A pipeline for monitoring water pollution: The example of heavy metals in Lombardy waters
Marco Zanchi,
Stefano Zapperi,
Chiara Zanotti,
Marco Rotiroti,
Tullia Bonomi,
Stefano Gomarasca,
Stefano Bocchi,
Caterina A.M. La Porta
Affiliations
Marco Zanchi
Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, via Celoria 10, 20133 Milano, Italy; Center for Complexity and Biosystems, University of Milan, Via Celoria 16, 20133 Milano, Italy
Stefano Zapperi
Center for Complexity and Biosystems, University of Milan, Via Celoria 16, 20133 Milano, Italy; Department of Physics, University of Milan, Via Celoria 16, 20133 Milano, Italy; CNR - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Chimica della Materia Condensata e di Tecnologie per l'Energia, Via R. Cozzi 53, 20125 Milano, Italy
Chiara Zanotti
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126 Milan, Italy
Marco Rotiroti
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126 Milan, Italy
Tullia Bonomi
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126 Milan, Italy
Stefano Gomarasca
Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, via Celoria 10, 20133 Milano, Italy
Stefano Bocchi
Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, via Celoria 10, 20133 Milano, Italy
Caterina A.M. La Porta
Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, via Celoria 10, 20133 Milano, Italy; Center for Complexity and Biosystems, University of Milan, Via Celoria 16, 20133 Milano, Italy; CNR - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Biofisica, via Celoria 10, 20133 Milano, Italy; Innovation For Well-Being And Environment (CRC-I-WE), University of Milan, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milano, Italy; Corresponding author at: Department of environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy.
Time-dependent geolocalized analysis of pollution data allows to better understand their dynamics over time and could suggest strategies to restore a good ecological status of contaminated area. This research analyzes concentrations of pollutants in surface waters and groundwater monitored by the Regional Environment Protection Agency of Lombardy from 2017 to 2020. Lombardy is one of the richest and populous region of Europe, providing an interesting example of the impact of environmental pollutants due to anthropogenic and industrial activities, not only for Italy but also for all Europe. Results show that groundwater displays more sites with heavy metals above the legal limit with respect to surface waters, including As, Ni, Cr and Zn. Furthermore, the spatio-temporal analysis of the data clearly shows that the introduction of more restrictive laws is a proper policy to improve the ecological status of the water.
