Contamination by chlorinated hydrocarbons (DDT, PCBs) in surface sediment and macrobenthos of the river Adige (Italy)

Surface sediments and macrobenthos communities have been employed as contamination indicators for halogenated hydrocarbons (DDT and PCBs) in the river Adige and its tributaries Fibbio and Alpone in the province of Verona. Two sampling campaigns were carried out, before and after the spring-summer floods, to determine the effects of this event on the contamination of the river. The halocarbons in the sediment were found to be associated with the fine fraction (< 53 μm) and organic carbon. From the relative concentrations of contaminants determined at various sampling stations, some information has been obtained on the sources. © 1987