Coastal Marine Geochemical Provinces and Background Values in Sediments: A Methodological Approach

The Italian approach to determining background values (BGVs) of metals and trace elements in marine sediments according the national legislation transposing water framework directive (WFD) has been illustrated. This study may be helpful for all countries that need establish local BGVs correct assessment contamination areas with wide geological geochemical variability and, particularly, those assessing good chemical status WFD. first step was clearly defining BGV as a concentration value allows discriminating between natural anthropogenic contributions establishing concept province (MGP). Successively, criteria delimiting MGPs were provided, similar adopted mapping territory. Finally, an integrated method based on constitution dataset from unpolluted obtained pre-industrial levels chosen BGV.