Geophysical investigations to support soil organic contamination assessment in a PCB historically contaminated area

Nowadays due to the worldwide increase of environmental contaminations, the characterization of polluted sites has become very important. In light of this/As a consequence, the development of new methodologies, able to quickly and cheaply evaluate contamination is an arduous challenge but necessary. The use of geophysical techniques combined with the direct measurement techniques (such as groundwater and soil analysis) can be useful adopted as an integrated approach for a rapid pollution detection and assessment. In this work, a PCB historically contaminated area located close to Taranto city (Southern Italy) was investigated by chemical pollutant analyses and geophysical surveys in order to characterize and evaluate the pollution, which is occurring since years. Particularly, Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) profiles were carried out close to the soil sampling points to image electrical structures in the upper part of the soil, severely contaminated by organic pollutants. The obtained results evidenced that geophysical surveys can efficiently support soil contamination assessment in an area of Southern Italy severally affected by high recalcitrant organic contaminants (PCB).