Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) in Volcano island (Aeolian archipelago) mud utilized for therapeutic purpose

This paper examines the possible presence, distribution, nature and sources of 18 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) as constituent of the muds pool collected in Vulcano Aeolian Island. PAHs are important from environmental and toxicological point of view. Analysis was performed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) in selected ion monitoring (SIM). The total concentration of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ranged from 112 to 154 g/Kg of dry matrix. The volcanic muds, used for therapeutic purposes, are moderately contaminated

Occurrence and concentration of PAHs in clams and sediments of the marine coastal lagoon of Ganzirri (Italy). Extraction, GC-MS analysis, distribution and sources

The distribution of selected Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface sediments and clams of marine coastal lagoons, called Ganzirri, located at the Sicilian coast of the, Messina's strait, has been investigated by GC/MS analysis with Selected Ion Monitoring (SIM) mode. The lagoon is characterized by abundant organic detritus, deriving from aquagenic and anthropogenic inputs. Anoxic/reduced conditions of sediments make them a preferential site for uptake and preservation of PAHs. From an eco-toxicological point of view, the aquatic ecosystem investigated appears to be moderately polluted. The investigations have been performed on the 16 PAHs recommended by US-EPA as priority pollutants to be monitored in the framework of environmental quality control. The sediment PAH concentrations ranged from 135 to 1650 mu g/kg dry matrix. The total concentrations of PAHs in clams ranged from 60 to 1427 mu g/kg d.w. The relative standard deviation (RSD) for all samples of the concentration replicates of individual compounds ranged from 10% to 25%. The resulting distributions and ratios of specific compounds have been discussed in terms of sampling location and origin of contaminants. The results obtained show that levels of contamination are not homogeneous throughout the stations. In the Ganzirri Lagoon, the bioavailability of hydrophobic organic compounds, such as PAHs, seems to be mainly governed by chemical characteristics of the contaminants. Pyrolytic compounds (penta- and hexa-aromatics) are not readily available. In contrast, petroleum hydrocarbons (some tetra-aromatics) are accumulated by clams to a great extent

A New Online Resource to Monitor New or Emerging Plant Pests: MEDISYS Media Monitoring and the Case of Xylella fastidiosa.

The European Food Safety Authority has established a horizon scanning exercise for plant pests by automated monitoring of open-source media. The news sources are screened using the publicly accessible MEDISYS (Medical Information System) platform of the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission. Here, we report the example of monitoring for Xylella fastidiosa, a highly polyphagous plant-pathogenic bacterium. Since its first occurrence in Europe, news sources have reported findings and latest developments. Media monitoring-related data can support surveillance or plant pests' management programs by early warning and can help understand the impacts of plant pests and the societal response to new plant health threats

Guidance on quantitative pest risk assessment

This Guidance describes a two-phase approach for a fit-for-purpose method for the assessment of plant pest risk in the territory of the EU. Phase one consists of pest categorisation to determine whether the pest has the characteristics of a quarantine pest or those of a regulated non-quarantine pest for the area of the EU. Phase two consists of pest risk assessment, which may be requested by the risk managers following the pest categorisation results. This Guidance provides a template for pest categorisation and describes in detail the use of modelling and expert knowledge elicitation to conduct a pest risk assessment. The Guidance provides support and a framework for assessors to provide quantitative estimates, together with associated uncertainties, regarding the entry, establishment, spread and impact of plant pests in the EU. The Guidance allows the effectiveness of risk reducing options (RROs) to be quantitatively assessed as an integral part of the assessment framework. A list of RROs is provided. A two-tiered approach is proposed for the use of expert knowledge elicitation and modelling. Depending on data and resources available and the needs of risk managers, pest entry, establishment, spread and impact steps may be assessed directly, using weight of evidence and quantitative expert judgement (first tier), or they may be elaborated in substeps using quantitative models (second tier). An example of an application of the first tier approach is provided. Guidance is provided on how to derive models of appropriate complexity to conduct a second tier assessment. Each assessment is operationalised using Monte Carlo simulations that can compare scenarios for relevant factors, e.g. with or without RROs. This document provides guidance on how to compare scenarios to draw conclusions on the magnitude of pest risks and the effectiveness of RROs and on how to communicate assessment results

Analytical method for PAHs chemical speciation in sediments

The aim of this work is to optimize a method to examine the PAHs chemical speciation during the aging of sediments that is important in order to known the toxicological risk of a polluted area. In particular, we have conducted this research in order to determine if the organic contaminants fate is dependent to sediment characteristics and to study the potential role of humin and alkaline-extractable humic substances in the sequestration of PAHs in sediment. The Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) include molecules containing fused aromatic rings and are of special concern because of their widespread distribution throughout the environment and their often toxic and carcinogenic properties [1]. The PAHs are hydrophobic compounds and as consequence in aquatic environments, they bind tenaciously to sediment organic matter. Certain members of the PAH family even though have photolysis half-lives that are usually measured in days they are found to be preserved over geological time-scales in ancient sediments indicating that sorption onto a sediment can greatly prolong their lifetime in the environment [2]. From sediments, humic substances were fractionated into humic acids (HA) and humin-mineral fraction (HM) and after extracted, according to the method described by Nam [3]. Qualitative and quantitative determinations were carried out using a gas chromatograph coupled with a mass spectrometer. The results show the important role of humic substances in the PAHs sequestration and that the sediments characteristics influence the PAHs distribution between the labile fraction and the unavailable fraction

Chemical characterization of ancient potteries from Himera and Pestavecchia necropolis (Sicily, Italy) by Inductively Coupled Plasma–Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP–OES)

Thirty-eight samples of pottery were analyzed for determining chemical composition in order to establish their provenance. The potteries tested in the present research come from Himera and Pestavecchia archaeological sites. After digestion in microwave oven, the samples have been analyzed for fourteen minor elements (Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ga, Li, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, Ti, Tl, and Zn) and six major elements (Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, and Na). Chemical analysis was carried out by Inductively Coupled Plasma–Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP–OES). The most abundant minor elements are Cr, Ba and Ni. Cr concentration ranged from 66 to 3635 mg kg−1, Ba concentration ranged from 388 to 2677 mg kg−1 and Ni concentration ranged from 35 to 1758 mg kg−1. The relative standard deviation (RSD) of the replicates on the concentrations of analyzed metals ranged from 0.07% to 14%. The aim of this study is to assign the local or non-local provenance of the examined potteries, in particular validating and clarifying archaeological hypothesis based on the simple visual examination and stylistic characterization of ceramic objects. Principal component analysis performed on the dataset, together with the application of cluster technique and non statistical analysis, allowed the identification of three main groups of samples and a lonely one (R 97). In particular, sample R 97 shows high Cr concentration (3635 mg kg−1) and high Ni concentration (1758 mg kg−1), typical of Corinthian pottery. The results of chemical analysis show that the stylistic features are not always sufficient to correctly identify the origin of a ceramic object

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in indoor dust matter of Palermo (Italy) area: Extraction, GC–MS analysis,distribution and sources

Studies on indoor pollution are important since people spend more than 80% of their time indoor environments. In this work the method for PAHs analysis in indoor dust (used as passive sampler) and the results relative to samples collected in the area of Palermo are reported. Dust samples for analysis were collected from 45 indoor environments. Total PAHs concentrations in indoor dusts ranged from 36 to 34 453 mgkg 1 d.w. To correlate indoor and outdoor pollution we analyze, also, the particulate matter and PAHs levels samples collected in four stations. The percentage measured in indoor dusts results more low than that found outside. The values of isomeric ratios for the different samples were used to individuate the predominant PAHs sources

Chemical speciation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments: Partitioning and extraction of humic substances

The primary objective of this study was to examine the chemical speciation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) found in sediments endowed with different characteristics. To achieve this purpose and because the nature of the sediments influences the distribution of PAHs, we have analyzed four different types of sediments. To study the role of organic matter in the sequestration of PAHs, we fractionated humic substances into humic acids and humin–mineral fractions. After their separation and purification, the humic components were examined for their sorptive reactivity by extracting them with organic solvents; these extracts were subsequently subjected to GC/MS analysis. Our results show that PAHs are distributed between labile and sequestered fractions in sediments. A slower uptake of PAHs occurs when the sequestered fraction is formed, and this process can be prolonged and may be influenced by the characteristics if the sediment. Our study suggests that organic contaminants are available in muddy sediments for a longer period of time than in sandy sediments