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Behavior of anionic and nonionic surfactants and their persistent metabolites in the Venice Lagoon, Italy
Author(s) -
Marcomini Antonio,
Pojana Giulio,
Sfriso Adriano,
Alonso JoséMaria Quiroga
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.5620190807
Subject(s) - linear alkylbenzene , nonylphenol , environmental chemistry , sediment , seawater , sediment core , biodegradation , inlet , environmental science , homogeneous , biotransformation , chemistry , oceanography , geology , pulmonary surfactant , organic chemistry , paleontology , biochemistry , physics , thermodynamics , enzyme
Abstract The occurrence and behavior of the aromatic surfactants linear alkylbenzene sulphonates (LAS) andnonylphenol polyethoxylates (NPE) as well as their biotransformation products in the central lagoon of Venice, Italy, were investigated by monitoring deep‐ and shallow‐water lagoon stations, two riverine sites, and one sea station. Additional samplings were conducted at the three inlets connecting the lagoon with the open sea under both ebb and low‐tide conditions, and a radiometrically dated sediment core spanning the last century was examined. The spatial distributions of LAS, NPE, and their carboxylic metabolites sulphophenyl carboxylates and nonylphenol carboxylates, respectively, appeared to be rather homogeneous over the entire central lagoon. Remarkable seasonal differences were found, however, primarily because of the increased biodegradation at temperatures greater than 20°C. The estimated primary and ultimate biodegradations of LAS in the lagoon waters were approximately 90 and 72%, respectively. Analysis of the dated sediment core showed similar annual fluxes of both LAS and NPE (48 ng/cm 2 year), which were between previously reported values of polychlorinated biphenyls (4.7 ng/cm 2 year) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (167 ng/cm 2 year).