Eleonora Beccaloni

Concentration and partitioning of Hg, Cr and Pb in sediments of dredge and disposal sites of the northern Adriatic Sea

Abstract A field survey was carried out in 1991 in order to determine the textural and some chemical characteristics of the sediments of dredge and disposal sites in the northern Adriatic Sea. Grain size, concentrations and partitioning of Hg, Cr and Pb in the Ravenna harbour sediments and disposal site in the early stage of dumping are reported. The harbour entrance sediments have a heterogeneous grain size. Mercury seems to be the major contaminant in the inner harbour samples. In the silty clay sediments of the offshore zone a gradient increasing from the coast eastwards is evident for clay and trace metals. In both zones, sequential extractions performed on harbour and offshore samples showed a prevalent association of chromium in the residual fraction and an approximately balanced partitioning of lead between the carbonate, oxide and residual fractions. Mercury proved to be associated mainly with the sulphidic-organic and residual fractions. This leads us to affirm that the dumping of the materials dredged from the Ravenna harbour should not produce a general increase in the surficial concentrations of the considered metals in the disposal area.

Major and trace elements in sediments from Terra Nova Bay, Antarctica

The concentrations of trace metals (Be, Bi, Cd, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sn, Zn), aluminium, iron and total organic carbon (TOC) were determined in sediments collected in Antarctica (Terra Nova Bay—Ross Sea). Samples were analysed by atomic absorption spectrometry with either flame or flameless techniques. Chemical data were evaluated taking into account the textural and compositional character of the sediments. The mean concentration levels of the elements in the <2 mm granulometric fraction were (mg/kg): Be: 2.04±0.25; Bi ≤0.8; Cd: 0.26±0.16; Cr: 20.3±8.3; Mn: 359±108; Ni: 6.31±3.5; Pb: 20.7±2.8; Sn: 2.12±0.71; Zn: 42.3±10.4; Al: 56 100±3900; Fe: 16 400±4800. The mean value of TOC was 0.34±0.20 g%. In the <63 μm fraction higher levels were observed for all the elements, with the exception of Al and Be. Both petrographic and chemical analyses showed differences between the samples collected in Terra Nova Bay and the sample from Wood Bay.

Mercury (Hg) and methyl mercury (MeHg) concentrations in fish from the coastal lagoon of Orbetello, central Italy

Total mercury (Hg tot) and methyl mercury (MeHg) were quantified in several specimens of Dicentrarchus labrax and Sparus aurata from the east basin of the Orbetello lagoon, central Italy. The size of each specimen was recorded to estimate body burdens (BBs); =Hg tot and MeHg were measured in fillets of both species. Hg tot and MeHg in S. aurata ranged between 0.355-1.58 and 0.341-1.53 μg/g wet weight (ww), respectively; in D. labrax, their ranges were 0.284-2.54 and 0.214-2.35 μg/g ww. Approximately 90% of the concentrations measured exceeded Hg tot regulatory maximum level of 0.5 μg/g ww; however, exceedance rate was different in the two species studied. No correlations between specimen size and Hg tot or MeHg BBs were detected in this study.

Environmental concentrations of fibers with fluoro-edenitic composition and population exposure in Biancavilla (Sicily, Italy)

INTRODUCTION The town of Biancavilla (Sicily) was included in the National Priorities List of Contaminated Sites due to environmental dispersion of amphibole fibers owing to the extraction of materials from a local quarry. The present report summarizes results from several, hitherto unpublished, environmental surveys carried out in the area, as well as from published analyses of the chemistry and composition of fibers. METHODS Data included here comprises environmental fiber concentrations by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) analysis in soil, indoor and outdoor air, personal monitoring, as well as a chemical characterization of the fibers. The full chemical structure and spectroscopic characterization of fibers were obtained through a multi-analytical approach: SEM-EDS, X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), as well as Mössbauer (MS) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopies. RESULTS Data analyzed provided a spatial and temporal picture of fiber concentrations in Biancavilla, and a qualitative assessment of population exposure. Results suggest that until 2000, the population had been exposed to high levels of amphibole fibers. Mitigation measures adopted since 2001, gradually reduced exposure levels to about 0.1-0.4 ff/l. Previous studies on fibrous amphiboles from Biancavilla reported considerable chemical variability. Differences in composition, especially concerning the presence of Si, Ca, Fe, and Na, were found both within and between samples. Compared to the previously investigated prismatic fluoro-edenite, these fibrous fluorine amphiboles consistently showed higher average values of Si and Fe content, whereas Ca was significantly lower, which we consider a distinctive characteristic of the fluorine fibrous variety. CONCLUSIONS The population of Biancavilla had been highly exposed to a suite of fibrous amphiboles for over 50 years. Dust mitigation measures have gradually reduced exposure, but continuous environmental follow-up is necessary in order to monitor exposure levels and prevent adverse health effects for future generations.

Incidence of breast, prostate, testicular, and thyroid cancer in italian contaminated sites with presence of substances with endocrine disrupting properties

The aim of the present study was to investigate the incidence of breast (females), prostate, testicular, and thyroid cancer in the Italian National Priority Contaminated Sites (NPCSs), served by cancer registries, where the presence of endocrine disruptors (EDs), reported to be linked to these tumours, was documented. Evidence of carcinogenicity of EDs present in NPCSs was assessed based on evaluation by international scientific institutions and committees. Standardized Incidence Ratios (SIRs) were computed for each NPCS and cancer site between 1996 and 2005. Excess incidence of one or more cancer site studied was found in twelve out of fourteen NPCSs. Significantly increased SIRs were found for breast cancer in eight NPCSs, for prostate cancer in six, for thyroid cancer (both gender) in four, and for testicular cancer in two. Non-significantly increased SIRs were found in five NPCSs for testicular cancer and in two for thyroid cancer (males). In a small number of instances a significant deficit was reported, mainly for thyroid and prostate cancer. Although increased incidence of one or more cancer sites studied were found in several NPCSs, the ecological study design and the multifactorial aetiology of the considered tumours do not permit concluding causal links with environmental contamination. Regarding the observation of some excesses in SIRs, continuing epidemiological surveillance is warranted.

Experimental approach to aluminum phytotoxicity

Soil acidity is a serious agricultural problem throughout large geographic areas of the world, possibly affecting as much as 40% of the worlds arable soils. Plants growing on acid soils suffer from a number of detrimental factors, including nutrient deficiencies, drought intolerance, and Mn toxicity. Aluminum toxicity, however, has been identified as one of the more important growth-limiting factors on acid soils. The intense research effort addressing; basic and applied aspects of Al phytotoxicity reflects the agronomic and economic importance of the acid soil-Al problem. In the first stage of this study, several 21-day-old lettuce plants (Lactuca sativa L.) were transplanted from normal soil (pH 6.8, exchangeable Al 0.11 meq/100 g soil) to an acid soil (pH 3.8, exchangeable Al 10 meq/100 g soil). Following that, the lettuce plants were collected at random at different times over a period of 14 days and the Al, Ca, and K contents were determined in both roots and leaves by means of atomic absorption spectrometry. Results indicated that plants grown in the acid soil accumulate considerable amounts of Al, especially in the roots, where the loss of cations was more evident. In comparison with the “blank plants,” a reduced growth was also noted. In a second stage of the study, the lettuce plants from normal soil were allowed to grow in nutrient solutions having different Al concentrations, namely 2, 10, and 50 mM. Sample collection was performed after 2, 4, 8, 24, and 48 h, respectively. Aluminum, Ca, K, and Mg were determined as described above. In roots, high accumulation factors of aluminum were quickly obtained but the decrease of Ca seemed to be lower than that observed in the first model. In the leaves, the intake of Al was less and the changes in cation concentrations were limited and constant in all solutions.

Agricultural soils potentially contaminated: risk assessment procedure case studies

At the moment, the health-environmental risk analysis is used to decision-making targets in the contaminated sites management; this procedure allows to assess the quantitative health risk related to the pollutants presence in environmental compartments, as soil and waters. As regards potentially contaminated agricultural soils, the ingestion of food from vegetable and/or animal source, produced inside the contaminated area, is the most suitable way to assess the health risk. As an official procedure to this assessment is not available, the National Institute for Health (Istituto Superiore di Sanita, ISS) has worked out an operating procedure, organized into several phases, depending on the available specific-site know-how. In this document, agricultural soils potentially contaminated in two sites have been studied; the sites are the following: Brescia Caffaro and Torviscosa.