anthropized area (Gulf of Naples, Italy)

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2022-09, Vol.29 (41), p.62281-62298
• Main Authors: Mali, Matilda, Di Leo, Antonella, Giandomenico, Santina, Spada, Lucia, Cardellicchio, Nicola, Calò, Maria, Fedele, Alessandra, Ferraro, Luciana, Milia, Alfonsa, Renzi, Monia, Massara, Francesca, Granata, Tommaso, Moruzzi, Letizia, Buonocunto, Francesco Paolo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anthropogenic factors; Aquatic ecosystems; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Cluster analysis; Coastal zone; Coasts; Contaminants; Contamination; Datasets; Discriminant analysis; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecosystem; Ecotoxicology; Electricity distribution; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Environmental science; Geologic Sediments - chemistry; Human influences; Hydrocarbons; Inorganic contaminants; Investigations; Italy; Multivariate analysis; Ocean floor; Pattern recognition; Pollution; Research Article; Sediments; Trends; VOCs; Volatile organic compounds; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Pollution Control
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-19989-z

The Gulf of Naples located in a high anthropized coastal area is subjected to an infrastructural intervention for the installation of a submarine power pipeline. In order to evaluate the distribution of contaminants in the seafloor sediments, a preliminary study has been conducted in the area using multivariate techniques. The statistic approach was performed to gain insights on the occurrence of organic and inorganic contaminants within the area, aiming to identify the relevant hot spots. Three geographical sub-areas influenced by different contaminant association were recognized: Torre Annunziata (TA), Capri (CA), and middle offshore (MO). TA and CA resulted marked by a severe contamination pattern due to anthropogenic pressures. In addition, the influence of the depositional basin in governing the contamination trend has been pointed out. The supervised technique PLS_DA resulted to be a powerful tool in addressing the complexity of the huge dataset acquired during the marine survey, highlighting the main trends in the variability of quality indicators, orienting thus the deeper investigations during follow-up monitoring activities.