Geochemical characterization of coastal sediments: a preliminary study of seasonal variations at Lido degli Estensi (Ferrara, Italy)

This study is part of a doctoral research project aimed at characterizing coastal sediments in relation to the presence of microplastics and marine litter. Within this framework, the present research seeks to establish an up-to-date knowledge base regarding the geochemical characterization of sediments across different seasons along the Ferrara coastal area, specifically at Lido degli Estensi (Ferrara, Italy). The objective is to identify potential vulnerabilities and/or critical aspects related to environmental pollution that require further investigation. Building upon the methodology of Aquilano et al. (2023) and adapting it to the experimental requirements of the current study, a research area was selected at Lido degli Estensi, outside zones allocated for tourism-related public concessions. This site is located on the southern side of the Porto Garibaldi navigation channel (Comacchio municipality, Ferrara), in a coastal section experiencing accretion due to the construction of artificial jetties at the port-channel entrance. These jetties trap sediment transported from the south as a result of longshore drift. Given the beach's width (approximately 150 m), a cross-shore profile was divided into five zones based on specific geomorphological characteristics: swash zone, lower backshore, upper backshore, dune scarp, and dune. Along this beach profile, variations in carbonate content, major oxide composition, and heavy metal concentrations were investigated across different seasons using eight sampling points per season. To evaluate sediment quality in terms of heavy metal contamination, the following indices were employed: Enrichment Factor (EF; Reinmann and De Caritat, 2005), Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo; Buccolieri et al., 2006), Contamination Factor (CF; Loska et al., 2004), and Pollution Load Index (PLI; Ferreira et al., 2022). Furthermore, heavy metal concentrations detected in the samples were compared with the limits established by current Italian legislation (Legislative Decree 152/06). This study was conducted as part of the ECS_00000033_ECOSISTER project, funded under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), Mission 04 Component 2 Investment 1.5 – NextGenerationEU (Call for Tender No. 3277, dated 30/12/2021).