Naturally growing grimmiaceae family mosses as passive biomonitors of heavy metals pollution in urban-industrial atmospheres from the Bilbao Metropolitan area

In analytical chemistry, biomonitoring is known as the methodology, which consider the use of living organisms to monitor and assess the impact of different contaminants in a known area. This type of monitoring is a relatively inexpensive method and easy to implement, being a viable alternative to be developed in sites where there is no infrastructure/instruments for a convenctional air quality monitoring. These organisms, having the capability to monitor the pollution, are also known as passive biomonitors (PBs), since they are able to identify possible contamination sources without the need of any additional tool. In this work, a multianalytical methodology was applied to verify the usefulness of naturally growing Grimmia genus mosses as PBs of atmospheric heavy metals pollution. Once mosses were identified according to their morphology and taxonomy, thei ability to accumulate particulate matter (PM) was determined by SEM. EDS coupled to SEM also allowed to identify the main metallic particles deposited and finally, an acid digestion of the mosses and a subsequent ICP-MS study define more precisely the levels of metals accumulated on each collected moss. The study was focused on six sampling locations from the Bilbao Metropolitan area (Biscay, Basque Country, north of Spain). The experimental evidences obtained allowed to propose naturally growing Grimmia genus as PB of atmospheric heavy metals pollution and to identify the anthropogenic sources that contribute to the emission of the airborne particulate matter rich in metals, evaluating in this sense the atmospheric heavy metals pollution of the selected locations

Identification of metals and metalloids as hazardous elements in PM2.5 and PM10 collected in a coastal environment affected by diffuse contamination

The nature of the PM2.5 and PM10 varies enormously depending on the anthropogenic activities developed in the surrounding environment. These particles can include Hazardous Elements (HEs), such as heavy metals, which can be considered dangerous for the human health. For this reason, determining the nature of those HEs that are present in the surrounding atmosphere can help to comprehend possible emission sources and to establish new strategies to reduce air pollution. In this work, a cost-effective self-made passive sampler (SMPS) was tested as a tool to collect different size of PM containing metals as HEs. The SMPS was installed in a 20th century historic building (Punta Begona Galleries, Getxo, ~ Basque Country, Spain), located just in front of the sea and thus, immersed in a coastal environment. This location is affected by the activities developed in a marina and in a port, and by the diffuse influence of several industries and a power station. The annual average for PM10 and PM2.5 were approximately 22 mg/ m3 and 10 mg/m3 , respectively. For develop this study, non-invasive elemental (Scanning Electron Microscope coupled to Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry) and molecular (Raman microscopy) microspectroscopic techniques were used. Thanks to this methodology it was possible to determine in PM10 and PM2.5, the presence of heavy metals such as Fe, Cr, Ti, Pb, Zn, Ce, etc., most of them as oxides but also embedded in different aggregations with aluminosilicates, phosphates, halides, sulfates, etc

A comprehensive study of biofilms growing on the built heritage of a caribbean industrial city in correlation with construction materials

Biodeteriogens growing on constructions belonging to the built heritage is one of the leading natural pathologies that cause aesthetical and in some cases, physical-geochemical problems in the materials. In this study, for the first time, the chemical composition of construction materials of the built heritage from an industrialized city (Barranquilla) of Colombia have been evaluated in correlation with the algal, cyanobacterial and fungal biodeteriogens present in biofilms by applying a multianalytical methodology. To achieve this objective, samples of biofilms and construction material were taken from different historical and modern constructions. For the mineralogical characterization of the construction materials, X-ray diffraction, Raman microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDXRF) were used. In addition, microscopic observations and cultures were employed for the microbiological characterization. Most of the construction materials analyzed belong to calcareous mortars, and others to different types of cement (portlandite, ettringite and larnite identification). The EDXRF analysis through single point and imaging strategies allowed to identify differences in the elemental composition of the external and internal parts of the materials. The role of certain elements in the mortars, which will assist the growth of specific microorganisms, is also discussed in this work. The main biodeteriogens identified in the biofilms were cyanobacteria Oscillatoria sp., Lyngbya sp., Leptolyngbya sp. and Ascomycota Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, Penicillium sp. and Fusarium sp fungi. These microorganisms promote biodeterioration processes causing aesthetic, physical and chemical damage to the façades of the studied buildings. The mineralogical composition of the construction material together with environmental conditions contributes to the development of biofilms on the constructions and monuments of Barranquilla city. The results obtained in this study will be used in the future to design and implement conservation protocols and strategies useful to preserve the built heritage of Caribbean cities with similar climate conditions, geographical position and kind of construction material

Elucidation of the chemical role of the pyroclastic materials on the state of conservation of mural paintings from Pompeii

Pyroclastic strata have always been thought to protect the archaeological remains of the Vesuvian area (Italy), hence allowing their conservation throughout the centuries. In this work, we demonstrate that they constitute a potential threat for the conservation state of the mural paintings of Pompeii. The ions that could be leached from them and the ion‐rich groundwater coming from the volcanic soil/rocks may contribute to salt crystallisation. Thermodynamic modelling not only allowed to predict which salts can precipitate from such leaching events but also assisted the identification of additional sources of sulfates and alkali metals to explain the formation of the sulfates identified in efflorescences from the mural paintings of Pompeii. For the future, fluorine, mainly related to a volcanic origin, can be proposed as a marker to monitor the extent of the impact in the mural paintings of Pompeii in situ

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication

Direct non-invasive molecular analysis of packaging label to assist wine-bottle authentication

International audienceAlcoholic beverages, especially great wines and spirits, are prime targets for counterfeiters. The simplest form of wine fraud involves fixing counterfeit labels of expensive wines to bottles of less expensive wine. However, time-consuming analytical techniques requiring liquid sampling are mainly used for authentication purposes, which irremediably degrade the value of the bottle. This work aims to develop a new diagnostic tool based on the direct analysis of label matrix and ink in order to obtain valuable information that would enable a preliminary non-destructive authentication. Raman and infrared spectroscopies have been applied for fast, reproducible and discernible molecular characterization since both analytical techniques are strictly non-invasive and do not require sample preparation. They were successfully applied to a selected number of genuine and counterfeited bottles (Pauillac, France) and a series of bottles which goes from 1969 to 2010 belonging to the same producer (Pomerol, France). Raman spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy showed a great complementarity to clarify the molecular composition of label and inks. As a general overview, pigments are not useful for discrimination purpose in the pairs of original and counterfeited samples. However, several mismatch in label composition were identified, allowing the differentiation among samples. With respect to the second batch of bottles, Raman spectroscopy was able to trace the materials used in labels and inks, giving evidences about the chronologic order of manufacture. Despite the limited number of samples, mainly due to their uniqueness, the classification power of the proposed methodology has been clearly proven

Multispectroscopic and isotopic ratio analysis to characterize the inorganic binder used on pompeian pink and purple late pigments

International audienc

Revisiting the paper “Using radiometric surface temperature for surface energy flux estimation in Mediterranean drylands from a two-source perspective”

The recent paper by Morillas et al. [Morillas, L. et al. Using radiometric surface temperature for surface energy flux estimation in Mediterranean drylands from a two-source perspective, Remote Sens. Environ. 136, 234–246, 2013] evaluates the two-source model (TSM) of Norman et al. (1995) with revisions by Kustas and Norman (1999) over a semiarid tussock grassland site in southeastern Spain. The TSM - in its current incarnation, the two-source energy balance model (TSEB) - was applied to this landscape using ground-based infrared radiometer sensors to estimate both the composite surface radiometric temperature and component soil and canopy temperatures. Morillas et al. (2013) found the TSEB model substantially underestimated the sensible H (and overestimated the latent heat LE) fluxes. Using the same data set from Morillas et al. (2013), we were able to confirm their results. We also found energy transport and exchange behavior derived from primarily the observations themselves to differ significantly from a number of prior studies using land surface temperature for estimating heat fluxes with one-source modeling approaches in semi-arid landscapes. However, revisions to key vegetation inputs to TSEB and the soil resistance formulation resulted in a significant reduction in the bias and root mean square error (RMSE) between model output of H and LE and the measurements compared to the prior results from Morillas et al. (2013). These included more representative ground-based vegetation greenness and local leaf area index values as well as modifications to the coefficients of the soil resistance formulation to account for the very rough (rocky) soil surface conditions with a clumped canopy. This indicates that both limitations in remote estimates of biophysical indicators of the canopy at the site and the lack of adjustment in soil resistance formulation to account for site specific characteristics, contributed to the earlier findings of Morillas et al. (2013). This suggests further studies need to be conducted to reduce the uncertainties in the vegetation and land surface temperature input data in order to more accurately assess the effects of the transport exchange processes of this Mediterranean landscape on TSEB formulations.Dr. Laura Morillas, Professor Monica Garcia, Dr. Luis Villagarcía and Dr. Francisco Domingo would like to thank funding by Andalusia Regional Government projects (P06-RNM-01732, P08-RNM-3721), European Union (ERDF funds) with support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (CGL2011-27493) and the Danish Council for Independent Research | Technology and Production Sciences (Grant 09-070382) USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.Peer reviewe