Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Geospeciation, toxicological evaluation, and hazard assessment of trace elements in superficial and deep sediments

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To evaluate the hazard assessment of dredging and disposal of sediments, an in-depth chemical and toxicological characterization of sediments was carried out in Venice Lagoon. The bioaccessible and mobile concentration of trace elements in superficial and deep sediments (in the Holocene-Pleistocene limit) can deeply affect the quality of the aquatic ecosystem. Geospeciation and total concentration of trace elements in sediment cores were assessed and several toxicological tests were carried out. The indices of contamination (e.g., geochemical accumulation index, Igeo, pollution load index, PLI) and of speciation (individual contamination factor, ICF and global contamination factor, GCF) were evaluated. Factor Analysis (FA) was performed to explore possible significant correlations between toxicity data and sediment chemistry. Results underlined that the total concentration of trace elements cannot adequately assess the hazard, while bioavailability, mobility, and toxicity of trace elements allow a thorough evaluation of the environmental threats. The integration of results from chemical characterization ex ante and toxicity assays will provide for a better sustainable handling and management of sediments.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abrahim GMS, Parker RJ (2008) Assessment of heavy metal enrichment factors and the degree of contamination in marine sediments from Tamaki Estuary, Auckland, New Zealand. Environ Monit Assess 136:227–238

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Allan IJ, Vrana B, Greenwood R, Mills GA, Roig B, Gonzalez C (2006) A “toolbox” for biological and chemical monitoring requirements for the European Union’s Water Framework Directive. Talanta 69:302–322

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alomary AA, Belhadj S (2007) Determination of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Zn) by ICP-OES and their speciation in Algerian Mediterranean Sea sediments after a five-stage sequential extraction procedure. Environ Monit Assess 135:265–280

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Angulo E (1996) The Tomlinson Pollution Load Index applied to heavy metal, “Mussel-Watch” data: a useful index to assess coastal pollution. Sci Total Environ 187:19–56

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Argese E, Bettiol C, Cedolin A, Bertini S, Delaney E (2003) Speciation of heavy metals in sediments of the lagoon of Venice collected in the industrial area. Ann Chim 93:329–336

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arizzi Novelli A, Picone M, Losso C, Volpi Ghirardini A (2003) Ammonia as confounding factor in toxicity tests with the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus (Lmk). Toxicol Environ Chem 85:183–191

    Google Scholar 

  • Arizzi Novelli A, Losso C, Libralato G, Tagliapietra D, Pantani C, Volpi Ghirardini A (2006) Is the 1:4 elutriation ratio reliable? Ecotoxicological comparison of four different sediments: water proportions. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 65:306–313

    Google Scholar 

  • ASTM (2004) Standard guide for conducting acute toxicity test starting with embryos of four species of saltwater bivalve molluscs E 724–98, 21

  • Benson NU, Asuquo FE, Williams AB, Essien JP, Ekong CI, Akpabio O, Olajire A (2016) Source evaluation and trace metal contamination in benthic sediments from equatorial ecosystems using multivariate statistical techniques. PLoS One 11:1–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Burton ED, Bush RT, Sullivan LA (2006) Acid-volatile sulfide oxidation in coastal flood plain drains: iron-sulfur cycling and effects on water quality. Environ Sci Technol 40:1217–1222

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cantwell MG, Burgess RM, King JW (2008) Resuspension of contaminated field and formulated reference sediments part I: evaluation of metal release under controlled laboratory conditions. Chemosphere 73:1824–1831

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carere M, Dulio V, Hanke G, Polesello S (2012) Guidance for sediment and biota monitoring under the common implementation strategy for the water framework directive. Trends Anal Chem 36:15–24

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Caroli S, Caimi S, Senofonte O, Delle Femmine P, Petrucci F (2000) Speciation and distribution of arsenic, barium and tin in the waters of the Venice Lagoon. In: La ricerca scientifica per Venezia. Progetto Sistema lagunare Veneziano, Istituto veneto di scienze lettere ed arti, Venezia Vol. 2(1), 548–555 (in Italian)

  • Cescon P, Barbante C, Capodaglio G, Cecchini M, Scarponi G, Toscano G, Turetta C (2000) Heavy metals speciation in the waters of the Venice Lagoon for a complete evaluation of ecotoxicity. In: La ricerca scientifica per Venezia. Progetto Sistema lagunare Veneziano, Istituto veneto di scienze lettere ed arti, Venezia Vol. 2(1), 538–547 (in Italian)

  • Chen CF, Dong CD, Chen CW (2013) Metal speciation and contamination in Dredged Harbor sediments from Kaohsiung Harbor, Taiwan. Soil Sediment Contam 22:546–561

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Choppala G, Bush R, Moon E, Ward N, Wang Z, Bolan N, Sullivan L (2017) Oxidative transformation of iron monosulfides and pyrite in estuarine sediments: implications for trace metals mobilisation. J Environ Manag 186:158–166

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Christophoridis C, Dedepsidis D, Fytianos K (2009) Occurrence and distribution of selected heavy metals in the surface sediments of Thermaikos Gulf, N. Greece. Assessment using pollution indicators. J Hazard Mater 168:1082–1091

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Comrey AL, Howard BL (1973) A first course in factor analysis. Academic Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Corami F, Cairn WRL, Rigo C, Cescon P (2011) Geospeciation of trace elements and speciation analysis of mercury in the Venice Lagoon. EuroLag: 5th EU coastal lagoons symposium, University of Aveiro, Aveiro

  • Corami F, Turetta C, Ros V, Polo F, Piazza R, Barbante C (2014) Could temperature affect the geospeciation of trace elements in sediments? LATECC Project (LAgoon, TEmperature and chemical contamination) in the Venice Lagoon. SISC2014, Ca’ Foscari University, Venezia

  • Council of the European Union (1992) Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, Official Journal L 206 of 22/07/1992

  • Cui J, Zhao Y, Li J, Beiyuan J, Tsang DCW, Poon C, Chan T, Wang W, Li X (2018) Speciation, mobilization, and bioaccessibility of arsenic in geogenic soil profile from Hong Kong. Environ Pollut 232:375–384

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Davidson CM, Thomas RP, McVey SE, Perala R, Littlejohn D, Ure AM (1994) Evaluation of a sequential extraction procedure for the speciation of heavy metals in sediments. Anal Chim Acta 291:277–286

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Davidson CM, Ferreira PCS, Ure AM (1999) Some sources of variability in application of the three-stage sequential extraction procedure recommended by BCR to industrially contaminated soil. Fresenius J Anal Chem 363:446–451

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Davutluoglu OI, Seckın G, Kalat DG, Yılmaz T, Ersu CB (2010) Speciation and ımplications of heavy metal content in surface sediments of Akyatan Lagoon–Turkey. Desalination 260:199–210

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Del Valls TA, Forja JM, Gómez-Parra A (1999) Sediment quality guidelines in the Gulf of Cadiz: a multivariate approach. Ecotoxicol Environ Restor 2(1):34–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Diop C, Dewaelé D, Cazier F, Diouf A, Ouddane B (2015) Assessment of trace metals contamination level, bioavailability and toxicity in sediments from Dakar coast and Saint Louis estuary in Senegal, West Africa. Chemosphere 138:980–987

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • EC (2000a) Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy (Water Framework Directive), Official Journal of the European Communities L 327 22/12/2000

  • EC (2000b) Communication from the Commission on the precautionary principle. European Commission, February 2, 2000, COM/2000/0001 final

  • EC (2001) Commission Decision 2455/2001/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 November 2001 establishing the list of priority substances in the field of water policy and amending Directive 2000/60/EC, Official Journal of the European Communities L 331 of 15/12/2001

  • EC (2008) Directive 2008/105/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on environmental quality standards in the field of water policy, amending and subsequently repealing Council Directives 82/176/EEC, 83/156/EEC, 84/491/EEC, 86/280/EEC and amending directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, Official Journal of the European Union L 348/84 of 24/12/2008

  • EC (2009) Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds. Official Journal of the European Union L 20/7 of 26/01/2010

  • EC (2010) Common Implementation Strategy for the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC), Guidance Document No. 25 on Chemical Monitoring of Sediment and Biota under the Water Framework Directive

  • EC (2011) Common Implementation Strategy for the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC), Guidance Document No. 27: Technical Guidance For Deriving Environmental Quality Standards

  • EC (2013) Directive 2013/39/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 August 2013 amending Directives 2000/60/EC and 2008/105/EC as regards priority substances in the field of water policy. Official Journal of the European Union L 226 of 24/08/2013

  • Fairbrother A, Wenstel R, Sappington K, Wood W (2007) Framework for Metals Risk Assessment. Ecotox Environ Safe 68:145–227

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Feld CK, Segurado P, Gutiérrez-cánovas C (2016) Analysing the impact of multiple stressors in aquatic biomonitoring data: a “cookbook” with applications in R. Sci Total Environ 573:1320–1339

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Filgueiras AV, Lavilla I, Bendicho C (2002) Chemical sequential extraction for metal partitioning in environmental solid samples. J Environ Monitor 6:823–857

    Google Scholar 

  • García-Pereira FJ, García Giménez R, de la Villa R, Procopio JR (2015) Heavy metal fractionation in sediments from the Jarama River (central Spain). Environ Earth Sci 73:2385–2396

    Google Scholar 

  • Hahladakis JN, Vasilaki G, Smaragdaki E, Gidarakos E (2016) Application of ecological risk indicators for the assessment of Greek surficial sediments contaminated by toxic metals. Environ Monit Assess 188:271–283

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamdoun H, Van-Veen E, Basset B, Lemoine M, Coggan J, Leleyter L, Baraud F (2015) Characterization of harbor sediments from the English Channel: assessment of heavy metal enrichment, biological effect and mobility. Mar Pollut Bull 90:273–280

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hass A, Fine P (2010) Sequential selective extraction procedures for the study of heavy metals in soils, sediments, and waste materials - a critical review. Crit Rev Environ Sci Techno 40:365–399

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ianni C, Bignasca A, Magi E, Rivaro P (2010) Metal bioavailability in marine sediments measured by chemical extraction and enzymatic mobilization. Microchem J 96:308–316

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ikem A, Egiebor NO, Nyavor K (2003) Trace elements in water, fish and sediment from Tuskegee Lake, southeastern USA. Water Air Soil Poll 149:51–75

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • ISO (2016) Water quality - Marine algal growth inhibition test with Skeletonema sp. and Phaeodactylum tricornutum. ISO 13253:2016

  • Italian Legislative Decree No. 152 (2006) Norms concerning the environment. Official Journal of the Italian Republic No 88, 14 April 2006 (in Italian)

  • Italian Legislative Decree No. 172 (2015) Italian implementation of the Directive 2013/39/UE, amending Directives 2000/60/EC and 2008/105/EC as regards priority substances in the field of water policy Official Journal of the Italian Republic No 250, 27 October 2015 (in Italian)

  • Italian Ministerial Decree No. 260 (2010) Regulation regarding the technical criteria for the classification of surface water bodies. Official Journal of the Italian Republic No 30, 07 February 2011 (in Italian)

  • Italian Ministry of the Environment (1993) Environmental Security Criteria for Venice sediments, art 4, comma 6 Law 360/91 (in Italian)

  • Jain CK (2004) Metal fractionation study on bed sediments of River Yamuna, India. Water Res 38:569–578

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jain CK, Gupta H, Chakrapani GJ (2008) Enrichment and fractionation of heavy metals in bed sediments of River Narmada, India. Environ Monit Assess 141:35–47

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kaakinen J, Kuokkanen T, Leskinen H, Välimäki I, Kujala K (2015) The use of a four-stage sequential leaching procedure and the corresponding one-phase extractions for risk assessment of potential harmful substances in waste rock utilized in railway ballast. Chem Speciat Bioavailab 27:71–80

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kadhum SA, Ishak MY, Zulkifli SZ (2017) Investigating geochemical factors affecting heavy metal bioaccessibility in surface sediment from Bernam River, Malaysia. Environ Sci Pol 24:12991–13003

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar A, Ramanathan AL (2015) Speciation of selected trace metals (Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn) with depth in the sediments of Sundarban mangroves: India and Bangladesh. J Soils Sediments 15:2476–2486

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar A, Ramanathan AL, Prabha S, Ranjan RK, Ranjan S, Singh G (2012) Metal speciation studies in the aquifer sediments of Semria Ojhapatti, Bhojpur District, Bihar. Environ Monit Assess 184:3027–3042

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liao J, Chen J, Ru X, Chen J, Wu H, Wei C (2017) Heavy metals in river surface sediments affected with multiple pollution sources, South China: distribution, enrichment and source apportionment. J Geochemical Explor 176:9–19

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Libralato G, Losso C, Avezzù F, Volpi Ghirardini A (2009) Influence of the salinity adjustment methods, salts and brine, on the toxicity of wastewater samples to mussel embryos. Environ Technol 30:85–91

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Libralato G, Gentile E, Volpi Ghirardini A (2016) Wastewater effects on Phaeodactylum tricornutum (Bohlin): setting up a classification system. Ecol Indic 60:31–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Losso C, Arizzi Novelli A, Picone M, Marchetto D, Pessa G, Molinaroli E, Ghetti PF, Volpi Ghirardini A (2004) Evaluation of surficial sediment toxicity and sediment physico-chemical characteristics of representative sites in the Lagoon of Venice (Italy). J Mar Syst 51

  • Losso C, Arizzi Novelli A, Picone M, Ghetti PF, Volpi Ghirardini A (2009) Porewater as a matrix in toxicity bioassays with sea urchins and bivalves: evaluation of applicability to the Venice Lagoon (Italy). Environ Int 35

  • MacCallum RC, Widaman KF, Zhang S, Hong S (1999) Sample size in factor analysis. Psychol Methods 4:84

    Google Scholar 

  • Maggi C, Onorati F, Lamberti CV, Cicero AM (2008) The hazardous priority substances in Italy: national rules and environmental quality standard in marine environment. Environ Impact Assess Rev 28:1–6

    Google Scholar 

  • Maggi C, Ausili A, Boscolo R, Cacciatore F, Bonometto A, Cornello M, Berto D (2012) Sediment and biota in trend monitoring of contaminants in transitional waters. TrAC Trends Anal Chem 36:82–91

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marrugo-Negrete J, Pinedo-Hernández J, Díez S (2017) Assessment of heavy metal pollution, spatial distribution and origin in agricultural soils along the Sinú River Basin, Colombia. Environ Res 154:380–388

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martínez LLG, Poleto C (2014) Assessment of diffuse pollution associated with metals in urban sediments using the geoaccumulation index (Igeo). J Soils Sediments 14:1251–1257

    Google Scholar 

  • Mendoza JC, Garrido TR, Quilodrán CR, Segovia MC, Parada JA (2017) Evaluation of the bioaccessible gastric and intestinal fractions of heavy metals in contaminated soils by means of a simple bioaccessibility extraction test. Chemosphere 176:81–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Morabito E, Radaelli M, Corami F, Turetta C, Toscano G, Capodaglio G (2017) Temporal evolution of cadmium, copper and lead concentration in the Venice Lagoon water in relation with the speciation and dissolved/particulate partition. Mar Pollut Bull 129(2):884–892

    Google Scholar 

  • Morabito E, Corami F, Cescon P, Volpi Ghirardini A, Gambaro A, Barbante C (2018) The regulatory framework in the Venice Lagoon. Proposal of a new procedure for sediments management. IDA 2:107–122 (in italian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Morillo J, Usero J, Gracia I (2005) Study of fractionation and potential mobility of metal from the Guadalquivir estuary: changes in mobility with time and influence of the Aznalcollar mining spill. Environ Manag 36:162–173

    Google Scholar 

  • Morillo J, Usero J, Gracia I (2007) Potential mobility of metals in polluted coastal sediments in two bays of Southern Spain. J Coast Res 23:352–361

    Google Scholar 

  • Muller G (1969) Index of geoaccumulation in sediments of the Rhine river. GeoJournal 2:108–118

    Google Scholar 

  • Nasr SM, Okbah MA, El Haddad HS, Soliman NF (2015) Fractionation profile and mobility pattern of metals in sediments from the Mediterranean Coast, Libya. Environ Monit Assess 187:430

    Google Scholar 

  • Neyestami MR, Bastami KD, Esmaeilzadeh M, Shemirano F, Khazaali A, Molamohyeddin N (2016) Geochemical speciation and ecological risk assessment of selected metals in the surface sediments of the northern Persian Gulf. Mar Pollut Bull 109:603–611

    Google Scholar 

  • Owens EPN, Apitz SE, Barbanti A, Bernstein AG, Bocci M, Delaney E, Montobbio L (2007) Sediment linkages between the river catchment and the sea. The assessment of sediment screening risk in Venice Lagoon and other coastal areas using international sediment quality guidelines. J Soils Sediments 7(5):326–341

    Google Scholar 

  • Perin G, Cabroledda L, Lucchese M, Cirillo R, Dotta L, Zanetta ML, Oro A (1985) Heavy metal speciation in the northern Adriatic Sea. A new approach for environmental toxicity determination. In: Lakkas TD (ed) Heavy metals in the environment, vol 2. CEP consultants, Edinburg, pp 454–456

    Google Scholar 

  • Phillips BM, Nicely PA, Hunt JW, Anderson BS, Tjeerdema RS, Palmer FH (2005) Tolerance of five West Coast marine toxicity test organisms to ammonia. Correspondence to B. Phillips Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 75:23–27

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Picone M, Bergamin M, Losso C, Delaney E, Arizzi Novelli A, Volpi Ghirardini A (2016) Assessment of sediment toxicity in the Lagoon of Venice (Italy) using a multi-species set of bioassays. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 123

  • Picone M, Bergamin M, Delaney E, Ghirardini AV, Kusk KO (2018) Testing lagoonal sediments with early life stages of the copepod Acartia tonsa (Dana): an approach to assess sediment toxicity in the Venice Lagoon. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 147

  • Rauret G, López-Sánchez JF, Sahuquillo A, Rubio R, Davidson C, Ure A, Quevauviller P (1999) Improvement of the BCR three step sequential extraction procedure prior to the certification of new sediment and soil reference materials. J Environ Monit 1:57–61

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reardon J, Foreman JA, Searcy RL (1966) New reactants for the colorimetric determination of ammonia. Clin Chim Acta 14

  • Reid MK, Spencer KL, Shotbolt L (2011) An appraisal of microwave-assisted Tessier and BCR sequential extraction methods for the analysis of metals in sediments and soils. J Soils Sediments 11:518–528

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Renzi M, Roselli L, Giovani A, Focardi SE, Basset A (2014) Early warning tools for ecotoxicity assessment based on Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Ecotoxicology 23:1055–1072

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Riba I, Zitko V, Forja JM, DelValls TA (2003) Obtención de guias de calidad de sedimento en el estuario del Guadalquivir asociadas con el vertido minero de Aznalcóllar: Una compatación de diferentes métodos. Ciencias Mar 29:261–274

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rosado D, Usero J, Morillo J (2016) Ability of 3 extraction methods (BCR, Tessier and protease K) to estimate bioavailable metals in sediments from Huelva estuary (Southwestern Spain). Mar Pollut Bull 102:65–71

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Scarponi G, Capodaglio G, Toscano G, Barbante C, Cescon P (1995) Speciation of lead and cadmium in Antarctic seawater: comparison with areas subject to different anthropic influence. Microchem J 51:214–230

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Scarponi G, Capodaglio G, Barbante C, Cescon P (1996) The anodic stripping voltammetric titration procedure for study of trace metal complexation in seawater. In: Caroli S (ed) Element speciation in bioinorganic chemistry. Wiley, New York, pp 363–418

    Google Scholar 

  • Soliman NF, El GM, Okbah MA (2018) Risk assessment and chemical fractionation of selected elements in surface sediments from Lake Qarun, Egypt using modified BCR technique. Chemosphere 191:262–271

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tatone LM, Bilos C, Skorupka CN, Colombo JC (2016) Comparative approach for trace metal risk evaluation in settling particles from the Uruguay River, Argentina: enrichment factors, sediment quality guidelines and metal speciation. Environ Earth Sci 75(7):575

    Google Scholar 

  • Teatini P, Isotton G, Nardean S, Ferronato M, Mazzia A, Da Lio C, Zaggia L, BellafioreD ZM, Baradello L, Cellone F, Corami F, Gambaro A, Libralato G, Morabito E, Volpi Ghirardini A, Broglia R, Zaghi S, Tosi L (2017) Hydrogeological effects of dredging navigable canals through lagoon shallows. A case study in Venice. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci 21:5627–5646

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tessier A, Campbell PGC, Bisson M (1979) Sequential extraction procedure for the speciation of particulate trace metals. Anal Chem 51:844–851

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Toussaint MW, Shedd TR, van der Schalie WH, Leather GR (1995) A comparison of standard acute toxicity tests with rapid-screening toxicity tests. Environ Toxicol Chem 14:907–915

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Turner A (2006) Enzymatic mobilisation of trace metals from estuarine sediment. Mar Chem 98:140–147

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tüzen M (2003) Determination of trace metals in the River Yeşilırmak sediments in Tokat, Turkey using sequential extraction procedure. Microchem J 74:105–110

    Google Scholar 

  • USEPA (2000) SM 4500-S2 D standard method, Methylene Blue Method

  • Usero J, Gamero M, Morillo J, Gracia I (1998) Comparative study of three sequential extraction procedures for metals in marine sediments. Environ Int 24:487–496

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Volpi Ghirardini A, Arizzi Novelli A, Tagliapietra D (2005a) Sediment toxicity assessment in the Lagoon of Venice (Italy) using Paracentrotus lividus (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) fertilization and embryo bioassays. Environ Int 31:1065–1077

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Volpi Ghirardini A, Losso C, Arizzi Novelli A, Baù A, His E, Ghetti PF (2005b) Mytilus galloprovincialis as bioindicator in embryotoxicity testing to evaluate sediment quality in the Lagoon of Venice (Italy). Chem Ecol 21:455–463

    Google Scholar 

  • Volpi Ghirardini A, Girardini M, Marchetto D, Pantani C (2009) Microtox solid phase test: effect of diluent used in toxicity test. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 72:851–861

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang F, Chapman PM (1999) Biological implications of sulfide in sediment - a review focusing on sediment toxicity. Environ Toxicol Chem 18:2526–2532

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wedepohl KH (1995) The composition of the continental crust. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 59:1217–1232

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wijayawardena MAA, Naidu R, Megharaj M, Lamb D, Thavamani P, Kuchel T (2017) Evaluation of relative bioaccessibility leaching procedure for an assessment of lead bioavailability in mixed metal contaminated soils. Environ Technol Innov 7:229–238

    Google Scholar 

  • Woulds C, Middelburg JJ, Cowie GL (2012) Alteration of organic matter during infaunal polychaete gut passage and links to sediment organic geochemistry. Part I : amino acids. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 77:396–414

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan C, Shi J, He B, Liu J, Liang L, Jiang G (2004) Speciation of heavy metals in marine sediments from the East China Sea by ICP-MS with sequential extraction. Environ Int 30:769–783

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao S, Feng C, Yang Y, Niu J, Shen Z (2012) Risk assessment of sedimentary metals in the Yangtze Estuary : new evidence of the relationships between two typical index methods. J Hazard Mater 241-242:164–172

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zonta R, Botter M, Cassin D, Pini R, Scattolin M, Zaggia L (2007) Sediment chemical contamination of a shallow water area close to the industrial zone of Porto Marghera (Venice Lagoon, Italy). Mar Pollut Bull 55:529–542

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

In particular, the authors thank Dr. Marta Citron for the support in planning the sampling activities and for the revision of this paper. The authors thank CoRiLa (Consortium for coordination of research activities concerning the Venice Lagoon system) for the support in the project activity. The authors thank Veronica Rensi for the support in the chemical characterization, Dr. Diego Minetto, Andrea Costa Devoti of DAIS, University Ca′ Foscari, and Dr. Linda Prato of CNR-IAMC for their contribution in ecotoxicological analyses. The authors also thank Dr. Chiara Vernari Mullaney for her careful revision of the manuscript.

The authors are grateful to three anonymous reviewers for their careful reading of this manuscript and for their comments that helped improving this manuscript.

Funding

This work was funded by APV- Port Authority of Venice, Italy.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Polar Sciences, CNR-ISP, Campus Scientifico, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino, 155, Venezia-Mestre, 30172, Venice, Italy

    Fabiana Corami & Paolo Cescon

  2. Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino, 155, Venezia-Mestre, 30172, Venice, Italy

    Elisa Morabito, Andrea Gambaro, Marco Picone, Anna Volpi Ghirardini & Carlo Barbante

  3. Department of Biology, University of Studies Federico II in Naples, via Cinthia–Building 7, 80126, Naples, Italy

    Giovanni Libralato

Authors
  1. Fabiana Corami
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Elisa Morabito
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Andrea Gambaro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Paolo Cescon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Giovanni Libralato
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Marco Picone
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Anna Volpi Ghirardini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Carlo Barbante
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by Fabiana Corami, Elisa Morabito, Giovanni Libralato, and Marco Picone. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Fabiana Corami and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fabiana Corami.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Stuart Simpson

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Electronic supplementary material

Figure S1:

Vertical profiles of total concentrations (mg/kg dw) and distribution of bioaccessibility and mobility (mg/kg ww) of Pb. (JPG 644 kb)

Figure S2:

Vertical profiles of total concentrations (mg/kg dw) and distribution of bioaccessibility and mobility (mg/kg ww) of Ni. (JPG 642 kb)

Figure S3:

Vertical profiles of total concentrations (mg/kg dw) and distribution of bioaccessibility and mobility (mg/kg ww) of Zn. (JPG 649 kb)

Figure S4:

Vertical profiles of total concentrations (mg/kg dw) and distribution of bioaccessibility and mobility (mg/kg ww) of Be. (JPG 661 kb)

Figure S5

(JPG 321 kb)

Figure S6

GCF (global contamination factor) calculated for the eight cores retrieved (PNG 354 kb)

High resolution image (TIFF 4.30 mb)

Supplementary Table 1

(DOC 299 kb)

Supplementary Table 2

(PDF 55 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Corami, F., Morabito, E., Gambaro, A. et al. Geospeciation, toxicological evaluation, and hazard assessment of trace elements in superficial and deep sediments. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 15565–15583 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-07784-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-07784-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation