Temporal evolution of the environmental quality of the Vallona Lagoon (Northern Mediterranean, Adriatic Sea)

Guidance Document 25/2010, suggests sediment and biota are the most suitable matrices for the trend monitoring purpose, because they integrate the pollution over time and space. So, from 2005 to 2014, the sediment and biota concentrations of heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Ni, Pb) were analysed in the Vallona Lagoon (northern Adriatic Sea, Italy), widely used for intensive and extensive bivalve farming. The contamination levels in sediment and biota were compared with Environmental Quality Standard (EQS) and threshold levels (TL) for human health. The results identified critical issues related to Cd in sediment samples as well as to Hg and Pb in biota which were not only ascribable to the physiological and seasonal variability of organisms. The Cr and Ni levels in sediment were higher than the EQS. However, the concentration increases at biota stations close to sites where EQS excesses were observed in sediment were not verified. [Display omitted] •Temporal trends in chemical contamination were studied.•Trace metals from a wetland area sediment and biota were analysed.•The environmental quality of the lagoon and protection of human health were assessed.•Cd, Cr and Ni in sediment, Hg and Pb in biota showed some critical issues.