VERBI VEnice Research BIbliography

In this work the results from the second experimental campaign at Mazzorbetto (northern part of the Venice Lagoon), aimed at the aerosol characterization, will be presented. The measurements were carried out from 15th February to 10th March 2005.
Aerosol sampling has been performed mainly by means of the same samplers used in the previous campaign i.e. INSPEC (Inertial Spectrometer), a light scattering (LAS-X, PMS) and a nephelometer (PdR, Mie).
In addition, measurements of PM1 fraction have been carried out by means of cyclone. By assuming that Na is totally from sea source, the observed ratio Cl-/Na+ (range 1.9–4.9) is higher than the value in the sea water (1.8 weight ratio), therefore it could be inferred a non sea-source for chlorine (i.e. combustion processes from anthropogenic activities). As far as sulphates, the mass ratio SO42-/Na+ (range 15-40) is much higher as to the sea water value (0.25). The same is true for nitrates (range -12 µg m-3 ) compared to coastal urban atmospheres. Strong correlation has been observed between NH4+ and SO4 2-+ NO3 - (r2 = 0.90). Therefore in the PM1 fraction the NH4+ ion is mostly in the form of sulphate and nitrate. Finally the SEM and PIXE analysis show elements mainly crustal (Ca, Mg, Si) in the coarse fraction and the anthropogenic elements (Ni, As, Zn, Ti) and K and Mn, mainly in the fine fraction. Chlorine is in the coarse as well in the fine fraction.

This study aims to evaluate the effects of inorganic and organic micropollutants on the biological responses of mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis), polychaetes (Hediste diversicolor and Perinereis cultrifera) and fish (Zosterisessor ophiocephalus).
Metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb e Zn) and PAH bioaccumulation and various biomarkers (malondialdehyde MDA and metallothioneins MT; Ethoxyresorufin D-deethilase activity EROD, fluorescent bile metabolites and somatic indices in fish only; latency of N-acetyl-ß hesosaminidase, lipofuscin, neutral lipids and survival in air in mussels only) were evaluated in organisms seasonally collected from two different impacted areas: S. Giuliano and Sacca Sessola.
Referring to the seasonal variations, the metal content showed a general summer decrease in mussels and in the polychaete H. diversicolor, in agreement with the trends of MDA and MT. PAHs were generally higher in
summer in polychaetes, and in spring in fish.
Intraspecific comparisons indicated similar metal bioaccumulation levels in the organisms from both areas, S. Giuliano mussels showing higher Pb and Cd concentrations. PAHs contents were generally higher in the organisms from S. Giuliano, in particular during the reproductive period. Additionally, the results of the biomarkers showed a similar biological response in the mussels of the two sites, and higher induction of exposure biomarkers in the polychaete P. cultrifera and in Z. ophiocephalus from S. Giuliano.
The species H. diversicolor, found in S. Giuliano only, showed generally bioaccumulation capability and MDA levels higher than P. cultrifera from the same area.
The multivariate analysis, performed on chemical and biological data, showed how the seasonality is the main factor discriminating the mussels samples, the sampling site resulted the main discriminating factor for the polychaetes, whereas both factors are important in fish.