Maurizio Guidotti

PHTHALATE ESTERS IN FRESHWATERS AS MARKERS OF CONTAMINATION SOURCES- A SITE STUDY IN ITALY

A sampling campaign for the determination of phthalate acid esters (PAEs) levels in freshwaters and sediments of rivers and lakes of the Rieti District (central Italy) was carried out in 1994. Sixty-six water samples, collected in three series, and thirteen sediment samples were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS). The analytical results on water samples showed a direct relation of PAEs levels with the input of urban or industrial treated wastewaters near the sampling point. Because of their tendency to be adsorbed on sediments, the presence of PAEs was limited to within a few kilometers of the source of contamination. Accumulation factors in sediment samples, in fact, ranged from 10 to 100.

Determination of organic micropollutants in rain water for laboratory screening of air quality in urban environment.

Rain water may collect organic air pollutants, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalate ester (PEs), pesticides, and polychrorinated biphenyls (PCBs), that could be present in air in consequence of different factors. The determination of these compounds in rain water samples consequently may be interesting for a first screening of air quality in urban and/or industrial areas. For this purpose, 3 areas of the city of Rieti (central Italy) were selected for rain water sampling: a) the city center, densely populated and with high road traffic; b) a suburban residential area; c) the industrial area, about 3 km out of the city center and along the state road. Wet-only precipitation collectors were used for sampling; solid-phase microextraction or liquid-liquid microextraction techniques followed by GC/MS determinations were applied for sample analysis. PCBs and pesticides were never found in the samples collected. On the contrary, some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and phthalates were always found. Significant and seasonal differences in PAH levels were observed in the 3 different sampling areas, with higher values always found in the city center and during the winter period; on the contrary, PEs levels remained unchanged.

Performance of Different Work Clothing Types for Reducing Skin Exposure to Pesticides During Open Field Treatment

The aim of this study was to estimate the performance of different work clothing types for reducing skin exposure to five pesticides (azinphos-methyl, terbutylazine, alachlor, dimethoate, and dicamba) in field distribution by tractor equipped with boom sprayer. Performance was assessed by measuring the penetration factors of different types of work clothing. The results show that the protection offered by personal protective equipment (PPE) was always >97%, whereas the performance of cotton garments ranged from 84.1% to 92.5%. The different cotton garments differed significantly in their permeability, and the upper part of the body was the anatomical region showing the greatest values of the penetration factors. These results confirm the necessity of using PPE properly to minimise dermal exposure to pesticides.

Total p-Nitrophenol Determination in Urine Samples of Subjects Exposed to Parathion and Methyl-Parathion by SPME and GC/MS

Parathion and methyl-parathion are organophosphorus (OP) compounds used as insecticides [1]. They are acutely toxic to mammals because they act by inhibiting the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (ACHE) in the target species. Measurements of chemical exposure can be carried out through biological monitoring or monitoring of airborne concentrations [2]. Biological monitoring of pesticide exposure is performed by measuring the active ingredient or its metabolites in biological fluids (blood or urine) in order to estimate the body burden of the pesticide in question.

Determination of urinary mercury and methylmercury by solid phase microextraction and GC/MS

Mercury, used in many different industries and widespread in the environment, is a very hazardous to human health and serious health damage can occur in workers exposed to its vapors [1]. Hg is easily derivatized to methylated forms (monoand dimethyl-Hg) in aquatic environments and bioconcentrated in fish. For these reasons, Hg is mainly introduced into the human organism by air contamination and via food or beverages, while MeHg enters the organism through fish consumption.

Total p‐Chlorophenol Determination in Urine Samples of Subjects Exposed to Chlorobenzene, Using SPME and GC‐MS

Maurizio Guidotti*, Guido RavaioliPresidio Multizonale di Prevenzione di Rieti , Via Salaria per l’Aquila n88, 02100 Rieti, ItalyMatteo VitaliCattedra di Igiene Ambientale, Istituto d’Igiene, Universita` “La Sapienza”, P. le A. Moro n81, 00100 Roma, ItalyMs received: February 24, 1998; accepted: April 23, 1999

Evaluation of Molecular Markers and Analytical Methods Documenting the Occurrence of Mustard Gas and Arsenical Warfare Agents in Soil

Abstract The chemicals warfare agents (CWAs) are an extremely toxic class of molecules widely produced in many industrialized countries for decades, these compounds frequently contained arsenic. The plants where the CWAs have been produced or the plants where they have been demilitarized after the Second World War with unacceptable techniques can represent a serious environmental problem. CWAs standards are difficult to find on market so in present work an environmental assessment method based on markers has been proposed. Triphenylarsine, phenylarsine oxide and thiodiglycol have been selected as markers. Three reliable analytical methods based on gaschromatography and mass detection have been proposed and tested for quantitative analysis of markers. Methods performance have been evaluated testing uncertainty, linearity, recovery and detection limits and also comparing detection limits with exposure limits of reference CWAs. Proposed assessment methods have been applied to a case study of a former industrial plant sited in an area characterized by a high background of mineral arsenic.