Guidelines for the Use of Native Mosses, Transplanted Mosses and Soils in Assessing Organic and Inorganic Contaminant Fallout

These guidelines on the use of mosses are of strategic importance in that they make it possible to harmonise the indications obtained from differing environments in terms of extent and, thereby, to compare them with results obtained using other methods. Thanks to their morphological features, mosses can be used as bioindicators to obtain fallout information for a significant number of organic and inorganic contaminants of human origin and determine the quantity of such contaminants deposited in soil. Analysis of both moss and soil is essential in identifying, and discriminating between, anthropic and natural sources of contaminant fallout.JRC.H.7-Land management and natural hazard

Linee Guida per l'Utilizzo di Muschi Indigeni, Muschi Trapiantati e Suoli per Valutare le Ricadute di Contaminanti Organici e Inorganici

Le linee guida per i muschi rivestono una importanza strategica in quanto il loro utilizzo consente di uniformare le indicazioni che si ottengono in ambienti a differente estensione e pressione antropica, permettendo di raffrontare i risultati così ottenuti con altri metodi. Le caratteristiche morfologiche garantiscono il buon utilizzo dei muschi come bioaccumulatori per l¿ottenimento delle informazioni relative alle ricadute di un numero significativo di contaminanti organici e inorganici di origine antropica e di valutarne la quantità che si deposita al suolo. L¿abbinamento muschio-suolo è da ritenersi indispensabile per identificare e discriminare l¿origine delle ricadute dei contaminanti dovuta alle attività dell¿uomo da quella naturale. The guide lines for mosses present a strategic importance because their utilization permits to even the indications that obtain in different extension environments and human pressure, allowing to compare the results obtained with other methods. The morphological features guarantee the good utilization of mosses like bioindicators to obtain relevant information of fall out for a significant number of organic and inorganic contaminants of human origin and to appraise the quantity that is deposited to soil. Linking moss-soil is to retain indispensable to identify and discriminate the origin of contaminant fall out concerning man activities from soil origins.JRC.DDG.H.7-Land management and natural hazard

Holistic Approach to Biodiversity and Bioindication in Soil

To study and investigate soil biodiversity is a difficult task because of the complex interactions that exist in soil and the need for considerable expertise to undertake the necessary investigations. The factors that influence biodiversity are diverse: some are natural, for example soil acidity, water retention, temperature and organic matter content, others are anthropogenic, for example human population pressure. This report summarises the results of the multidisciplinary BIO-BIO study of biodiversity and bioindication, conducted within the Pavia Project, which had as its principal objective the evaluation of the quality and health of soil in Pavia Province, Lombardy, in northern Italy. The area under investigation covered 3000 km2 and the project took into account of the different uses of soil. International standard methods were adopted for the identification of sampling points, the collection, treatment and analysis of the samples for heavy metals, macro-elements, dioxins, furans, soil acidity, physical properties (water retention, pore size, geochemical profile, etc.) and biological data (bacteria and terrestrial mosses). The differences in soil biodiversity that have resulted from different management practices, namely: organic or ¿biological¿ farming; conventional ¿manure¿ farming using animal excreta and mineral fertilizers; and sewage sludge ¿amended¿ applications to soil, have been studied on a seasonal basis (4 sampling per year) and analysis of soil samples taken at 0--5 cm; 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm depth. Some general ideas of what needs to be done in this field are outlined, whilst, at the same time, suggesting the basis for further studies. Bacteria, collembola and earthworms, which cover the three nutritional nets, are the most useful bio-indicators for appraising the evolution of biodiversity and assessing soil quality. To evaluate the biodiversity ¿in soil¿ means to appraise the quality of the soil. Only integrated studies, that take into consideration the chemical, physical and biological nature of soil, will lead to a full understanding of soil biodiversity.JRC.DDG.H.7-Land management and natural hazard

Trasporto di metalli verso i laghi del sistema Flumendosa Campidano in conseguenza dell'erosione dei suoli

Weathering of mine tailings represents an important metal source in Sardinia. The accumulation of mobilized metals onto soil in the mineralized areas and the subsequent erosional transport of soil towards the freshwater reservoirs endangers the quality of drinking water. The here described study on the Flumendosa-Campidano system shows the prescence and spatial distribution of metals in the system and underlines the necessity to control the more mobile and dangerous metals, as for exampIe cadmium

Monitoraggio ambientale mediante l'impiego di suoli e di muschi per le discariche di Rio Riazzone, Rio Vigne e Poiatica di Reggio Emilia

The purposes of this environmental monitoring was to estimate the concentrations of the elements (Al, As, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Ti, V, Zn, Pt and Rh) during two years in 15 stations in three landfills located in the hills of Reggio Emilia and to value the flows of element depositions (gram element/hectare area/year). In addition the origin of the element depositions was identified, discriminating between anthropogenic origin and soil-substrate origins. For more complete information, soils and mosses were also collected to know the level of concentration in a wide are around the landfills. The results obtained for the elements investigated using mosses and superficial soils did not amphasise any specific anomalies.JRC.H.6-Spatial data infrastructure

Gamma-spectrometric measurement of radioactivity in agricultural soils of the Lombardia region, northern Italy

Abstract This work is part of a wider monitoring project of the agricultural soils in Lombardia, which aims to build a database of topsoil properties and the potentially toxic elements, organic pollutants and gamma emitting radionuclides that the topsoils contain. A total of 156 agricultural soils were sampled according to the LUCAS (Land Use/Cover Area frame statistical Survey) standard procedure. The aim was to provide a baseline to document the conditions present at the time of sampling. The results of the project concerning soil radioactivity are presented here. The aim was to assess the content of 238U, 232Th, 137Cs and 40K by measuring soil samples by gamma spectrometry. 238U, 232Th and 40K activities range 24–231, 20–70, and 242–1434 Bq kg−1 respectively. The geographic distribution of 238U reflects the geophysical framework of the Lombardia region: the soils with high content of uranium are distributed for the most part in the South Alpine belt, where the presence of magmatic rocks is widespread. These soils show an higher activity of 238U than of 232Th. The 238U activities become lower than 232Th when soils are located in the plain, originating from basic sedimentary rocks. 137Cs activity ranges 0.4–86.8 kBq m−2. The lowest activity of 137Cs is in the plain, whereas the highest is in the North on soils kept as lawn or pasture. The 137Cs activity of some samples suggests the presence of accumulation processes that lead to 137Cs enriched soils. This is the first survey of gamma emitting radionuclides in Lombardia that is based on the LUCAS standard sampling. The results from this monitoring campaign are important for the human radiation exposure and provide the zero point, which will be useful for assessing future effects due to external factors such as human activities

Bioindicatori per Valutare la Qualità dei Suoli di Alcuni Parchi della Città di Roma

Il presente studio è stato effettuato alfine di stimare parte della qualità ambientale in alcuni parchi della città di Roma. Per tale indagine sono stati utilizzati muschi, suoli superficiali raccolti nei parchi di Villa Borghese, Villa Ada e Villa Doria Pamphili. Queste aree sono state scelte perché adiacenti a strade ad alto traffico veicolare. Complessivamente sono state approntate 11 stazioni di prelievo. Sono state valutate le concentrazioni di metalli pesanti quali Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, V, Zn, Pt e Rh in suoli e muschi, i valori ottenuti hanno permesso di osservare l¿andamento spaziale e identificare l¿origine delle ricadute degli elementi. In aggiunta su un campione composito di suolo per ogni "villa" è stata stimata la concentrazione di IPA, PCBs e Organoclorurati. Per una indagine più approfondita sono stati altresì utilizzati indicatori microbiologici, biochimici e molecolari della qualità del suolo al fine di valutare l¿effetto delle deposizioni al suolo di inquinanti presenti nell¿aria nei confronti della popolazione microbica e dei cicli biogeochimici. L¿insieme dei dati ottenuti ha permesso di valutare parte dello stato di salute dei tre parchi romani; l¿indagine andrebbe allargata sia agli altri parchi romani sia ai parchi di altre città italiane ed estere utilizzando la stessa metodica per una comparazione dei risultati e per conoscere la qualità dei parchi cittadini al fine di una corretta gestione. Parole chiave: parchi, muschi, suoli, batteri, metalli pesanti, IPA, PCBsJRC.H.7-Land management and natural hazard

Breastfeeding and transmission of cytomegalovirus to preterm infants. Case report and kinetic of CMV-DNA in breast milk

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Breastfeeding has a major impact on CMV epidemiology. Postnatal CMV reactivation's incidence during lactation is nearby the maternal seroprevalence. Although perinatal CMV infection has practically no consequences in term newborn, it may cause, in some cases, a severe symptomatic disease in preterm newborns.</p> <p>The aims of the present study are to evaluate the rate and clinical expression of CMV infection breast milk transmitted in preterm infants and to check the safety of the freezing treated breast milk.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study included fifty-seven preterm infants and their CMV seropositive mothers. Fresh breast milk samples have been collected from 1^stto 9^thpostpartum week. Both fresh breast milk and 72, 96, 120 hours frozen samples have been examined, checking the presence of CMV; urine samples have been tested too.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>70.2% of tested mothers showed reactivation of the infection, and CMV-positive breast milk during the six weeks postpartum has been found. However, only one infant was infected by CMV, developing hepatic affection concomitantly with a multi-system involvement, as shown CMV DNA detection in urine, saliva, blood, gastric aspirate, and stools.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Freezing breast milk at -20°C and pasteurization may respectively reduce or eliminate the viral load.</p

Hereditary thrombocytosis caused by MPLSer505Asn is associated with a high thrombotic risk, splenomegaly and progression to bone marrow fibrosis.

Background The MPL(Ser505Asn) mutation has been reported to be a cause of hereditary thrombocythemia. Recently, we detected this mutation in a large proportion of children with familial thrombocythemia, suggesting that in Italy the incidence of MPL(Ser505Asn) mutation could be underestimated. DESIGN AND METHODS: We extended the search for this mutation to all patients with essential thrombocythemia who had a positive family history for thrombocytosis or essential thrombocythemia. We identified eight Italian families positive for the MPL(Ser505Asn) mutation. Clinical and hematologic data were available for members of seven families, including 21 patients with a proven mutation and 20 relatives with thrombocytosis. RESULTS: Fifteen major thrombotic episodes, nine of which were fatal, were recorded among 41 patients. The thrombotic manifestation was stroke in four cases, myocardial infarction in seven cases, fetal loss in two cases, deep vein thrombosis of the leg in one case and Budd Chiari syndrome in one case. Almost all patients over 20 years old had splenomegaly and bone marrow fibrosis, while these were rarely observed in patients under 20 years old, suggesting that these manifestations are associated with aging. Finally, the life expectancy of family members with thrombocytosis was significantly shorter than that of members without thrombocytosis (P=0.003). Conclusions Patients with familial thrombocytosis caused by a MPL(Ser505Asn) mutation have a high risk of thrombosis and, with aging, develop splenomegaly and bone marrow fibrosis, significantly affecting their life expectancy

Growth inhibition of selected microorganisms by an association of dairy starter cultures and probiotics

Several growth curves for selected pathogens and hygiene indicators alone and vs selected dairy starter cultures (LAB) and commercial probiotics have been performed. All strains for LAB and commercial probiotics were inoculated as pure cultures into skim milk to get an initial cocci:bacilli:enterocci ratio of 2:1:1 and a concentration of approx 107 cfu mL–1 until challenge vs selected pathogens and hygiene indicators. Selected pathogens came from the collection of the Laboratorio di Ispezione degli Alimenti di O.A. or were reference strains (Escherichia coli, CSH26 K12, Staphylococcus aureus, 27R, Salmonella Derby 27, Pseudomonas fluorescens ATCC 13525, Listeria innocua ATCC 33090). Each strain was inoculated into skim milk to get an initial concentration of approx 106 cfu mL–1. Growth curves in skim milk for the following challenges were studied: i) sterility control; ii) association LAB; iii) association of LAB vs each selected pathogen or hygiene indicator; iv) selected pathogen or hygiene indicator alone. The challenges were carried out in BHI broth and in skim milk at 37°C. The highest reduction was observed in milk but in general the association of LAB and the probiotic was able to limit the growth of pathogens and hygiene indicators.http://www.aspajournal.itindex.php/ijas/indexam201