Hg and AI; in Continental and Marine Sediments from Southern Tuscany
433
UNESCO (1995), which proposes a programme
of worldwide geochemical research for collection of new data on the distribution of trace elements in all surface dispersing media, so as correctly to assess and preserve natural resources by
responsibly taking into account the geochemical
risk. Scientific communities and individual governments should rapidly acquire all the relevant
data, with the necessary level of detail.
Italy fails to have reliable and comprehensive
statistics on the characteristics of natural
resources and namely on natural waters as well
as on surficial dispersion media such as soil,
stream and marine sediments (ISTAT 1996).
The data presented strongly demand for
implementing research activities, with a fully
interdisciplinary approach, in order to collect all
the necessary information for the best use of natural resources and to avoid health injury due to
anomalies of highly toxic elements in dispersion
media interacting with the biosphere. Among
these activities we can recall the following:
1. Gathering full information on the distribution, speciation and bioavailability of the
highly toxic elements in surficial dispersion
media.
2. Reducing the lack of information related to
some basic processes dealing with the interrelations between the substratum features
and living species; as a matter of fact no
information is available on the bioavailability of As in marine environment.
3. Implementing toxicological research on long
term effect on animal health of low dose
response to highly toxic trace elements.
4. Initiating systematic epidemiological research
on the possible health effects in areas of huge
geochemical anomalies of toxic elements
(accomplishing this point strongly demands
for gathering the necessary information
under 1).
5. Carefully examining the impact of geochemical anomalies on ecosystems.
Scientific conclusions and their impact on
land and water use, society and finance underline
the urgency of addressing and solving these problems. A time-bomb has been activated: the longer
the time elapsing without taking the necessary
actions to minimize and prevent damage, the
heavier its effects. All governmental institutions
involved, such as technical services, basin authorities, ministries (Public Works, Environment,
Health, etc.) and regional authorities should
urgently take the above research and development initiatives and make up for lost time.
References
Baldi F, Bargagli R, Renzoni A (1979) The distribution of mercury in the surficial sediments of the northern
Tyrrhenian Sea. Mar Pollut Bull 10: 301-303
Bernhard M, Buffoni G (1982) Mercury in the Mediterranean,
an overview. In: Anagnostopoulos A. (Ed.) Proc. Intern.
Conf. Environ. Pollution. Univ. Thessaloniki, Greece. 458484
Dall'Aglio M (1995) Cidi biogeochimici in condizioni indisturbate ed alterate. In: Pignatti A (ed) Ecologia Vegetale.
UTET SPA, pp 259-273
Dall'Aglio M (1996) Geochemical risk assessment: a tool in
evaluating and minimizing natural risks. PUnius 16: 8891
DaIl'Aglio M (1997) Aree italiane con elevato rischio
geochimico come illustrato da nuove carte geochimiche.
In: Atti VIII Congr Naz Soc Ital Ecol. Soc Ital Ecal Atti 18,
pp 381-384
Dall'AgUo M, Da Roit R, Orlandi C, Tonani F (1996a)
Prospezione geochimica del mercuric: distribuzione del
mercuric nelle alluvioni della Toscana. Ind Min XVII:
391-398
Dall'Aglio M, Ferretti 0, Manfredi-Frattarelli F, Niccolai I
(l996b) Distribution of arsenic in marine sediments
from Piombino Channel as depicted by new geochemical
maps. Pliniu8 16: 91-92
DaIl' Aglio M, Marinelli G (1994) Geochemical provinces,
minerogenetic processes and environment. In: Proc
Workshop Minerogenesi deIl'Appennino SGI-Simp.
Firenze, September 1992. Mem Soc Geol Ital 48, pp 593603
Dall' Aglio M, Paoloni A, Stea B (1992) Distribuzione di AI;, Hg
e Sn nei sedimenti fluviali del Lazio ottenuta da campagne di prospezione geochimica: impUcazioni ambientali. In: Atti Conv Nazi Soc Ital Ecol, Cosenza, Ottobre
1990, pp 815-825
ISTAT (1996) "Statistiche ambientali"
Leoni L, Sartori F, Damiani V, Ferretti 0, Viel M (1991) Trace
element distributions in surficial sediments of the northern Tyrrhenian sea: contribution to heavy metal pollution assessment. Environ Geol Water Sci 17: 103-116
UNESCO (1995) A global geochemical database for environmental and resource management. Earth Sci 19
WHO (1993) Guidelines for drinking water quality, 2nd Edn.
1. Recommendation. Geneva
433
UNESCO (1995), which proposes a programme
of worldwide geochemical research for collection of new data on the distribution of trace elements in all surface dispersing media, so as correctly to assess and preserve natural resources by
responsibly taking into account the geochemical
risk. Scientific communities and individual governments should rapidly acquire all the relevant
data, with the necessary level of detail.
Italy fails to have reliable and comprehensive
statistics on the characteristics of natural
resources and namely on natural waters as well
as on surficial dispersion media such as soil,
stream and marine sediments (ISTAT 1996).
The data presented strongly demand for
implementing research activities, with a fully
interdisciplinary approach, in order to collect all
the necessary information for the best use of natural resources and to avoid health injury due to
anomalies of highly toxic elements in dispersion
media interacting with the biosphere. Among
these activities we can recall the following:
1. Gathering full information on the distribution, speciation and bioavailability of the
highly toxic elements in surficial dispersion
media.
2. Reducing the lack of information related to
some basic processes dealing with the interrelations between the substratum features
and living species; as a matter of fact no
information is available on the bioavailability of As in marine environment.
3. Implementing toxicological research on long
term effect on animal health of low dose
response to highly toxic trace elements.
4. Initiating systematic epidemiological research
on the possible health effects in areas of huge
geochemical anomalies of toxic elements
(accomplishing this point strongly demands
for gathering the necessary information
under 1).
5. Carefully examining the impact of geochemical anomalies on ecosystems.
Scientific conclusions and their impact on
land and water use, society and finance underline
the urgency of addressing and solving these problems. A time-bomb has been activated: the longer
the time elapsing without taking the necessary
actions to minimize and prevent damage, the
heavier its effects. All governmental institutions
involved, such as technical services, basin authorities, ministries (Public Works, Environment,
Health, etc.) and regional authorities should
urgently take the above research and development initiatives and make up for lost time.
References
Baldi F, Bargagli R, Renzoni A (1979) The distribution of mercury in the surficial sediments of the northern
Tyrrhenian Sea. Mar Pollut Bull 10: 301-303
Bernhard M, Buffoni G (1982) Mercury in the Mediterranean,
an overview. In: Anagnostopoulos A. (Ed.) Proc. Intern.
Conf. Environ. Pollution. Univ. Thessaloniki, Greece. 458484
Dall'Aglio M (1995) Cidi biogeochimici in condizioni indisturbate ed alterate. In: Pignatti A (ed) Ecologia Vegetale.
UTET SPA, pp 259-273
Dall'Aglio M (1996) Geochemical risk assessment: a tool in
evaluating and minimizing natural risks. PUnius 16: 8891
DaIl'Aglio M (1997) Aree italiane con elevato rischio
geochimico come illustrato da nuove carte geochimiche.
In: Atti VIII Congr Naz Soc Ital Ecol. Soc Ital Ecal Atti 18,
pp 381-384
Dall'AgUo M, Da Roit R, Orlandi C, Tonani F (1996a)
Prospezione geochimica del mercuric: distribuzione del
mercuric nelle alluvioni della Toscana. Ind Min XVII:
391-398
Dall'Aglio M, Ferretti 0, Manfredi-Frattarelli F, Niccolai I
(l996b) Distribution of arsenic in marine sediments
from Piombino Channel as depicted by new geochemical
maps. Pliniu8 16: 91-92
DaIl' Aglio M, Marinelli G (1994) Geochemical provinces,
minerogenetic processes and environment. In: Proc
Workshop Minerogenesi deIl'Appennino SGI-Simp.
Firenze, September 1992. Mem Soc Geol Ital 48, pp 593603
Dall' Aglio M, Paoloni A, Stea B (1992) Distribuzione di AI;, Hg
e Sn nei sedimenti fluviali del Lazio ottenuta da campagne di prospezione geochimica: impUcazioni ambientali. In: Atti Conv Nazi Soc Ital Ecol, Cosenza, Ottobre
1990, pp 815-825
ISTAT (1996) "Statistiche ambientali"
Leoni L, Sartori F, Damiani V, Ferretti 0, Viel M (1991) Trace
element distributions in surficial sediments of the northern Tyrrhenian sea: contribution to heavy metal pollution assessment. Environ Geol Water Sci 17: 103-116
UNESCO (1995) A global geochemical database for environmental and resource management. Earth Sci 19
WHO (1993) Guidelines for drinking water quality, 2nd Edn.
1. Recommendation. Geneva