Can S-LCA methodology support responsible sourcing of raw materials in EU policy context?

Purpose: Access, affordability and sustainability of raw material supply chains are crucial to the sustainable development of the European Union (EU) for both society and economy. The study investigates whether and how the social life cycle assessment (S-LCA) methodology can support responsible sourcing of raw materials in Europe. The potential of social indicators already available in an S-LCA database is tested for the development of new metrics to monitor social risks in raw material industries at EU policy level. Methods: The Product Social Impact Life Cycle Assessment (PSILCA) database was identified as a data and indicators source to assess social risks in raw material industries in EU-28 and extra-EU countries. Six raw material country sectors in the scope of the European policy on raw materials were identified and aggregated among those available in PSILCA. The selection of indicators for the assessment was based on the RACER (Relevance, Acceptance, Credibility, Ease, Robustness) analysis, leading to the proposal of 9 social impact categories. An S-LCA of the selected raw material industries was, thus, performed for the EU-28 region, followed by a contribution analysis to detect direct and indirect impacts and investigate related supply chains. Finally, the social performance of raw material sectors in EU-28 was compared with that of six extra-EU countries. Results and discussion: Considering the overall social risks in raw material industries, “Corruption”, “Fair salary”, “Health and safety” and “Freedom of association and collective bargaining” emerged as the most significant categories both in EU and extra-EU. EU-28 shows an above-average performance where the only exception is represented by the mining and quarrying sector. An investigation of the most contributing processes to social impact categories for EU-28 led to the identification of important risks originating in the supply chain and in extra-EU areas. Therefore, the S-LCA methodology confirmed the potential of a life cycle perspective to detect burdens shifting and trade-offs. However, only a limited view on the sectoral social performance could be obtained from the research due to a lack of social data. Conclusions: The S-LCA methodology and indicators appear appropriate to perform an initial social sustainability screening, thus enabling the identification of hotspots in raw material supply chains and the prioritization of areas of action in EU policies. Further methodological developments in the S-LCA field are necessary to make the approach proposed in the paper fully adequate to support EU policies on raw materials

Il Trattamento delle Eccezioni nella Programmazione Strutturata: Metodologia di Progetto

The treatment of abnormal conditions in program design and coding raises several difficulties in the implementation of "good" programs. The scheme is of the controlled top-down kind: in the first step the normal program flow is analyzed; in the second step all the exception conditions are individuated and propagated from the lower level units to the higher level ones; in the third phase the exception conditions are raised in the program flow and treated in exception handler blocks. An example illustrates the methodological scheme

Can agricultural fungicides be a source of stress for non-target soil organisms? An ecotoxicological study on Eisenia fetida (Savigny, 1826)

Plant protection products, highly used in agriculture, can represent a source of stress for non-target soil organism and have a negative effect on ecosystems’ health. In particular, information on toxicological effects of fungicides are very poor or absent, despite their widespread use. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential toxic effects of 4 commercial fungicides (Prosaro®, Amistar®xtra, Mirador® and Icarus®) on the earthworm Eisenia fetida (Savigny, 1826). Laboratory experiments were conducted using the filter paper test (FPT): E. fetida was exposed to increasing concentration of Prosaro® or Amistar®xtra, being the highest dose of treatment the recommended one for the usage in wheat farming. Field investigations were conducted transplanting E. fetida in cages in the soil of wheat and durum wheat fields before and during treatment with different combinations of the 4 fungicides. E. fetida specimens from laboratory and field work were analysed to evaluate vitality, potential neurotoxic effects (inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE)), phase II enzymatic defense (glutathione S-transferase (GST)), oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation (LPO) and catalase (CAT) activity), genotoxic effects (Comet assay) and effect on the immune system (lysozyme activity). Laboratory studies with Prosaro® and Amistar®xtra showed alterations in organism’s vitality which increased with increasing treatment doses. Significant alteration of phase II metabolising enzymes (GST induction) and significant DNA fragmentation (Comet assay) with respect to controls were detected at environmentally relevant doses of Prosaro®. A statistically significant induction of GST was found in earthworms transplanted in the fields treated with Amistar®xtra alone and Amistar®xtra + Prosaro®. This study represents a first step towards a better understanding of commercial fungicides toxicological potential to non-target organisms. Data obtained indicate that deeper investigations are needed which should include long term artificial soil tests (AST) and further field studie

Risposte biochimiche nel granchio Pachygrapsus marmoratus per la valutazione della contaminazione ambientale del porto di Livorno (Italia).

The main purpose of the present investigation was to assess the health status of Livorno harbour, through the responses of a set of biomarkers in the crab Pachygrapsus marmoratus (Fabricius, 1787). This investigation is part of the IMPACT project (Port Impact on Marine Protected Area: crossborder co-operative actions), and the aim is to debug cross-borders management plans in order to actually protect the Marine Protected Areas. Male and female of the crabs were collected from two different areas: Livorno harbour, considered the polluted area, and the control area, the Marine Protected Area “Secche della Meloria”, located just a few miles from the Livorno harbour. A battery of biomarkers was employed to assess neurotoxic effects (acetylcholinesterase, AChE activity), energy metabolism (isocitrate dehydrogenease, IDH; lactate dehydrogenease, LDH), oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation, LPO; glutathione S-transferase, GST; glutathione peroxidase, GPX; glutathione reductase, GR; catalase, CAT; glutathione, GSH) and DNA damage (erythrocytic nuclear abnormalities, ENAs assay). Moreover, the levels of trace elements and PAHs were evaluated in the specimens. The results of LPO, CAT, GST, GSH and ENA assay showed that the crabs sampled in Livorno harbour are exposed to contaminants able to cause oxidative stress and genotoxic effects. The average values of LPO and ENA assay showed a statistically significant difference between specimens collected into Livorno harbour and those collected in the marine protected area. The average values of LPO were about three times higher in crabs sampled in polluted area in comparison to those sampled in the control area. Although the females showed higher values in comparison with the males, no significant differences between sex were found. A statistically significant difference was found between the two sampling sites regarding energetic metabolism biomarkers. The crab P. marmoratus, used as a bioindicator to investigate the contamination in a port area using a multi biomarker approach, can be considered a good model organism for marine coastal environment monitoring

Multisite artery disease: a common and challenging clinical condition calling for specific management

'Multisite' artery disease is defined as the simultaneous presence of clinically significant atherosclerotic lesions in at least two major vascular territories. The management of patients with multisite artery disease represents a common challenge in clinical practice, since they are at increased risk for both vascular and coronary surgery. Preliminary experiences suggest that percutaneous treatment may represent a promising strategy for patients with multisite artery disease. In this review, the prevalence and management of multisite artery disease are discussed with particular attention to coronary and peripheral revascularization related issues

Impact of radial-to-aorta vascular anatomical variants on risk of failure in trans-radial coronary procedures

Objectives To assess the impact of an operative classification of vascular anatomic variants on the feasibility of trans-radial approach. Background Vascular anatomic variants located from the wrist to the aorta may influence the feasibility of trans-radial procedures. Recently, a new operative classification of these variants was proposed. Methods Consecutive trans-radial diagnostic or interventional catheterizations were considered. Vascular anatomic variants were classified according to 10 categories and sub-grouped according to the ABC classification (A: radial-brachial arterial axis; B: axillary-subclavian-anonymous axis; C: aortic arch). Primary study end-point was failure of trans-radial approach (necessity to cross-over to another approach to complete the procedure). Results Three thousand four hundred seventy-seven consecutive radial procedures were considered. Anatomic variants were diagnosed in 308 procedures (8.8%): A variants: 7.2%, B variants: 1.9%; C variants: 0.3%. Failure occurred in 2.0% of procedures. Failure rate was 0.7% in the absence of variants vs.15.2% in the presence of any variant (P < 0.0001, OR 27.7, 95%CI 16.346.9). Each of the 10 variants was significantly associated with increased failure rate. Each of the three level-subgroups of variants was significantly associated to the risk of failure (failure 14.7% in A level, 13.9% in B level, 33.3% in C level; P < 0.0001 vs. absence of variants). Conclusions Failure of trans-radial procedures is associated to anatomic variants located from the wrist to the aorta. The operative ABC classification of anatomic variants is useful not only to categorize these anatomic variants, but also to predict the risk of failure of trans-radial approach. (C) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc