Polyciclic aromatic hydrocarbon distribution in sediments from the Mar Piccolo (Ionian Sea), Italy

The basin of Mar Piccolo with an area of 2,176 . 10(4) m(2) and with a water volume of about 152 . 10(6) m(3), lies at the north of Taranto. It is divided by two strips of land into the first and the second inlet and it is connected with the Mar Grande basin (Ionian Sea) through two narrow passages, Canal of Porta Napoli and Canal Navigabile. Some superficial rivers drain into the basin: Galeso, with a more significant flow, in the upper part of the first inlet; Marrese Canal and Cervaro river in the upper part of the second inlet. More, eight urban discharges drain directly into the basin, and the most significant is Canale D'Aiedda (south, second inlet). Mar Piccolo, because of its characteristic of semi-enclosed basin with marked problems of water exchange due mainly to moderate sea-tides, represents a marine ecosystem where biological balances have been modified, in relation to the anthropic development and, in particular, the large industrial settlement. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants and occur primarily as a result of anthropogenic inputs, while a little contribution comes from events as forest fires (Compaan et al., 1992). Transport to the marine environment occurs both via surface waters and the atmosphere; because of their low aqueous solubilities, PAHs tend to adsorb to particulate material and to be deposited to the underlying sediments (Law & Biscaya, 1994), where they can accumulate to high concentrations. Due to their wide environmental distribution, mutagenic and carcinogenic properties, PAHs merit concerted environmental monitoring. The objective of this study was to determine the concentrations, distribution and sources of PAHs in surface sediments from the Mar Piccolo (Ionian Sea), adjacent area of Taranto harbour one of the mains in Italy.