Accumulation of polychlorinated biphenyls in sediments of the Venice Lagoon and the industrial area of Porto Marghera

Sediment cores, collected at seven sites in the Venice Lagoon and within the canals of the industrial area were analyzed for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in order to assess the chronology of pollution and its present trends. The surficial concentration of PCBs is very high (more than 2049 μg kg−1) only in the Brentella Canal, probably due to a very recent contaminating episode. Very high values downcore (up to 41 639 μg kg−1) can be found in different parts of the industrial area, especially in the canals Lusore-Brentelle and Salso. Lagoon samples are much less contaminated (2.7–123 μg kg−1), being influenced only occasionally by polluted sediments resuspended from the canals. Sediment chronology shows that the delivery of contaminants peaked in the 1970s–early 1980s, decreasing since at most sites. Congener profiles distinguish PCBs in two main categories: heavy congeners characterize a baseline pollution, probably due to a large variety of sources within the lagoon system, whereas a mixture of light PCBs was discharged into the canals Brentella and Salso.