The Taranto area is one of the most polluted sectors of EU. It is a High Environmental Risk Area for the ltalian Legislation: its industriai sector produces about 92% of ltaty's dioxin (about 9% of the entire Eiuropean dioxin). Many studies have been devoted to the anatysis of water and sediment in the adjacent transitionaland marine areas which contain organic (potychlorinated biphenyls- PCBs,and parent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and heavy metal (Cd,Cu,Hg,Pb,Sn,Zn,etc.) pollution coming from industriaiand military sources
