Sa. Bonetta

Evaluation of Legionella pneumophila contamination in Italian hotel water systems by quantitative real-time PCR and culture methods.

Aims:  This study was designed to define the extent of water contamination by Legionella pneumophila of certain Italian hotels and to compare quantitative real‐time PCR with the conventional culture method.

Application of semipermeable membrane device (SPMD) to assess air genotoxicity in an occupational environment.

Semipermeable membrane device (SPMD) is a passive sampler that sequesters lipophilic contaminants, mimicking the bioconcentration in the fatty tissue of organisms. This study was designed to assess the use of SPMD and biological tests (Comet assay and Ames test) for air monitoring. For this purpose an occupational environment with expected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contamination (coke plant) was selected for a case study. The SPMDs were deployed in five occupational contaminated sites and in a control site. The SPMD dialysates were chemically analysed and examined for in vitro DNA-damaging activity in human cells (Jurkat) by Comet assay and for mutagenicity with the Ames test (TA98 strain, w/o S9). Total suspended particulates were also collected and analysed (GC-MS). No biological effect of SPMD extract was revealed in the control site. On the other hand, air samples collected with SPMDs within the coke plant showed variable degrees of genotoxic and mutagenic activity. The highest effects were associated with the highest PAH level recovered in the SPMDs extracts and in particulate samples. Results obtained support the sensitivity of biological tests associated to SPMD sampling for evaluating the health risk of potentially contaminated work environments highlighting the usefulness of SPMDs for environmental air quality monitoring.

Microbiological contamination of digested products from anaerobic co‐digestion of bovine manure and agricultural by‐products

Aims:  This study was performed to investigate the microbiological contamination of digestate product (DP) obtained from the anaerobic co‐digestion of bovine manure and agricultural by‐products.

Are 6-8 year old Italian children moving away from the Mediterranean diet?

BACKGROUND The Mediterranean diet (MD) is considered one of the healthiest dietary models, as it decreases the risk of chronic diseases and may modulate the organisms early response to environmental pollution. In recent decades, Mediterranean countries have been replacing their traditional diet with other less healthy eating habits, especially among children and teenagers. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the MD and the level of adherence to it in 6-8 year old Italian children, in relation to residence, lifestyle, and social and family contexts. METHODS A questionnaire was administered to the childrens parents in two seasons in 5 Italian towns. The diet section contained 116 questions investigating the frequency of consumption of different types of food. The Italian Mediterranean Index (IMI) was calculated according to the intake of 6 typical Mediterranean and 4 non-Mediterranean foods. On the basis of IMI score, MD adherence was classified as low (≤ 3 IMI score), medium (4-5) and high (≥ 6). Total energy load and diet composition in micro- and macronutrients were calculated from consumption frequency. RESULTS Diet analysis was computed on 1164 subjects with two complete questionnaires. Body mass index, calculated for each subject, showed that 28.9% of the children were overweight, the figure varying slightly with area of residence. Our findings showed that 59.0% of the children had a low score for MD adherence. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study showed that most Italian children did not follow the MD and socio-economic characteristics appeared not to be associated with type of diet.

Genotoxic And Oxidative Damage Related ToPM2.5 Chemical Fraction

Many studies have pointed out a correlation between airborne PM quantitative exposure and health effects. The aim of this research is the investigation of the role of the PM2.5 chemical fraction in the DNA damage induction in human cells (A549). Air samples (PM2.5) were collected in different sites (urban, industrial and highway) using a high–volume sampler. Organic and water-soluble extracts of PM2.5 were tested on A549 cells to evaluate genotoxic and oxidative damage using the Comet assay without and with formamido-pyrimidine-glycosylase (Fpg). Organic and water extracts were analysed for determination of PAHs by GC-MS methods and metals by the ICP-MS technique respectively. The PM2.5 organic extract of all the samples caused a significant dose-dependent increase of the A549 DNA damage. The genotoxic effect was related to IPA PM2.5 content and the highest effect was observed for the motorway site sample (65.03 CL/10m) while the oxidative damage was observed in PM2.5 water extract of the industrial and motorway sites. The extent of the oxidative damage seems to be related to the type and concentration of metals present in these samples. The results of this study emphasize the importance of evaluating the PM chemical composition for the biological effect determination. This concern highlights the need for considering its qualitative composition in addition to its size and air concentration for PM health effect evaluation and exposure management.