Physico-chemical parameters of marine water in the Mar Piccolo of Taranto: results of monitoring survey in the year 2015

This study aimed to evaluate sediment and marine water quality in a mussel farming area of the Mar Piccolo of Taranto in five selected stations during October 2015.
Marine water was collected from two different depths: surface and bottom while sediments were collected from the surface layer (0-5 cm). Marine water analysis included: temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, silicates, orthophosphates and chlorophyll-a. Concerning sediments, different parameters were evaluated: water content, organic matter, total nitrogen and phosphorous, pH, red-ox potential and grain size classification. Moreover, different micropollutants were also evaluated in sediments: heavy metals (Hg, Cd, Pb, Cr, Cu, Ni, Zn, Al V and Fe) and Arsenic, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs), organochlorinated pesticides, total hydrocarbons (C>12) and organotin compounds. Results confirmed the environmental problems of the investigated area included in a Site of National Interest and suggested the importance of the constant monitoring in this area characterized by mussel farming activities