G. Capannesi

Characterization and distribution of mineral content in fine and coarse airborne particle fractions by neutron activation analysis

Nowadays, much attention is devoted to the study of toxic elements at trace and sub-trace levels in the investigation of particulate matter composition, especially in PM10 and PM2.5. Furthermore, it should be considered that the behavior knowledge is an other important task for understanding such species. Finally, the determination of particular elements with a few data in literature can assume relevant importance in industrial processes (Pd, Rh, Ir, etc. for catalytic pot, Sm, Ce, Eu, etc. for optical fibers and electronic process). In this article, we apply a nuclear technique, i.e. Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis, for the study of metal composition in fine and coarse fractions. This nuclear technique allows the determination of about 25 elements: for some of them, this is the first determination in the ambient air of Rome. The investigation was performed in a reserved area in downtown Rome during a 15-day intensive campaign. The sampled filters were irradiated at the nuclear reactor Triga Mark II (ENEA-Casaccia Laboratories) at neutron flux of 2.6 × 1012 n cm−2 s−1 for 32.55 h. The measurements of the γ-ray allow the qualitative and quantitative analysis. The element levels in fine and coarse fractions will be shown with the correlations among some elements being more interesting in the toxicological field: basically, the concentrations are very low. * Presented at the 10th EuCheMS-DCE International Conference on Chemistry and the Environment in Rimini on 4–7 September 2005.

Instrumental neutron activation analysis and statistical approach for determining baseline values of essential and toxic elements in hairs of high school students.

The possibility to have reference values in clinical chemistry is really important and hair is an ideal tissue for tracing human health conditions. This study performed on 131 hair samples of high school students gives a better knowledge of element levels (i.d., As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, S, Sb, Se, Sn and Zn) in subjects not exposed to specific contamination. A nuclear analytical technique, Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis, has been employed for determining such species. These data can be used as tentative reference values in human hairs. The ratios among metals give important considerations on the general aspect of human health: the reference value represents an evaluation of the essential metabolic functions whereas an imbalance could be a factor influencing the rising of some pathologies, even if it is not an index of particular metabolic deficiency. A comparison with Italian studies shows a good agreement whereas some little discrepancies are evident with International studies. Further, a statistical approach (cluster analysis, Canonical Discriminant Analysis) was applied for determining the reference values. Taking in account these reference values a relationship with the environmental and pollutant compartments was studied confirming the starting hypothesis.

Feasibility of oak leaves as monitor for airborne pollution

The present paper confirms that evergreen oak leaves (Ouercus ilex) are a reliable biological monitor for pollution originating from vehicular traffic. By treating of experimental data statistically a simple model was obtained which explains pollution levels in terms of vehicular density and particulate resuspension effects. An extensive list of current literature in this field is also included.

Determination of firing distance and firing angle by neutron activation analysis in a case involving gunshot wounds

This paper reports the determination of the firing distance and a method for the evaluation of the firing angle in a fatal incident caused by two gunshots. Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) was used to determine the Sb pattern around the bullet entrance holes on a garment of the victim, and around bullet holes produced by different shots on test targets from the gun and ammunition under investigation. The calibration curves obtained at various distances and firing angles enabled the determination of the firing distances and angles of the crime shots with a standard deviation of +/- 2 cm and +/- 5 degrees, respectively.

Evergreen oak leaves as natural monitor in environmental pollution

Evergreen oak was chosen as a possible biological monitor of environmental pollution. It was shown that there is a direct relationship between the concentration of elements in leaves and the presence of pollution sources, i.e. the density of vehicular traffic.

Multivariate Analysis Applied to Trace and Ultra-Trace Elements in Italian Potable Waters Determined by INAA

In this paper we have applied a chemometric treatment to investigating and comparing the element composition in potable water samples collected in two Italian urban areas, Rome and Florence, and analyzed by INAA. The spectrum of drinkable Roman water shows very low limits of potentially toxic elements (Sb, Hg, Cr, Ni, etc.): in particular, they are present at levels below the values suggested by the European laws and the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Further, it is also evidenced that the elemental composition is quite similar to that of uncontaminated natural waters. According to the Florence drinking water element characterization the concentration values show an almost good situation except for Al. Comparing the two water systems an higher level of I, Se and some anthropogenic elements (Cu, Na, Zn) is found in Florence samples. A statistical treatment such as multivariate analysis was performed for identifying the contribution of each element to the chemical composition in Roman water.

Bullet Identification: A Case of a Fatal Hunting Accident Resolved by Comparison of Lead Shot Using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis

Bullet identification by chemical analysis often provides a powerful clue in forensic science. A case is reported in which a hunting accident was resolved by using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) for direct comparison of the trace element content in lead shot. Different preparation batches of lead shot appear to have a high within-group composition homogeneity, and good differentiation is achieved between different batches. Determination of the nickel and antimony content on a bush branch demonstrated that the branch had been perforated by one of the shot pellets, and this helped the detectives in reconstruction of the crime scene.

Determination of Interesting Toxicological Elements in PM2.5 by Neutron and Photon Activation Analysis

Human activities introduce compounds increasing levels of many dangerous species for environment and population. In this way, trace elements in airborne particulate have a preeminent position due to toxic element presence affecting the biological systems. The main problem is the analytical determination of such species at ultratrace levels: a very specific methodology is necessary with regard to the accuracy and precision and contamination problems. Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis and Instrumental Photon Activation Analysis assure these requirements. A retrospective element analysis in airborne particulate collected in the last 4 decades has been carried out for studying their trend. The samples were collected in urban location in order to determine only effects due to global aerosol circulation; semiannual samples have been used to characterize the summer/winter behavior of natural and artificial origin. The levels of natural origin element are higher than those in other countries owing to geological and meteorological factors peculiar to Central Italy. The levels of artificial elements are sometimes less than those in other countries, suggesting a less polluted general situation for Central Italy. However, for a few elements (e.g., Pb) the levels measured are only slight lower than those proposed as air ambient standard.

Deep investigation on inorganic fraction of atmospheric PM in Mediterranean area by neutron and photon activation analysis

BackgroundAnthropogenic activities introduce materials increasing levels of many dangerous substances for the environmental quality and being hazardous to human health. Major attention has been given to those elements able to alter the environment and endanger human health.The airborne particulate matter pollutant is considered one of the most difficult task in environmental chemistry for its complex composition and implications complicating notably the behavior comprehension. So, for investigating deeply the elemental composition we used two nuclear techniques, Neutron Activation Analysis and Photon Activation Analysis, characterized by high sensitivity, precision and accuracy. An important task has been devoted to the investigation of Quality Control (QC) and Quality Assurance (QA) of the methodology used in this study.This study was therefore extended as far back as possible in time (from 1965 until 2000) in order to analyze the trend of airborne concentration of pollutant elements in connection with the industrial and lifestyle growth during the entire period.ResultsAlmost all the elements may be attributed to long-range transport phenomena from other natural and/or anthropogenic sources: this behavior is common to all the periods studied even if a very light decreasing trend can be evidenced from 1970 to 2002. Finally, in order to investigate a retrospective study of elements in PM10 and their evolution in relationship with the natural or anthropogenic origins, we have investigated the Enrichment Factors. The study shows the EF trends for some elements in PM10 during four decades.ConclusionsThe two nuclear techniques have allowed to reach elevated sensibility/accuracy levels for determining elements at very low concentrations (trace and ultra-trace levels). The element concentrations determined in this study do not basically show a significant level of attention from a toxicological point of view.

Classification of an area as metallogenic province: environmental importance and problems

Abstract This paper proposes a new protocol to identify metallogenic provinces: about 30 elements along with the rare earths (Ce, Dy, Eu, La, Nd, Sm, Tb and Yb), Th and U in ores of the North-Latium have been investigated by INAA. Statistical procedures (enrichment factor, source discrimination and principal component analysis) had been employed to evaluate the enrichment in specific elements to investigate the possibility of an economic exploitation of some of them. Finally, the chondritic ratio of the rare earths compared to the MORB meteorite has been evaluated for determining the magma differentiation process and its effect.