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Evaluation of geochemical baselines and metal enrichment factor values through high ecological quality reference points: a novel methodological approach

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Abstract

In this study, we propose a new approach to estimate geochemical local baselines and enrichment factor values for metals in riverine sediments. The goal is to describe catchment areas characterized by intensive and spread anthropogenic activities, for which it is challenging to identify undisturbed sites to utilize as reference. The case study is the Nestore river basin (Central Italy). Our approach is based on the use of ecological quality as a criterion to select the reference points in the normalization processes of metal baselines. The rationale is to assume that the sediments with a better environmental quality are anthropogenically least impaired. On these grounds, we detected geochemical local baselines and enrichment factor values of various metals (Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, Sr, and Zn). Also, this approach allowed highlighting a major level of pollution for the most downstream site of Nestore river and its left tributaries.

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Acknowledgments

We thank MIUR (Ministero dell’Istruzione, dell’Università e della Ricerca) and the Università degli Studi di Perugia for financial support to the project AMIS, through the program “Dipartimenti di Eccellenza–2018–20

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Via Elce di Sotto, 8, 06123, Perugia, Italy

    Roberta Selvaggi, Bernarda Damianić, Enzo Goretti, Matteo Pallottini, Beatrice Moroni, Gianandrea La Porta & David Cappelletti

  2. Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, 12 University Road, SO17 1BJ, Southampton, UK

    Chiara Petroselli

Authors
  1. Roberta Selvaggi
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  2. Bernarda Damianić
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  3. Enzo Goretti
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  4. Matteo Pallottini
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  5. Chiara Petroselli
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  6. Beatrice Moroni
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  7. Gianandrea La Porta
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  8. David Cappelletti
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Correspondence to Roberta Selvaggi.

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Selvaggi, R., Damianić, B., Goretti, E. et al. Evaluation of geochemical baselines and metal enrichment factor values through high ecological quality reference points: a novel methodological approach. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 930–940 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-07036-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-07036-3

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