Meta-Analysis of a New Georeferenced Database on Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Western and Central Mediterranean Seafood

The aim of this work was to collect and harmonize the results of several studies achieved over the years, in order to obtain a database of georeferenced observations on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Western and Central Mediterranean seafood. For each observation, some information on the taxonomy and the ecology of the sampled species are reported, as well as details on the investigated hydrocarbon, and spatial and temporal information on sampling. Moreover, two health risk indexes were calculated for each record and included in the database. Through several statistical methods, we conducted a meta‐analysis of the data on some of the species in this database, identifying trends that could be related to the biology of the investigated organisms, as well as to the physico‐chemical properties of each hydrocarbon and to the oceanographic characteristic of this part of the Mediterranean. The analysis of the data showed that, at a consumption rate like the one typical of the Italian population, seafood caught from the area considered in the present work seems to pose a minimal risk to health. However, we also found evidence of an increasing trend of PAH concentrations in Mediterranean mussels, pointing to the need for constant monitoring

Meta-Analysis of a New Georeferenced Database on Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Western and Central Mediterranean Seafood

The aim of this work was to collect and harmonize the results of several studies achieved over the years, in order to obtain a database of georeferenced observations on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Western and Central Mediterranean seafood. For each observation, some information on the taxonomy and the ecology of the sampled species are reported, as well as details on the investigated hydrocarbon, and spatial and temporal information on sampling. Moreover, two health risk indexes were calculated for each record and included in the database. Through several statistical methods, we conducted a meta-analysis of the data on some of the species in this database, identifying trends that could be related to the biology of the investigated organisms, as well as to the physico-chemical properties of each hydrocarbon and to the oceanographic characteristic of this part of the Mediterranean. The analysis of the data showed that, at a consumption rate like the one typical of the Italian population, seafood caught from the area considered in the present work seems to pose a minimal risk to health. However, we also found evidence of an increasing trend of PAH concentrations in Mediterranean mussels, pointing to the need for constant monitoring

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in seafood caught in Western and Central Mediterranean from 1981 to 2019

The present database contains the harmonised results of investigations on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in seafood caught from FAO fishing divisions 37.1.3 (Sardinia), 37.2.1 (Adriatic) and 37.2.2 (Ionian), in Western and Central Mediterranean Sea. Of the 10,704 records included in the database, 5790 were extracted from a database on contaminants in Mediterranean biota available at https://www.emodnet-chemistry.eu/data (accessed on 01/12/2021), while the other 4,914 come from 38 scientific publications from peer-reviewed journals. The database was compiled along the lines of the work of Cinnirella and colleagues (https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.899723) on mercury concentration in Mediterranean biota. The following parameters have been retrieved when available: Country; Location; FAO fishing division; Sea where sampling took place; Latitude; Longitude; Taxonomic class; Taxonomic order; Taxonomic Family; Species scientific name; Species common name; Marine habitat; Trophic level; Sampling depth; Sample length; Sample weight; Age; Sex; Sampled tissue; PAH analysed; Molecular weight of analysed PAHs; Origin of analysed PAHs; Tissue water content; Mean PAH concentration; Minimum PAH concentration; Maximum PAH concentration; Sample size; Sampling period; Sampling date; Sampling season; State of the organism; Reference source; Sampling year. Moreover, two health risk indexes were calculated for each record, based on FAOSTAT data on seafood consumption in Italy (FAOSTAT, 2017), and included in the database

Anthropogenic contribution, transport, and accumulation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in sediments of the continental shelf and slope in the Mediterranean Sea

A multidisciplinary approach, involving geochemical, sedimentological and oceanographic analyses, was employed to examine the distribution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in a strongly anthropized area of the marginal Adriatic Sea (Mediterranean basin). The investigation into PAH distribution considered the grain size and biogeochemical properties of the sediments, as well as in relation to the main oceanographic processes and river inputs. Both biogeochemical and hydrographical inputs regulated the sedimentation of organic particles, influencing the distribution of PAHs. The results indicated PAH levels in 116 marine surface sediments ranging from 4 to 235 ng g-1 (average 55 ng g-1). The distribution of PAHs in Adriatic Sea surface sediments aligned with a higher clayey sedimentation in the deeper basin areas of the Middle Adriatic Depression

Sources and Metal Pollution of Sediments from a Coastal Area of the Central Western Adriatic Sea (Southern Marche Region, Italy)

Sediments represent a critical compartment of marine coastal ecosystems due to the toxic and long-lasting effects of the contaminants buried therein. Here, we investigated the properties of surficial sediments in front of the Southern Marche Region coast (Central Adriatic Sea, Italy). The grain size of the surficial sediments was determined by X-ray sedigraphy. TN and OC contents were determined by elemental analysis. The concentrations of Al, Fe, Mg, K, S, Ca, Ti, P, Na, Mn, Mg, Li, As, Ba, Ga, Pb, Sr, and Zn were determined by ICP-OES to evaluate their spatial patterns and temporal trends. A Q-mode Factor Analyses was applied and resulted in the identification of three compositional facies (Padanic, Coastal, and Residual) characterized by common biogeochemical, mineralogical, sedimentological properties, transport pathway, and source. Some pollution indicators, such as the enrichment factor, the geoaccumulation index, and the pollution load index were calculated to assess the deviation from the natural background levels. The results showed a pollution by As and Ba due to the human activities in the 20th century. Furthermore, a general decreasing of Al, Ti, P, Co, Cr, Cu, Ga, Ni, Pb, Sc, V, and Y concentrations from the background levels suggested a change in the sedimentation processes during the last decades

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) accumulation in different common sole (Solea solea) tissues from the North Adriatic Sea peculiar impacted area

This study extends our knowledge of the bioaccumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in marine organisms and investigates its possible determinants. PAH levels were measured in Solea solea tissue and in marine sediments collected from three areas of the northern Adriatic Sea characterized by different anthropic impacts (Venetian Lagoon, Po Delta, and fishing grounds off Chioggia). The possibility of differential PAH bioaccumulation in different tissues (muscle, liver and gills) was investigated by seeking relationships between mean individual and total PAH concentrations in tissue and sediment samples, the physicochemical properties of PAHs (rings and Kow), and some key biological variables (lipid content of tissues, body size, habitat). The present study demonstrated that the lipid content might not be the only determinant of PAH bioaccumulation in common sole tissues. The habitat characteristics, the tissue types and some physicochemical properties of compounds were closely related to PAH bioaccumulation

Determination of mercury in the sediments of the Adriatic Sea in relation to their geochemical and sedimentological characterization

The aim of this research was to investigate the mercury content in the superficial sediments of the Adriatic Sea in relation to the depositional processes present and to the Holocene evolution. To do this, above the analysis of mercury in the surface sediment, were considered the data of the biogeochemical composition (TC, IC, TOC, TN, OM, major and minor elements) and of the sediment granulometry. Surface sediment samples were collected during the PERTRE oceanographic campaign, conducted in September-October 2016 by the ISMAR-CNR institute of Ancona [1]. Altogether 107 samples were collected by box-corer, in an area of the Central Southern Adriatic Sea that goes from the waters in front of Potenza Picena (MC) to those off the coast of Santa Maria di Leuca (LE) (Fig. 1).The granulometry (Fig. 2) and the geochemistry data (Fig. 3) [2], as already partially highlighted above [3], indicate a current silty coarse deposition zone near the coast, an area of mainly fine clayey deposition that extends to the center of the Adriatic in the deepest areas and a coarser (silicatic and carbonatic) outer zone towards the center of the basin in the less profound areas in which the coarse sediments are variously deposited during the last glacial period. For what concerns the mercury [4], values between 0.0106 and 0.123 mg/kg have been found, with an average value of 0.0526 mg/kg. From the surface distribution map of mercury (Fig. 4), a distribution in three bands can be observed, which traces the particle size distribution (Fig. 2) and the geochemistry (Fig. 3). Going eastwards there is a coastal strip with low values of mercury, linked to the scarce presence of fine material, with which the metals have a greater affinity, for the removal effected by the wave motion at low depths. This is followed by a central band in correspondence with the main accretion zone of the fine holocene accretion wedge. Finally, at the center of the basin, an external area is encountered in which mercury concentrations decrease due to the reduction of recent Holocene contributions. From this general trend differs the southernmost coastal zone (between Ostuni and Otranto) where mercury values also increase near the coast, such coastal increases could be of probable anthropic origin. Further observations on the distribution of mercury can be inferred from the association with the distribution of the organic substance (Fig. 5) and from the correlation with the PAHs (Fig. 6). In the first case, the highest concentrations of mercury are recorded in sediment samples characterized by higher concentrations of organic substance that also coincide with the higher concentrations of fine material, confirming the high affinity of this element with the two components. In the second case, the highest concentrations of mercury are recorded in sediment samples characterized by higher concentrations of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) that are found in the southernmost coastal area confirming a possible anthropic origin

Mercury Content in Central and Southern Adriatic Sea Sediments in Relation to Seafloor Geochemistry and Sedimentology

Mercury contents were determined in surface sediments from the Central and Southern Adriatic Sea to gain insight into the processes, factors, and variables affecting its distribution. Mercury concentration was measured by thermal decomposition amalgamation atomic absorption spectrometry in samples collected by box-corer from Ancona to Santa Maria di Leuca during the CNR-PERTRE cruise (16/9-4/10/2016). Sediments were also evaluated for chemical-physical parameters (pH, Eh), biogeochemical composition (total carbon, inorganic carbon, total organic carbon, organic matter) and grain size. The average mercury concentration in the Adriatic Sea sediment was 0.053 mg/Kg (d.w.), range 0.011–0.12 mg/Kg (d.w.). Mercury content was mainly affected by grain size and organic matter (OM) distribution, whereas anthropic factors exerted a limited influence. Concentrations followed the distribution of sediment types (clay > silt > sand) due to Adriatic Sea hydrodynamics and were well below the regulatory limits in all sample

AgrI-fiSh: sustainable and innovative feeds from agricultural wastes for a resilient and high-quality aquaculture

The AgrI-fiSh project has been funded under Horizon 2020 - PRIMA, with the research partnership of three Mediterranean countries: Algeria, Italy and Spain. The project will contribute to the transition to a more resilient agro-livelihood system through an innovative and circular farming approach, which promotes an efficient use of biological and natural resources with a valuable increase in productivity. New potential for farms, agri-food systems and local markets will arise from the valorization of agricultural wastes to be used for the creation of high-value plant-based feeds for a sustainable inland aquaculture. Nutraceutical potential of specific agricultural wastes (i.e grape seeds, legumes and cereals), in combination with other components, as Lactic Acid Bacteria (LABs) fermented whey and medicinal herbs) to create plant-based feeds for aquaculture, will foster animal and human health with consequent benefits for the environment, local economies and consumers