The mercury (Hg) pollution of sediments is the main carrier of Hg for the biota and, subsequently, for the local fish consumers in Augusta Bay area (SE Sicily, Italy), a coastal marine system affected by relevant sewage from an important chlor-alkali factory. This relationship was revealed by the determination of Mass Dependent (MDF) and Mass Independent Fractionation (MIF) of Hg isotopes in sediment, fish and human hair samples. Sediments showed MDF but no MIF, while fish showed MIF, possibly due to photochemical reduction in the water column and depending on the feeding habitat of the species. Benthic and demersal fish exhibited MDF similar to that of sediments in which anthropogenic Hg was deposited, while pelagic organisms evidenced higher MDF and MIF due to photoreduction. Human hair showed high values of δ202Hg (offset of +2.2‰ with respect to the consumed fish) and Δ199Hg, both associated to fish consumption.

Tracing mercury pathways in Augusta Bay (southern Italy) by total concentration and isotope determination / Bonsignore, Maria; Tamburrino, Stella; Oliveri, Elvira; Marchetti, Andrea; Durante, Caterina; Berni, Alex; Quinci, Enzamaria; Sprovieri, Mario. - In: ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION. - ISSN 0269-7491. - 205:(2015), pp. 178-185. [10.1016/j.envpol.2015.05.033]

Tracing mercury pathways in Augusta Bay (southern Italy) by total concentration and isotope determination

MARCHETTI, Andrea;DURANTE, Caterina;BERNI, ALEX;
2015

Abstract

The mercury (Hg) pollution of sediments is the main carrier of Hg for the biota and, subsequently, for the local fish consumers in Augusta Bay area (SE Sicily, Italy), a coastal marine system affected by relevant sewage from an important chlor-alkali factory. This relationship was revealed by the determination of Mass Dependent (MDF) and Mass Independent Fractionation (MIF) of Hg isotopes in sediment, fish and human hair samples. Sediments showed MDF but no MIF, while fish showed MIF, possibly due to photochemical reduction in the water column and depending on the feeding habitat of the species. Benthic and demersal fish exhibited MDF similar to that of sediments in which anthropogenic Hg was deposited, while pelagic organisms evidenced higher MDF and MIF due to photoreduction. Human hair showed high values of δ202Hg (offset of +2.2‰ with respect to the consumed fish) and Δ199Hg, both associated to fish consumption.
2015
12-giu-2015
205
178
185
Tracing mercury pathways in Augusta Bay (southern Italy) by total concentration and isotope determination / Bonsignore, Maria; Tamburrino, Stella; Oliveri, Elvira; Marchetti, Andrea; Durante, Caterina; Berni, Alex; Quinci, Enzamaria; Sprovieri, Mario. - In: ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION. - ISSN 0269-7491. - 205:(2015), pp. 178-185. [10.1016/j.envpol.2015.05.033]
Bonsignore, Maria; Tamburrino, Stella; Oliveri, Elvira; Marchetti, Andrea; Durante, Caterina; Berni, Alex; Quinci, Enzamaria; Sprovieri, Mario
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11380/1139374
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