Organophosphorus compounds in the river PO and in the northern Adriatic

Two classes of organophosphorus compounds, OP pesticides and phosphate esters used for industrial purposes were investigated in a monitoring program carried out at the mouth of the river Po and along the Adriatic coast. Contamination by OP pesticides resulted rather low and of land based origin. Non‐pesticides, on the contrary, can reach considerable contamination levels both in river and in sea water. Local sources of pollution seem to be present along the coast and to cause in some cases a more severe pollution in sea than in river water.