THE ROLE OF MARINE SALT AND SURFACTANTS IN THE DECLINE OF TYRRHENIAN COASTAL VEGETATION IN ITALY

The decline of coastal vegetation is a phenomenon affecting some areas of the Mediterranean region and Australia; it is due to the presence of surfactants in marine aerosols, a consequence of sea pollution by d etergents. This paper gives some observations made at various sites al ong the Tyrrhenian coast in Italy. The authors show that the presence of surfactants in the environment correlates with the presence of sea salt, and that the impact of surfactants on vegetation is local and oc curs only in association with strong sea winds. The study of the syner gistic effect of surfactants and sea salt on the crowns of trees expos ed to aerosols suggests that the surfactant can cause direct damage, w hile the absorption of sea salt is enhanced by the presence of the sur factant only when exposure to aerosol is prolonged, or if it is admini stered in very high concentrations.