Reassessment of element fluxes to the Adriatic Sea from the River Po

This paper reports revised estimates of nutrient (C, P, N) and major trace element loads carried by the River Po in the dissolved and particulate phas es. These update the estimates of riverine inputs to the Adriatic reported in a previous study (1988-1990). Estimated total organic C, P and N loads w ere 266 10(3), 5.8 10(3) and 147 10(3) t y(-1) respectively over the 1-year period; the phosphorus loads had decreased slightly, while riverine inputs of nitrogen were stable. Our data indicate considerable contamination of t he Northern Adriatic coastal waters by Cr, Cu, Cd, Ni, Pb and Zn, but not b y As or Co.