Ecotoxicological Assessment of Vlora Bay (Albania) by a Biomonitoring Study Using an Integrated Approach of Sublethal Toxicological Effects and Contaminant Levels in Bioindicator Species

Corsi, Ilaria; Tabaku, A.; Nuro, Aurel; Beqiraj, Sajmir; Marku, Elda; Perra, Guido; Tafaj, L.; Baroni, Davide; Bocari, D.; Guerranti, Cristiana; Cullaj, A.; Mariottini, Michela; Shundi, L.; Volpi, Valerio; Zucchi, Sara; Pastore, A.; Iacocca, Annalisa; Trisciani, A.; Graziosi, M.; Piccinetti, M.; Benincasa, T.; Focardi, Silvano

doi:10.2112/si_58_11

Cited by 10 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…(11) The analysis of the benthic communities in the outer portion of the gulf, along the Karaburun Peninsula, showed the presence of well-preserved hard-bottom communities, which represent hot spots of biodiversity (Fraschetti et al, 2011). (12) Ecotoxicological analyses on animals (fishes, mussels) did not reveal harmful conditions of pollution, excluding the effects related to the toxicity of mercury (Corsi et al, 2011). (13) Finally, an important objective fulfilled by the project was the high-level scientific education provided to young Italian and Albanian doctoral researchers, through the research activities carried out onboard R/V Universitatis and in the Italian laboratories onshore.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Vlora Project

Tursi¹,

Corselli²,

Bushati³

et al. 2011

Journal of Coastal Research

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This volume collects the main results of 2 years of multidisciplinary researches (2007-08) on the Vlora Gulf ecosystem, carried out by a joint Italian (National Interuniversity Consortium for Marine Sciences [CoNISMA], National Research Council [CNR, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche] and Agenzia Regionale per la Prevenzione e la Protezione Ambientale [ARPA] Puglia) and Albanian (University of Tirana, the Science Academy, and the Ministry of the Environment) research team.The studies and analyses were aimed at identifying the environmental factors and components that strongly interact with, and affect, the marine ecosystem of the region. In particular, the main research tasks were related to geological and hydrogeological aspects of the river basins, the bottom morphology of the whole marine area, the problems of coastal erosion phenomena, the stratigraphy of the marine sediment, the physical and chemical parameters of the water column, an examination of primary production, the biodiversity of benthic and pelagic ecosystems, and the existence of problems connected to the ecotoxicology of the biota.The results pointed out the weakness to the Vlora Gulf ecosystem from several sources, including the (1) heavy human impacts on the natural coastal evolution, resulting in coastal erosion and/or accretion; (2) considerable influence of the input of suspended mud from the Vjosa River, causing conspicuous degeneration phenomena on the benthic biocoenoses (e.g., on the Posidonia oceanica meadow; and (3) conspicuous urban and industrial water discharge, producing diffuse pollution related to the presence of heavy metals (mercury, among others) in the sediments of the gulf area.Finally, a further aim of the project was the planning of an International Center for Marine Research, located in Albania, to support an international focal point for researchers involved in environmental studies of the Eastern Mediterranean.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Vlora Project

Tursi¹,

Corselli²,

Bushati³

et al. 2011

Journal of Coastal Research

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“…The total coast line is 427 km (273 km part of Adriatic Sea). Marine and coastal environment constitutes resources of high economic and ecological values for the country [1][2][3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Organochlorine pesticides and their residues in surface waters of Albania

Nuro¹,

Marku²,

Murtaj³

2018

Zaštita materijala

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This study presents concentrations of organochlorine pesticides and their residues in some water ecosystems of Albania. The water samples were collected in three ports of Adriatic Sea (Ports of Vlora, Durres and Porto-Romano), in four rivers (Semani, Shkumbini, Erzeni and Mati rivers) and two main lagoons of Albania (Karavasta and Patoku lagoons). 117 water samples were analyzed for a two years period (March 2014-April 2016). Qualitative and quantitative analyze of 31 organochlorine pesticides and their residues based on EPA 8081B Method were realized using technique of gas chromatography with electron capture detector. RTX-5 capillary column was used for separation of organochlorine compounds. The higher concentrations of organochlorine pesticides were found for water samples of Shkumbini River, Semani River and Karavasta Lagoon because of their previous use. Residues of pesticides were in higher level than pesticides because degradation processes. Some individual pesticides were found in higher concentrations in some stations. This could be because of punctual sources or recent use for these pesticides. Organochlorine pesticides concentrations were found to be in lower levels than reported data on previous studies for the same stations.

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“…The length of the coastline of Albania is roughly 427 km, 273 km of which belong to the Adriatic Sea. These areas are important resources in both aspects, economic and ecological [3,4,10,13]. Albanian wetland includearound 60 ecosystems, most of which lie along Adriatic Sea coastline, with a total area of 109 km 2 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An overview of Organic Pollutants in Water Ecosystems of Albania

Nuro¹,

Marku²,

Murtaj³

2018

Madridge J Anal Sci Instrum

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Data about concentrations of some organic pollutants in several important water ecosystems of Albania are represented in this article. Water samples collected in three stations of Adriatic Sea (Vlora Bay, Port of Durres and Porto-Romano), two well-known Albanian lagoons (Karavasta and Patoku lagoons) and four rivers (Semani, Shkumbini, Erzeni and Mati rivers) were analyzed for following organic pollutants, Lindane and its isomers (a-HCH, b-HCH, Lindane, d-HCH and e-HCH), DDT and its metabolites (DDE, DDD and DDT), polychlorinated biphenyls (7 PCB markers), polyaromatic hydrocarbons (13 PAH based on EPA 525) and BTEX(Benzene, Toluene, o-, m-and p-Xylenes).The data has been collected for a two year period, March 2014 to April 2016.The results of the chemical analysis show that the samples of Semani River, Adriatic Sea and Shkumbini River have the highest concentrations of organochlorine pesticides (HCHs and DDTs). The cause of HCHs and DDTs presenceincludes their previous agricultural use, new incomes from erosion process and their degradation processes. Higher concentration values of volatile PCBs are related with their atmospheric deposition origin. Relatively high concentrations of Benzene, Toluene and volatile PAH compounds were detected in water samples of Port of Durres and Porto-Romano. The presence of hydrocarbonesis influenced by ships transport, discharges of wastesfrom the ships, local automobilist transport, etc. Also, higher concentration hydrocarbons were found in Semani River and Karavasta lagoon, because of extracting and processing of oil factories which operate in this area.

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Ecotoxicological Assessment of Vlora Bay (Albania) by a Biomonitoring Study Using an Integrated Approach of Sublethal Toxicological Effects and Contaminant Levels in Bioindicator Species

Cited by 10 publications

References 27 publications

The Vlora Project

The Vlora Project

Organochlorine pesticides and their residues in surface waters of Albania

An overview of Organic Pollutants in Water Ecosystems of Albania

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