Environmental quality of Volturno river with toxic and genotoxic findings

In order to assess the environmental quality of Volturno river in Southern Italy, the Extended Biotic Index, chemical and microbiological parameters were determined in nine sampling points as provided for D. Lgs. 152/99. Furthermore, this study reported toxicity of surface waters and pore waters from sediments and genotoxicity of pore waters to improve the definition of the ecological condition of the investigated watercourse. Results showed that toxicity and genotoxicity testing contributed to assess environmental quality and pore waters are an useful tool to combine investigations.