Using environmental geostatistics for the geochemical characterization of soils from the polluted site of national interest of Tito (PZ - Italy)

The aim of this work was to provide information concerning the distribution of heavy metals in soils of a polluted ecosystem, in order to predict potential environmental risks and to provide a tool for the decision maker. This paper focuses on characterizing the industrial area of Tito (PZ, southern Italy), a site included among national interest sites to decontaminate, according to D.M. 8/7/2002. Soil contamination was monitored by means of a chemical-physical evaluation, coupled with a modelling approach using geostatistic techniques. A multistep sequential acid extraction technique was used to determine partitioning and levels of heavy metals in soil samples. Results showed that concentrations of analyzed elements are high in the whole area and above legislative admissible limits. A high spatial variation of heavy metals was observed in the studied area, with higher levels of heavy metals beside active and abandoned industrial areas. The adopted approach highlighted that anthropogenic industrial pressure may have detrimental repercussions on the surrounding environment and that recovering contaminated areas by implementing decontamination or permanent making safe interventions becomes necessary.