Hydrocarbon alkane pollution along Italian coasts  <B>Hydrocarbon alkane pollution along Italian coasts</B><P>L. Mancini1, P. Drei2, L. Venturi2 and L. Volterra1</B><I><P> 1 Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Viale Regina Elena, Roma, Italy <BR> 2 Lega Ambiente, Via Salaria, Roma, Italy</I><P> Abstract <P> In summer 1994 sediments from marine areas have been examined for hydrocarbon pollution. Chemical analyses were addressed to reveal alkane fraction. The highest value was registered at Fiumicino (near Rome) (55,68 mg/Kg d.w.). Microbial population able to degradate alkanes, reached 104105 Units/mL of suspended sediment. Microtox only in few cases showed low levels of toxicity; however a generalized biostimulation could be interpreted as metabolic distress.<P>