A geo-chemo-mechanical study of a highly polluted marine system (Taranto, Italy) for the enhancement of the conceptual site model

Abstract The paper presents the results of the analysis of the geo-chemo-mechanical data gathered through an innovative multidisciplinary investigation campaign in the Mar Piccolo basin, a heavily polluted marine bay aside the town of Taranto (Southern Italy). The basin is part of an area declared a...

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Main Authors: F. Cotecchia, C. Vitone, F. Sollecito, M. Mali, D. Miccoli, R. Petti, D. Milella, G. Ruggieri, O. Bottiglieri, F. Santaloia, P. De Bellis, F. Cafaro, M. Notarnicola, F. Todaro, F. Adamo, A. Di Nisio, A. M. L. Lanzolla, M. Spadavecchia, M. Moretti, G. Agrosì, F. De Giosa, P. Fago, M. Lacalamita, S. Lisco, P. Manzari, E. Mesto, G. Romano, G. Scardino, E. Schingaro, A. Siniscalchi, G. Tempesta, E. Valenzano, G. Mastronuzzi, N. Cardellicchio, A. Di Leo, L. Spada, S. Giandomenico, M. Calò, V. F. Uricchio, G. Mascolo, G. Bagnuolo, R. Ciannarella, A. Tursi, G. Cipriano, P. Cotugno, L. Sion, R. Carlucci, G. Capasso, G. De Chiara, G. Pisciotta, R. Velardo, V. Corbelli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2021-02-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-82879-w
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author F. Cotecchia
C. Vitone
F. Sollecito
M. Mali
D. Miccoli
R. Petti
D. Milella
G. Ruggieri
O. Bottiglieri
F. Santaloia
P. De Bellis
F. Cafaro
M. Notarnicola
F. Todaro
F. Adamo
A. Di Nisio
A. M. L. Lanzolla
M. Spadavecchia
M. Moretti
G. Agrosì
F. De Giosa
P. Fago
M. Lacalamita
S. Lisco
P. Manzari
E. Mesto
G. Romano
G. Scardino
E. Schingaro
A. Siniscalchi
G. Tempesta
E. Valenzano
G. Mastronuzzi
N. Cardellicchio
A. Di Leo
L. Spada
S. Giandomenico
M. Calò
V. F. Uricchio
G. Mascolo
G. Bagnuolo
R. Ciannarella
A. Tursi
G. Cipriano
P. Cotugno
L. Sion
R. Carlucci
G. Capasso
G. De Chiara
G. Pisciotta
R. Velardo
V. Corbelli
spellingShingle F. Cotecchia
C. Vitone
F. Sollecito
M. Mali
D. Miccoli
R. Petti
D. Milella
G. Ruggieri
O. Bottiglieri
F. Santaloia
P. De Bellis
F. Cafaro
M. Notarnicola
F. Todaro
F. Adamo
A. Di Nisio
A. M. L. Lanzolla
M. Spadavecchia
M. Moretti
G. Agrosì
F. De Giosa
P. Fago
M. Lacalamita
S. Lisco
P. Manzari
E. Mesto
G. Romano
G. Scardino
E. Schingaro
A. Siniscalchi
G. Tempesta
E. Valenzano
G. Mastronuzzi
N. Cardellicchio
A. Di Leo
L. Spada
S. Giandomenico
M. Calò
V. F. Uricchio
G. Mascolo
G. Bagnuolo
R. Ciannarella
A. Tursi
G. Cipriano
P. Cotugno
L. Sion
R. Carlucci
G. Capasso
G. De Chiara
G. Pisciotta
R. Velardo
V. Corbelli
A geo-chemo-mechanical study of a highly polluted marine system (Taranto, Italy) for the enhancement of the conceptual site model
Scientific Reports
author_facet F. Cotecchia
C. Vitone
F. Sollecito
M. Mali
D. Miccoli
R. Petti
D. Milella
G. Ruggieri
O. Bottiglieri
F. Santaloia
P. De Bellis
F. Cafaro
M. Notarnicola
F. Todaro
F. Adamo
A. Di Nisio
A. M. L. Lanzolla
M. Spadavecchia
M. Moretti
G. Agrosì
F. De Giosa
P. Fago
M. Lacalamita
S. Lisco
P. Manzari
E. Mesto
G. Romano
G. Scardino
E. Schingaro
A. Siniscalchi
G. Tempesta
E. Valenzano
G. Mastronuzzi
N. Cardellicchio
A. Di Leo
L. Spada
S. Giandomenico
M. Calò
V. F. Uricchio
G. Mascolo
G. Bagnuolo
R. Ciannarella
A. Tursi
G. Cipriano
P. Cotugno
L. Sion
R. Carlucci
G. Capasso
G. De Chiara
G. Pisciotta
R. Velardo
V. Corbelli
author_sort F. Cotecchia
title A geo-chemo-mechanical study of a highly polluted marine system (Taranto, Italy) for the enhancement of the conceptual site model
title_short A geo-chemo-mechanical study of a highly polluted marine system (Taranto, Italy) for the enhancement of the conceptual site model
title_full A geo-chemo-mechanical study of a highly polluted marine system (Taranto, Italy) for the enhancement of the conceptual site model
title_fullStr A geo-chemo-mechanical study of a highly polluted marine system (Taranto, Italy) for the enhancement of the conceptual site model
title_full_unstemmed A geo-chemo-mechanical study of a highly polluted marine system (Taranto, Italy) for the enhancement of the conceptual site model
title_sort geo-chemo-mechanical study of a highly polluted marine system (taranto, italy) for the enhancement of the conceptual site model
publisher Nature Publishing Group
series Scientific Reports
issn 2045-2322
publishDate 2021-02-01
description Abstract The paper presents the results of the analysis of the geo-chemo-mechanical data gathered through an innovative multidisciplinary investigation campaign in the Mar Piccolo basin, a heavily polluted marine bay aside the town of Taranto (Southern Italy). The basin is part of an area declared at high environmental risk by the Italian government. The cutting-edge approach to the environmental characterization of the site was promoted by the Special Commissioner for urgent measures of reclamation, environmental improvements and redevelopment of Taranto and involved experts from several research fields, who cooperated to gather a new insight into the origin, distribution, mobility and fate of the contaminants within the basin. The investigation campaign was designed to implement advanced research methodologies and testing strategies. Differently from traditional investigation campaigns, aimed solely at the assessment of the contamination state within sediments lying in the top layers, the new campaign provided an interpretation of the geo-chemo-mechanical properties and state of the sediments forming the deposit at the seafloor. The integrated, multidisciplinary and holistic approach, that considered geotechnical engineering, electrical and electronical engineering, geological, sedimentological, mineralogical, hydraulic engineering, hydrological, chemical, geochemical, biological fields, supported a comprehensive understanding of the influence of the contamination on the hydro-mechanical properties of the sediments, which need to be accounted for in the selection and design of the risk mitigation measures. The findings of the research represent the input ingredients of the conceptual model of the site, premise to model the evolutionary contamination scenarios within the basin, of guidance for the environmental risk management. The study testifies the importance of the cooperative approach among researchers of different fields to fulfil the interpretation of complex polluted eco-systems.
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-82879-w
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spelling doaj-029eb1dcd3c34ea8a5c5ecaed176df112021-02-21T12:34:53ZengNature Publishing GroupScientific Reports2045-23222021-02-0111112610.1038/s41598-021-82879-wA geo-chemo-mechanical study of a highly polluted marine system (Taranto, Italy) for the enhancement of the conceptual site modelF. Cotecchia0C. Vitone1F. Sollecito2M. Mali3D. Miccoli4R. Petti5D. Milella6G. Ruggieri7O. Bottiglieri8F. Santaloia9P. De Bellis10F. Cafaro11M. Notarnicola12F. Todaro13F. Adamo14A. Di Nisio15A. M. L. Lanzolla16M. Spadavecchia17M. Moretti18G. Agrosì19F. De Giosa20P. Fago21M. Lacalamita22S. Lisco23P. Manzari24E. Mesto25G. Romano26G. Scardino27E. Schingaro28A. Siniscalchi29G. Tempesta30E. Valenzano31G. Mastronuzzi32N. Cardellicchio33A. Di Leo34L. Spada35S. Giandomenico36M. Calò37V. F. Uricchio38G. Mascolo39G. Bagnuolo40R. Ciannarella41A. Tursi42G. Cipriano43P. Cotugno44L. Sion45R. Carlucci46G. Capasso47G. De Chiara48G. Pisciotta49R. Velardo50V. Corbelli51DICATECh–Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry, Polytechnic University of BariDICATECh–Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry, Polytechnic University of BariDICATECh–Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry, Polytechnic University of BariDICATECh–Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry, Polytechnic University of BariDICATECh–Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry, Polytechnic University of BariDICATECh–Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry, Polytechnic University of BariDICATECh–Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry, Polytechnic University of BariDICATECh–Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry, Polytechnic University of BariDICATECh–Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry, Polytechnic University of BariCNR, IRPI, National Research CenterDICATECh–Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry, Polytechnic University of BariDICATECh–Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry, Polytechnic University of BariDICATECh–Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry, Polytechnic University of BariDICATECh–Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry, Polytechnic University of BariDEI–Department of Electrical and Computer Science Engineering, Polytechnic University of BariDEI–Department of Electrical and Computer Science Engineering, Polytechnic University of BariDEI–Department of Electrical and Computer Science Engineering, Polytechnic University of BariDEI–Department of Electrical and Computer Science Engineering, Polytechnic University of BariDISTEGEO, Department of Earth and Geoenvironmental Sciences, University of Bari Aldo MoroDISTEGEO, Department of Earth and Geoenvironmental Sciences, University of Bari Aldo MoroDISTEGEO, Department of Earth and Geoenvironmental Sciences, University of Bari Aldo MoroDISTEGEO, Department of Earth and Geoenvironmental Sciences, University of Bari Aldo MoroDISTEGEO, Department of Earth and Geoenvironmental Sciences, University of Bari Aldo MoroDISTEGEO, Department of Earth and Geoenvironmental Sciences, University of Bari Aldo MoroDISTEGEO, Department of Earth and Geoenvironmental Sciences, University of Bari Aldo MoroDISTEGEO, Department of Earth and Geoenvironmental Sciences, University of Bari Aldo MoroDISTEGEO, Department of Earth and Geoenvironmental Sciences, University of Bari Aldo MoroDISTEGEO, Department of Earth and Geoenvironmental Sciences, University of Bari Aldo MoroDISTEGEO, Department of Earth and Geoenvironmental Sciences, University of Bari Aldo MoroDISTEGEO, Department of Earth and Geoenvironmental Sciences, University of Bari Aldo MoroDISTEGEO, Department of Earth and Geoenvironmental Sciences, University of Bari Aldo MoroDISTEGEO, Department of Earth and Geoenvironmental Sciences, University of Bari Aldo MoroDISTEGEO, Department of Earth and Geoenvironmental Sciences, University of Bari Aldo MoroCNR-IRSA, National Research Center, Water Research InstituteCNR-IRSA, National Research Center, Water Research InstituteCNR-IRSA, National Research Center, Water Research InstituteCNR-IRSA, National Research Center, Water Research InstituteCNR-IRSA, National Research Center, Water Research InstituteCNR-IRSA, National Research Center, Water Research InstituteCNR-IRSA, National Research Center, Water Research InstituteCNR-IRSA, National Research Center, Water Research InstituteCNR-IRSA, National Research Center, Water Research InstituteDepartment of Biology, University of BariDepartment of Biology, University of BariDepartment of Biology, University of BariDepartment of Biology, University of BariDepartment of Biology, University of BariSpecial Commissioner for Urgent Measures of Reclamation, Environmental Improvements and Redevelopment of TarantoSpecial Commissioner for Urgent Measures of Reclamation, Environmental Improvements and Redevelopment of TarantoSpecial Commissioner for Urgent Measures of Reclamation, Environmental Improvements and Redevelopment of TarantoSpecial Commissioner for Urgent Measures of Reclamation, Environmental Improvements and Redevelopment of TarantoSpecial Commissioner for Urgent Measures of Reclamation, Environmental Improvements and Redevelopment of TarantoAbstract The paper presents the results of the analysis of the geo-chemo-mechanical data gathered through an innovative multidisciplinary investigation campaign in the Mar Piccolo basin, a heavily polluted marine bay aside the town of Taranto (Southern Italy). The basin is part of an area declared at high environmental risk by the Italian government. The cutting-edge approach to the environmental characterization of the site was promoted by the Special Commissioner for urgent measures of reclamation, environmental improvements and redevelopment of Taranto and involved experts from several research fields, who cooperated to gather a new insight into the origin, distribution, mobility and fate of the contaminants within the basin. The investigation campaign was designed to implement advanced research methodologies and testing strategies. Differently from traditional investigation campaigns, aimed solely at the assessment of the contamination state within sediments lying in the top layers, the new campaign provided an interpretation of the geo-chemo-mechanical properties and state of the sediments forming the deposit at the seafloor. The integrated, multidisciplinary and holistic approach, that considered geotechnical engineering, electrical and electronical engineering, geological, sedimentological, mineralogical, hydraulic engineering, hydrological, chemical, geochemical, biological fields, supported a comprehensive understanding of the influence of the contamination on the hydro-mechanical properties of the sediments, which need to be accounted for in the selection and design of the risk mitigation measures. The findings of the research represent the input ingredients of the conceptual model of the site, premise to model the evolutionary contamination scenarios within the basin, of guidance for the environmental risk management. The study testifies the importance of the cooperative approach among researchers of different fields to fulfil the interpretation of complex polluted eco-systems.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-82879-w