Heavy metals pollution in to the Marano lagoon in Northern Italy

This paper concerns the environmental pollution in the most northern lagoon of Europe, halfway the cities of Venice and Trieste, close to the Adriatic Sea. As a consequence of industrial and natural pollution from near mercury bearing region of Idria, a very high level of heavy metals content has been revealed. Samples have been taken concerning sediments, water and lagoon vegetation. Chemical analyses have shown the existence of diffused mercury and chromium pollution. It has been demonstrated that mercury is transferring from sediments to the trophic chain, until fish and at least to the men. The distribution of pollution agents in the lagoon is pointed out utilizing geostatistical methods in order to localize sediments to be removed for remediation purpose of sea roads into the lagoon. A strategy for sediments removal by selective drainage of the lagoon has been pointed out.