Background assessment in groundwater flowing under a non hazardous waste land fill in south part of Rome area

This study presents the first results of investigation and monitoring activity on groundwater referred to an area of a non hazardous waste landfill, located in the Agro Romano, at South of Rome, close to Colli Albani Volcanic region. The geological setting is mainly dominated by pyroclastic deposits of Colli Albani Volcanic Complex named pozzolanelle and tufo lionato. The purpose is to focus on the levels of Arsenic, Manganese, and Fluoride, exceeding the law limit values, in order to set up the range of their background concentrations, to identify the origin of the presence of these trace elements, to determine whetever the observed concentrations represent a naturally-occurring condition or were due to an anthropogenic source, applying a multiple approach which assemble the following lines: the site releases by anthropogenic activity, regional and site specific geology knowledge, the mineralogic characteristics of the geological outcrops site specific geochemistry, statistical approach. Carrying on a background analysis early may become an important guidance for statutory requirements in the site assessment based on legal fixed concentrations.