PCDD/F contamination of the Venice Lagoon: A history of industrial activities and past management choices

Abstract

The history of the Venice Lagoon contamination is presented here, based on sediment records and on information about industrial activities and past management choices. We used polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) as tracers since the relative abundance of their congeners can help in locating their sources. The most important PCDD/F source to the canals of the first industrial area (built in the 1920s) can be ascribed to processes involving pyrite to obtain sulfuric acid and recovery of copper and other metals. Indeed, homologue profiles and documents show that the PCDD/Fs contamination is mainly related to the use and disposal of both these industrial wastes and materials dredged from the most contaminated canals. In particular, these latter constitute the ground under the second industrial area (built after World War II). Furthermore, hazardous materials were stored until 1992 in an islet exposed to erosion, whereas tracts of industrial canal banks eroded until 2000. Similar situations are frequent in transition and coastal areas worldwide.