Il mercurio nel Nord Adriatico

The Gulf of Trieste (northern Adriatic Sea) is one of the most mercury-polluted areas in the Mediterranean and in the world due to the past mining activity in the Idrija region (western Slovenia). The link between microbial production of toxic methylmercury (MeHg), and its bioaccumulation and biomagnification in marine food webs of the gulf is at present rather poorly characterized but is critical to understanding the links between sources and higher trophic levels, such as fish, that are ultimately vectors of human and wildlife exposure. This overview explores three major topics: (i) the microbial biogeochemical cycling of Hg in the area, (ii) the trophic transfer and bioaccumulation of MeHg in pelagic and benthic marine food webs, and (iii) human exposure to Hg through marine fish and shellfish consumption. These are important goals since the Gulf of Trieste is an area of great economical importance.

Shallow-water lagoons, which are common features along coastlines, are important sites for elemental cycling in this environmentally-sensitive terrestrialemarine interface. Factors governing mercury (Hg) cycling in these lagoons are poorly characterized, but critical to understanding the links between sources and higher trophic levels, that are ultimately vectors of human exposure in lagoon environments. This article discusses the processes controlling the fate of Hg from various sources, including methylation of Hg, demethylation of methylmercury, and benthic fluxes of Hg species in three of the most thoroughly studied lagoons worldwide, namely Thau (France), Venice (Italy) and Marano and Grado (Italy). Although each lagoon system experiences differences in sources of Hg and details of how Hg is transformed and transported, Hg in each system is strongly affected by biogeochemical transformations of other elements, especially redox sensitive, microbially important elements such as sulphur, iron and manganese, and their interaction with organic matter. The shallow nature of lagoons and the rapid rates of microbially mediated organic matter decomposition result in seasonally dynamic processes that influence Hg bioavailability. Despite considerable work to date, the current understanding of Hg dynamics in lagoon ecosystems, through Hg distribution, MeHg production and degradation, and trophic transfer, is still limited and more research is needed to link all subparts into a general coherent picture.

The southern basin of the Venice Lagoon has been the focus of fewer studies concerning contamination from heavy metals than the northern and central basins. A recent increase in urban waste waters from Chioggia town, as well as dockyards, shipping and fishing activities, affect this part of the lagoon. The aim of this study was to investigate the total mercury (THg) incidence in sediments and Nassarius reticulatus gastropods in order to assess its distribution and evaluate the level of contamination. THg concentration measured in bottom sediments ranged between 0.1 and 3.4 mg/kg d. wt. The enrichment factor (EF) showed high values (avg. 30, max 49) near the dockyards of Chioggia; the lowest (avg. 9, max 17) were found in the coastal marine sediments near the port entrance of the southern basin. THg in marine scavenger gastropods accumulated in N. reticulatus with concentrations falling within the range of 0.3–1.3 mg/kg d. wt. A positive correlation was found between THg concentration in sediments and in N. reticulatus in all sites, excluding the dockyards. A first local cause for mercury pollution might be attributed to the antifouling paints used in great quantity in the recent past near the town of Chioggia. Moreover, fine suspended sediments associated with tidal flushing are suggested as possibly being the vehicle for pollutant dispersal from the Marghera industrial area to the whole of Venice’s lagoon.

The Idrija mine, Slovenia has severely enhanced the mobilisation of Hg by mining activities, and Hg-laden material remains in the region. The tailings and contaminated soils are continuously eroded and serve as continuous source for the river, the flood plains and the Gulf of Trieste. The paper presents data of the recent study which aims to assess the extent of contamination of Gulf of Trieste after the closure of the Hg mine. Mercury and methylmercury were measured in various environmental compartments (estuarine and marine waters, sediments and organisms) during 1995-97 period. Data obtained show that even 10 years after closure of the Hg mine, Hg concentrations in river sediments and water are still very high and did not show the expected decrease of Hg in the Gulf of Trieste. A provisional annual mercury mass balance was established for the Gulf of Trieste. A provisional annual mercury mass balance was established for the Gulf of Trieste showing that the major source of inorganic mercury is still the River Soca while the major source of methylmercury is the bottom sediment of the Gulf.