Levels of pollution of rare earth elements in the surface sediments from the Gulf of Pozzuoli (Campania, Italy)

Mar Pollut Bull. 2018 Nov:136:374-384. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.09.034. Epub 2018 Sep 25.

Abstract

The Gulf of Pozzuoli includes the former second largest Italian steelworks of Bagnoli. The REE, Y, Th and Sc pollution in sediments of the Gulf of Pozzuoli was determined. Ce, La, Nd and Pr had the highest percentage distribution of rare earth elements normalized respect to chondrite with 31.19, 28.35, 19.51 and 8.41% individually. It was observed a marked enrichment of these elements, from west to the east from 26.39 to 111.04 mg/kg and from onshore to offshore from 31.67 to 217.74 mg/kg. The output of the principal component analysis revealed that the REE were mainly of anthropic origin being clearly linked to that of PAHs, metals and organic matter. This, together with their distribution patterns, highlighted the role of the former Bagnoli metallurgical plant in the pollution of the gulf.

Keywords: Gulf of Pozzuoli; Lanthanides; Marine sediments; Pollution; Rare earth elements.

MeSH terms

  • Environmental Monitoring / methods*
  • Geologic Sediments / chemistry*
  • Italy
  • Metallurgy*
  • Metals, Rare Earth / analysis*
  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / analysis
  • Principal Component Analysis
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis*

Substances

  • Metals, Rare Earth
  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical