Determination of heavy metals in fresh and sea waters of S. Rossore Park (PISA)

A study was performed in the Tyrrhenian Sea in front of S. Rossore Park (Pisa) to ascertain the degree of Cu, Pb, Cd and Cr pollution and to investigate whether the rivers flowing into the sea may be considered potential sources of seawater contamination. Owing to the variability of such a system, the research, covering a one-year period, involved five surveys on 13 selected sampling stations and two surveys following the floats along the river Arno and its plume. The results refer to the total concentration of the above metals in the water phase after filtration. The content of Cu, Pb and Cd was always found to be higher than in the reference station (about 8 km offshore), generally reaching maximum values around the mouths of the rivers. Concentrations exceeding the minimal risk concentration were observed in the case of Cd. As for Cr, its concentration was always below the detection limit of the analytical method used. Rivers thus appear to be the main sources of coastal metal pollution.By the samplings carried out along the river Arno and its plume (involving 3–5 km from the mouth), it was found that the dilution model represents the concentration pattern for Cu and Pb fairly well over a large range of salinity.