Arsenic contamination in sediments, plant and animal species from a WWF reserve

The WWF reserve "Oasi di Alviano" in Central Italy includes most of the wetland habitats and hosts numerous plant and animal species. However, metals and metalloids contamination has been detected in this area, suggesting that the plants and animals living there have adapted to tolerate this contamination. This synchrotron experiment will shed light on species-specific detoxification mechanisms enacted by both plants (arboreal and herbaceous) and animals (aquatic and terrestrial) to tolerate arsenic by analysing As speciation and accumulation in various organs of the plant/animal. Moreover, the comparison between various matrices (sediment, plant, animal) will allow to investigate the fate of arsenic in the environment and ultimately on the food chain.