Heavy metals in marine sediments have natural and
anthropogenic origin: distribution and accumulation are
influenced by sediment texture, mineralogical composition,
reduction/oxidation state, adsorption and desorption
processes and physical transport. Moreover, metals
can be absorbed from the water column onto fine
particles surfaces and move thereafter towards sediments;
metals participate in various biogeochemical
mechanisms, have significant mobility, can affect the
ecosystems through bio-accumulation and bio-magnification
processes and are potentially toxic for environment
and for human life (Manahan, 2000).
As a combined result of these factors, metal concentrations
in the sediment change in space and time. In
fact, during the last few decades, industrial and urban
activities have contributed to the increase of metals
contamination into marine environment and have directly
influenced the coastal ecosystems.
Various studies have demonstrated marine sediments
from industrialized coastal areas are greatly contami-