Pollution monitoring of Bagnoli Bay (Tyrrhenian Sea, Naples, Italy), a sedimentological, chemical and ecological approach L. Bergamin, E. Romano,∗ M. Celia Magno, A. Ausili, and M. Gabellini Istituto Centrale per la Ricerca Scientifica e Tecnologica Applicata al Mare (ICRAM), Via di Casalotti 300, Roma, 00166 Italy ∗Corresponding author: Fax: +39.06.61561906; E-mail:
[email protected] Many studies finalised to a reclamation project of the industrial area were carried out on the industrial site of Bagnoli (Naples). Among these studies, the sedimentological, chemical, and ecological characteristics of marine sediments were analysed. Seven short cores, located in the proximity of a steel plant, were analysed for grain- size, polychlorobiphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals. As well, benthic foraminiferal assemblages were investigated. Sediment pollution was mainly due to heavy metals; in particular,copper,mercury and cadmium showed a ‘spot’ (site-specific) distribution, while iron, lead, zinc and manganese showed a diffuse distribution, with a gradual decrease of concentration from coast to open sea. Heavy metals pollution seems to explain some of the variation in the foraminiferal abundance. The combined copper and iron contamination might be the cause for the complete absence of foraminifera in the four shallower cores. Moreover, the ratio between normal and deformed specimens of Miliolinella subrotunda and Elphidium advena could be indicative of heavy metal pollution. In particular, Miliolinella subrotunda could be a potential bioindicator for copper pollution, since the abundance of irregular specimens of this species could be related to copper concentrations. Keywords: steel plant, foraminifers, heavy metals, bioindicators Introduction In the context of the wide interdisciplinary research, a study on seven short cores from the inner shelf, in A recent law (decree n.468/2001—National the proximity of the Bagnoli plant, was carried out.