Enrico Davoli

An evaluation of fetal glucogenesis in intrauterine growth-retarded pregnancies

The presence of fetal glucogenesis was evaluated in nine patients with pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) at the time of fetal blood sampling (FBS) between 29 and 35 weeks of pregnancy. Eight were singleton pregnancies and one was a twin pregnancy in which blood samples were obtained from both twins. A maternal primed-constant infusion of D(U-13C]glucose was performed, and the presence of fetal glucogenesis was assessed by a comparison of steady-state maternal and fetal glucose enrichments. No significant difference was present between maternal and fetal molar percent excess ([MPE] P = .97), and the mean fetal to maternal (F/M) MPE ratio (0.99 +/- 0.01) was not significantly different from 1 (P = .76). F/M MPE ratio was independent of the time of FBS and umbilical venous glucose and lactate concentrations. Thus fetal glucogenesis is not demonstrable in a group of fairly severe growth-retarded fetuses after an overnight fast with this relatively noninvasive approach.

PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs in human milk and estimation of infants' daily intake: a review.

This paper reviews the recent scientific literature on PCDDs, PCDFs and dioxin-like PCBs in human milk. All the papers reporting levels of these contaminants in human breast milk published from January 2000 to January 2009 and available on the www.sciencedirect.com web site were identified and included. The aim was (1) to study levels of PCDDs, PCDFs and PCBs in human milk in mothers from different geographical areas and assess infant exposure to these contaminants; (2) to study the effect of variables such as the mothers age, number of deliveries, dietary and smoking habits and her own nutrition in infancy, and the environment, on levels of the contaminants in breast milk; (3) to study time patterns, and (4) to identify data gaps.

Validity of Self-Reported Smoking Habits in Pregnancy: a Saliva Cotinine Analysis

Background. We examined the validity of self‐reported cigarette smoking during the third trimester of pregnancy using saliva cotinine as a marker

Influence of a municipal solid waste landfill in the surrounding environment: toxicological risk and odor nuisance effects.

The large amounts of treated waste materials and the complex biological and physicochemical processes make the areas in the proximity of landfills vulnerable not only to emissions of potential toxic compounds but also to nuisance such as odor pollution. All these factors have a dramatic impact in the local environment producing environmental quality degradation. Most of the human health problems come from the landfill gas, from its non-methanic volatile organic compounds and from hazardous air pollutants. In addition several odorants are released during landfill operations and uncontrolled emissions. In this work we present an integrated risk assessment for emissions of hazard compounds and odor nuisance, to describe environmental quality in the landfill proximity. The study was based on sampling campaigns to acquire emission data for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans, dioxin-like polychlorobiphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, benzene and vinyl chloride monomer and odor. All concentration values in the emissions from the landfill were measured and used in an air dispersion model to estimate maximum concentrations and depositions in correspondence to five sensitive receptors located in proximity of the landfill. Results for the different scenarios and cancer and non-cancer effects always showed risk estimates which were orders of magnitude below those accepted from the main international agencies (WHO, US EPA). Odor pollution was significant for a limited downwind area near the landfill appearing to be a significant risk factor of the damage to the local environment.

A novel approach for monitoring tobacco use in local communities by wastewater analysis

Objective We propose a novel approach for measuring tobacco use in a community through the chemical analysis of nicotine metabolites in urban wastewater. It offers frequent monitoring and ‘real-time’, ‘evidence-based’ estimates of tobacco consumption which may complement epidemiological surveillance systems normally repeated only every few years. Methods Two urinary metabolites of nicotine, namely cotinine and trans-3′-hydroxycotinine, were selected as biomarkers of tobacco consumption in urban wastewater. During smoking, a known amount of nicotine is absorbed and after metabolism excreted as metabolites in urine, ending up in the wastewater; quantitative analysis of the metabolites in the wastewater allows back-calculation of the nicotine collectively absorbed by the population producing the sewage and, indirectly, their tobacco use. Representative samples of wastewater were collected from sewage treatment plants in eight Italian cities and analysed by mass spectrometry. Mass loads of the metabolites were used to estimate nicotine consumption. Results Wastewater analysis in the cities under study was used to estimate the number of cigarettes smoked, in order to compare the results of this study with those obtained from population surveys. The number of cigarettes calculated with the two methods were closely comparable and wastewater analysis was sufficiently sensitive to confirm the differences in tobacco consumption between northern and southern Italy, previously described in population surveys. Conclusions The described approach can serve as a supplementary indicator of tobacco consumption in local communities. This approach can provide objective and updated information, which are useful to assess the efficacy of tobacco-control interventions, with the aim of designing and implementing effective tobacco control plans.

Sources and fate of perfluorinated compounds in the aqueous environment and in drinking water of a highly urbanized and industrialized area in Italy

Perfluorinated substances are listed among emerging contaminants because they are globally distributed, environmentally persistent, bioaccumulative and potentially harmful. In a three-year monitoring campaign (2010-2013) we investigated the occurrence, sources and fate of nine perfluoroalkylcarboxylic acids and three perfluoroalkylsulfonic acids, in the most industrialized region of Italy. Composite samples were collected in influents and effluents of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), in the main rivers flowing through the basin, and in raw groundwater and finished drinking water. Samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Perfluorinated substances were not removed in WWTPs and those receiving industrial wastes discharged up to 50 times the loads of WWTPs receiving municipal wastes. The mass balance of the emissions in the River Lambro basin showed continuously increasing contamination from north to south and differences in the composition of homologues in the west and east sides of the basin. Ground and drinking water were contaminated in industrial areas, but these substances were removed well in Milan. Contamination from industrial sources was prevalent over urban sources, contributing to 90% of the loads measured at the closure of the basin. The River Lambro was confirmed as one of the main sources of contamination in the Po River.

Screening of 21 pesticides in water by single extraction with C18 silica bonded phase columns and HRGC-MS

Abstract A rapid method has been developed for the simultaneous semi-quantitative analysis of 21 pesticides in ground waters at sub-ppb levels. The method has been used for the validation of new wells as sources of drinking water in a contaminated area in the North of Italy.

Analysis of atrazine in underground waters at part per trillion levels as an early warning method for contamination and for soil distribution studies

Abstract A rapid, high-sensitivity method has been developed for the analysis of atrazine in underground waters. The method has been used for the validation of new wells as source of drinking water in a contaminated area in the North of Italy.

Risk assessment for the Italian population of acetaldehyde in alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages

Acetaldehyde is a naturally-occurring carcinogenic compound, present in different food items, especially in alcoholic beverages. The aims of this study were to measure acetaldehyde concentration in different beverages consumed in Italy and to estimate the potential cancer risk. The analytical procedure was based on headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), using the isotopic dilution method. The margin of exposure (MOE) approach of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was used for risk characterisation. The highest concentrations (median, min-max) were detected in grappa samples (499, 23.4-1850mg/l), followed by fruit-based liqueurs and spirits (62.0, 5.23-483mg/l) and wine (68.0, 18.1-477mg/l); the lowest were detected in gin (0.91, 0.78-1.90mg/l). The lowest MOE was estimated for high wine consumers (69). These results suggest that regulatory measures and consumer guidance may be necessary for acetaldehyde in beverages.

Surfactant properties and tetrachloroethene (PCE) solubilisation ability of humic acid-like substances extracted from maize plant and from organic wastes: A comparative study

Humic acid-like substance (HA-like substance) extracted from maize plant residue at an yield of 81.1+/-4.9gkg(-1) of dry matter (dm) was tested for surfactant properties and ability to solubilise tetrachloroethene (PCE). Critical micelle concentration (CMC) of HA-like substance was detected to be 1986mgL(-1). Both, HA-like substance composition and average molecular weight [MW] affected CMC and a multiple linear regression model was proposed: CMC=12246-56.19 alkyl-C - 0.532MW (R(2)=0.90; P<0.01, n=7) where CMC was given in mgL(-1), alkyl-C was the percentage of total C, and MW was given in Da. Maize-HA-like substance solubilised PCE at the rate of 0.05g of PCE for each gram of maize-HA-like substance, which was 3.6-9.6 times lower than the data obtained in our earlier work using HA extracted from organic wastes, but was higher than that obtained with commercial HA from leonardite. Taking into consideration the two-site model of solubilisation of PCE in surfactant (i.e., solute partitioning into the micellar hydrophobic core and dissolution and/or binding into the hydrophilic non-ionic shell) and macromolecular composition of HA-like substance, the non-ionic hydrophile-alkyl lipophile balance was expected to control PCE solubilisation as the good multiple linear regression indicated: logK(dom)=-1.37+0.062 alkyl-C +0.055 O-alkyl-C (R(2)=0.93, P<0.05, n=6), where logK(dom) represents the micelle-water partitioning of PCE (mLg(-1)) and alkyl-C and O-alkyl-C represent the content of these two kinds of C detected by CP MAS (13)C NMR (as % of the total C).