Foam formation in lakes: a long term analysis conducted on Lake Maggiore (northern Italy)

The causes and origin of foams in lakes have been rarely object of studies, although this phenomenon may cause problems to touristic or fisheries activities and imply a possible risk to human health. The formation of foams in the aquatic environment is due to the accumulation of surfaceactive compounds (surfactants) at the air-water interface joined with the mechanic action of a forcing (such as wind or waves) able to inject gas bubbles in the upper water layer. Surfactants can be either of natural or synthetic origin. Fulvic or humic acids, lipidic, proteic or colloidal substances are examples of natural surfactants that can promote foam formation, while man-made foams are generally due to the release of phosphates from agriculture and/or to the presence of organic and inorganic detergents. A comprehensive analysis of three foam episodes in Lake Maggiore (2007, 2008 and 2010) has been undertaken to identify their origin, causes and to unravel most likely factors triggering foam formation. At this scope, a long term (2000-2013) analysis of phytoplankton biovolumes and meteorological and hydrological anomalies has been performed together with the chemical characterization of foams. Foam resulted of endogenous origin, related to phytoplankton biomass degradation. The long term analysis highlighted atypical warm temperatures and residual lake stratification in winter in two of the years of foam events, coupled with exceptional Bacillariophyceae blooms in spring. Tabellaria flocculosa mostly contributed in terms of biomass in 2007 and 2008, but not in 2010, and overall total algal biomass seemed a better predictor of the risk of foam formation. Foam events occurred from July to December, driven by atypically high windy conditions, and congruently with the time needed to degrade biomass into surfactant compounds. A co-occurrence of different factors resulted essential to generate foams, and climate changes likely contributed to enhance their occurrence in Lake Maggiore

Intensive monitoring of conventional and surrogate quality parameters in a highly urbanized river affected by multiple combined sewer overflows

Abstract The paper reports results of four intensive campaigns carried out on the Seveso River (Milan metropolitan area, Italy) between 2014 and 2016, during intense precipitation events. Laboratory analyses were coupled with on-site, continuous measurements to assess the impact of pollutants on water quality based on both conventional and surrogate parameters. Laboratory data included total suspended solids, caffeine, total phosphorus and nitrogen, and their dissolved forms. Screening of trace metals (Cr, Cu, Pb, Ni, Cd) and PBDEs (polybromodiphenylethers) was carried out. Continuous measurements included water level, physico-chemical variables and turbidity. Nutrient concentrations were generally high (e.g. average total phosphorus > 1,000 μg/L) indicating strong sewage contributions. Among monitored pollutants Cr, Cu, Pb, and Cd concentrations were well correlated to TSS, turbidity and discharge, being bound mostly to suspended particulate matter. A different behavior was found for Ni, that showed an early peak occurring before the flow peak, as a result of first flush events. PBDEs correlated well to nutrient concentrations, showing the highest peaks soon after activation of the combined sewer overflows, likely because of its accumulation in sewers. In addition to showing the existing correlations between quality parameters, the paper highlights the importance of surrogate parameters as indicators of anthropic pollution inputs

Variability in genes regulating vitamin D metabolism is associated with vitamin D levels in type 2 diabetes

Mortality rate is increased in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Low vitamin D levels are associated with increased mortality risk in T2D. In the general population, genetic variants affecting vitamin D metabolism (DHCR7 rs12785878, CYP2R1 rs10741657, GC rs4588) have been associated with serum vitamin D. We studied the association of these variants with serum vitamin D in 2163 patients with T2D from the "Sapienza University Mortality and Morbidity Event Rate (SUMMER) study in diabetes". Measurements of serum vitamin D were centralised. Genotypes were obtained by Eco™ Real-Time PCR. Data were adjusted for gender, age, BMI, HbA1c, T2D therapy and sampling season. DHCR7 rs12785878 (p = 1 x 10-4) and GC rs4588 (p = 1 x 10-6) but not CYP2R1 rs10741657 (p = 0.31) were significantly associated with vitamin D levels. One unit of a weighted genotype risk score (GRS) was strongly associated with vitamin D levels (p = 1.1 x 10-11) and insufficiency (<30 ng/ml) (OR, 95%CI = 1.28, 1.16-1.41, p = 1.1 x 10-7). In conclusion, DHCR7 rs12785878 and GC rs4588, but not CYP2R1 rs10741657, are significantly associated with vitamin D levels. When the 3 variants were considered together as GRS, a strong association with vitamin D levels and vitamin D insufficiency was observed, thus providing robust evidence that genes involved in vitamin D metabolism modulate serum vitamin D in T2D

Protocollo per il campionamento dei parametri chimico-fisici a sostegno degli elementi biologici in ambiente lacustre

Abstract not availableIl protocollo sul campionamento delle acque lacustri integra completandole le metodologie di campionamento ed analisi del fitoplancton, delle macrofite acquatiche e della fauna a macroinvertebrati in ambiente lacustre riportati nei capitoli successivi di questo Manuale. Anche questo protocollo come i precedenti segue le indicazioni della Direttiva 60/2000/CE (Water Framework Directive, WFD) e del Regolamento per la progettazione del programma di monitoraggio emanato dal Ministero dell?Ambiente e della Tutela del Territorio e del Mare

Eutrophication management in surface waters using lanthanum modified bentonite: a review

This paper reviews the scientific knowledge on the use of a lanthanum modified bentonite (LMB) to manage eutrophication in surface water. The LMB has been applied in around 200 environments worldwide and it has undergone extensive testing at laboratory, mesocosm, and whole lake scales. The available data underline a high efficiency for phosphorus binding. This efficiency can be limited by the presence of humic substances and competing oxyanions. Lanthanum concentrations detected during a LMB application are generally below acute toxicological threshold of different organisms, except in low alkalinity waters. To date there are no indications for long-term negative effects on LMB treated ecosystems, but issues related to La accumulation, increase of suspended solids and drastic resources depletion still need to be explored, in particular for sediment dwelling organisms. Application of LMB in saline waters need a careful risk evaluation due to potential lanthanum release

Multi-organ point-of-care ultrasound for COVID-19 (PoCUS4COVID): international expert consensus

COVID-19 has caused great devastation in the past year. Multi-organ point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) including lung ultrasound (LUS) and focused cardiac ultrasound (FoCUS) as a clinical adjunct has played a significant role in triaging, diagnosis and medical management of COVID-19 patients. The expert panel from 27 countries and 6 continents with considerable experience of direct application of PoCUS on COVID-19 patients presents evidence-based consensus using GRADE methodology for the quality of evidence and an expedited, modified-Delphi process for the strength of expert consensus. The use of ultrasound is suggested in many clinical situations related to respiratory, cardiovascular and thromboembolic aspects of COVID-19, comparing well with other imaging modalities. The limitations due to insufficient data are highlighted as opportunities for future research

A reatividade negativa oriunda da poliquimioterapia imposta na Hanseníase

Introdução: A hanseníase é uma doença infectocontagiosa, que devido às repercussões clínicas e aos dados epidemiológicos é considerada de notificação compulsória. Contudo, esse transtorno quando é precocemente identificado e adequadamente manejado, evita consideravelmente o círculo vicioso de contágio e as manifestações clínicas que tornam a doença tão alvo de estigma. Objetivo: Descrever a reação negativa oriunda da poliquimioterapia imposta na hanseníase. Metodologia: Trata-se de uma revisão narrativa de literatura, fundamentada nas plataformas do Scielo, Pubmed, Lilacs e demais literaturas pertinentes ao tema, utilizando-se os seguintes descritores: Reação Hansênica, Efeitos Adversos e Poliquimioterapia, no período de janeiro de 2023. Resultados e Discussão:  Atualmente, o protocolo terapêutico voltado para a Hanseníase é a poliquimioterapia e possui boa eficácia e tolerância pela maioria dos pacientes.  No advém, a minoria destes apresenta reações adversas que variam de leve a exacerbadas e que devem ser devidamente classificados e orientados para outras opções farmacológica, objetivando impedir que o paciente abandone o tratamento, junto às enormes repercussões oriundas deste, e propiciar melhor qualidade de vida. Conclusão: Estima-se que o tratamento da Hanseníase é algo importante e indispensável para evitar problemas de saúde pública, mas este se baseia em uma alta carga associada de remédios potentes, a qual alguns portadores possuem sensibilidade e se orientados, podem continuar o tratamento até o alcance da cura.&nbsp

Climate–Water–Ecosystem–Interactions: Insights from Four Continent’s Case Studies

The interaction of climate with aquatic ecosystems is a multidisciplinary field of research involving water quantity and quality issues and having strong socio-economic implications. This special issue hosts 10 studies undertaken in 7 countries of 4 continents: Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America. The issue provides a wide spectrum of natural and artificial case-studies and covers a broad range of climatic conditions. Most of the studies adopted a modelling (50%) or a field (40%) approach and focused on water-quantity (60%), while the remaining were equally subdivided between water-quality and biogeochemistry. Forty percent of the papers directly face climate change. The diversity of approaches and case studies is the main aspect characterizing this special issue. Despite this high diversification, in relation to water-quantity related issues, we can identify the following messages: high attention to extreme meteorological events, drought in particular, even in regions once considered rich in water (e.g., northern Italy); fragility of agricultural and water supply systems in the face of extreme weather events, in particular in low-income countries (e.g., Madagascar); more attention to climate change compared to land cover/use change but importance of natural land cover to efficiently face the incoming climate change, in particular, in agriculture ecosystems. From a water quality biogeochemistry point of view, we can point out: sensitivity of lakes to climate change with the risk of biodiversity loss; need to reduce nutrient loads to mitigate eutrophication related problems, exacerbated by climate change; in particular, reduction of nitrogen loads from agriculture run-off, to reduce N2O emissions in large-shallow Chinese environments

Integration of In Situ and Remote Sensing Measurements for the Management of Harmful Cyanobacteria Blooms. A Lesson from a Strategic Multiple-Uses Reservoir (Lake Occhito, South Italy)

Harmful cyanobacteria blooms (HCBs) are one of the main water quality threats affecting reservoirs. Guidelines suggest integrating laboratory, real-time in situ, and remote sensing data in the monitoring of HCBs. However, this approach is still little adopted in institutional measuring programs. We demonstrated that this integration improves frequency and spatial resolution of the data collection. Data were from an intense HCB (Planktothrix rubescens), which occurred in a south Italy multiple-uses reservoir (Lake Occhito) between 2008 and 2009 and regarded both the lake and the irrigation network. Laboratory and in situ fluorometric data were related to satellite imagery, using simple linear regression models, to produce surface lake-wide maps reporting the distribution of both P. rubescens and microcystins. In the first node of the distribution network, microcystin concentrations (4–10 µg L−1) reached values potentially able to damage the culture and to accumulate during cultivation. Nevertheless, our study shows a decrease in the microcystin content with the distance from the lake (0.05 µg L−1 km−1), with a reduction of about 80% of the microcystin concentrations at the furthest tanks. Recent improvements in the spatial resolution (i.e., tens of meters) of satellite imagery allow us to monitor the main tanks of large and complex irrigation systems

Estimation of long-term series of total nutrient loads flowing into a large perialpine lake (Lake Como, Northern Italy) from incomplete discrete data by governmental monitoring

Continuous series of nutrient loads released into a water body are essential for nutrient budgeting, water quality modelling and watershed management activities. A quintessential example of pursued data are the series of total nutrient loads flowing from multiple tributaries into a lake. However, except for extraordinary cases in which high-frequency monitoring (HFM) stations are installed for both discharge and concentrations, measured nutrient loads are available on a discrete basis. Such observations are typically obtained by governmental agencies for environmental monitoring purposes, with an at best monthly resolution, yet commonly with gaps spanning years. Usually, monitoring activities are limited to major inflows, neglecting minor ones. However, the latters can play a more relevant role in nutrient load budgets than in hydrological ones, in response to different natural features and pollution among tributary watersheds. In this work, we present a methodology we developed to estimate long-term series of total nutrient loads flowing into a water body, employing as case study Lake Como, a large deep lake in the Italian Alps with manifold monitored and unmonitored tributary watersheds. The method uses observed long-term relationships between discharges and concentrations (Q – C) and available discharge measurements and hydrological estimations to estimate continuous load series for the monitored basins. For the unmonitored watersheds, Q – C relationships are estimated from those of the monitored basins, given the observed dependence of the power-law coefficients on basin hydromorphological parameters. This equals to extending the regionalisation approach applied in hydrology for rainfall and discharges to the ecohydrological field for nutrient load estimation. The application of the method to the case study led to overall annual load estimations congruent to traditional techniques and revealed interesting Q – C watershed dynamics at interannual time scales which could not be disclosed through previous approaches. This work represents an exploratory development and application of ecohydrological regionalisation techniques, whose future development is fostered