Geo-Environmental Characterisation of High Contaminated Coastal Sites: The Analysis of Past Experiences in Taranto (Southern Italy) as a Key for Defining Operational Guidelines

Angela Rizzo, Francesco De Giosa, Antonella Di Leo, Stefania Lisco, Massimo Moretti, Giovanni Scardino, Giovanni Scicchitano and Giuseppe Mastronuzzi
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Angela Rizzo: Department of Earth and Geoenvironmental Sciences, Campus Universitario, University of Bari Aldo Moro, via E. Orabona, 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
Francesco De Giosa: Environmental Surveys s.r.l., via Renato Dario Lupo, 65, 74121 Taranto, Italy
Antonella Di Leo: Istituto di Ricerca sulle Acque (IRSA) Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Roma, 3, 74123 Taranto, Italy
Stefania Lisco: Department of Earth and Geoenvironmental Sciences, Campus Universitario, University of Bari Aldo Moro, via E. Orabona, 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
Massimo Moretti: Department of Earth and Geoenvironmental Sciences, Campus Universitario, University of Bari Aldo Moro, via E. Orabona, 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
Giovanni Scardino: Department of Earth and Geoenvironmental Sciences, Campus Universitario, University of Bari Aldo Moro, via E. Orabona, 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
Giovanni Scicchitano: Department of Earth and Geoenvironmental Sciences, Campus Universitario, University of Bari Aldo Moro, via E. Orabona, 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
Giuseppe Mastronuzzi: Department of Earth and Geoenvironmental Sciences, Campus Universitario, University of Bari Aldo Moro, via E. Orabona, 4, 70125 Bari, Italy

Land, 2022, vol. 11, issue 6, 1-29

Abstract: Despite its remarkable geomorphological, ecological, and touristic value, the coastal sector of the Apulia region (Southern Italy) hosts three of the main contaminated Italian sites (Sites of National Interest, or SINs), for which urgent environmental remediation and reclamation actions are required. These sites are affected by intense coastal modification and diffuse environmental pollution due to the strong industrialisation and urbanisation processes that have been taking place since the second half of the XIX century. The Apulian coastal SINs, established by the National Law 426/1998 and delimited by the Ministerial Decree of 10 January 2000, include large coastal sectors and marine areas, which have been deeply investigated by the National Institution for the Environmental Research and Protection (ISPRA) and the Regional Agency for the Prevention and Protection of the Environment (ARPA) with the aim of obtaining a deep environmental characterisation of the marine matrices (sediments, water, and biota). More recently, high-resolution and multidisciplinary investigations focused on the geo-environmental characterisation of the coastal basins in the SIN Taranto site have been funded by the “ Special Commissioner for the urgent measures of reclamation, environmental improvements, and redevelopment of Taranto ”. In this review, we propose an overview of the investigations carried out in the Apulian SINs for the environmental characterisation of the marine matrices, with special reference to the sea bottom and sediments. Based on the experience gained in the previous characterisation activities, further research is aimed at defying a specific protocol of analysis for supporting the identification of priority actions for an effective and efficient geo-morphodynamic and environmental characterisation of the contaminated coastal areas, with special reference to geomorphological, sedimentological, and geo-dynamic features for which innovative and high-resolution investigations are required.

Keywords: coastal contaminated sites; geo-morphodynamic model; reclamation activities; Apulia region; Taranto (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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