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Chemistry and Ecology
June 2004, Vol. 20(3), pp. 203 –214

CHEMISTRY, MINERALOGY AND RADIOACTIVITY
IN POSIDONIA OCEANICA MEADOWS FROM
NORTH-WESTERN SICILY

L. TRANCHINAa,Ã, S. BELLIAb, M. BRAIa, S. HAUSERb, S. RIZZOc,
A. BARTOLOTTAd and S. BASILEa

aDipartimento di Fisica e Tecnologie Relative e Unita` INFM, Universita` degli Studi di Palermo,
Viale delle Scienze, Edificio 18, 90128 Palermo, Italy; bDipartimento di Chimica e Fisica della
Terra ed Applicazioni alle Georisorse e ai Rischi Naturali, Universita` degli Studi di Palermo,

Via Archirafi 36, 90123 Palermo, Italy; cDipartimento di Ingegneria Nucleare, Universita`
degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Edificio 6, 90128 Palermo, Italy; dDipartimento

Farmacochimico, Tossicologico e Biologico, Universita` degli Studi di Palermo,
Via Archirafi 32, 90123 Palermo, Italy

(In final form 18 February 2004)

This paper presents measurements of major, minor, metal trace elements and radionuclides in sediments and in
Posidonia oceanica samples from north-western Sicily (Italy). The mineralogical and chemical composition of
sediments were determined by X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence techniques, respectively. A flame atomic
absorption spectrophotometry was used to measure concentrations of Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb in P. oceanica samples
and in sediments. Specific activities of selected radionuclides have been determined by high-resolution gamma
spectrometry. Standard statistical analysis was used to assess correlations between different elements and
different sample types.

Keywords: Posidonia oceanica; Sea sediment; Heavy metals; Radionuclides

1 INTRODUCTION

Posidonia oceanica seagrasses form dense infralittoral communities called meadow ecosys-
tems (Pergent et al., 1999), which are widely distributed throughout the Mediterranean Sea.
They give the most important contribution to coastal primary production, and they are the
habitat of many species. Because of its bathymetric range (0 – 40 m), this ecosystem is
directly exposed to several anthropogenic impacts, like traffic, industrial and urban pol-
lutions (Shepherd et al., 1989; Pergent et al., 1999; Sanchiz et al., 2000). In particular,
heavy metals, natural and anthropogenic radionuclides have been shown to contaminate
the P. oceanica meadows due to both terrigenous and atmospheric contributions (Calmet
et al., 1988; 1991; Maserti et al., 1988; Molero et al., 1999; Pergent-Martini and Pergent,
2000; Sanchez-Cabeza and Molero, 2000). It has also been outlined (Ward, 1989) that

à Corresponding author. E-mail: tranchina@difter.unipa.it

ISSN 0275-7540 print; ISSN 1029-0370 online # 2004 Taylor & Francis Ltd
DOI: 10.1080/02757540410001689803