Impact on streams and sea water of a near-neutral drainage from a flooded mine in Sardinia, Italy

After mine closure and subsequent shutdown of the dewatering system, groundwater rebound led to drainage outflow from the Casargiu gallery (Montevecchio mine, SW Sardinia, Italy) since 1997. As compared with the first discharge, a very high contamination level still persists after almost 20 years of flushing. Mine drainage (20-70 L s-1; pH 6.0±0.2; Zn-Mg-Ca-SO4 composition) flows into the Rio Irvi. Abundant precipitation of amorphous Fe(III)-(oxy)hydroxides occurs. Moreover, sulfate-bearing green rust is observed to flocculate in the reach of the Rio Irvi where pH is still circumneutral. Water sampling along this stream shows a pH decrease from 6.0 to 4.0 and a significant removal of Fe (46%) and As (96%), while sulfate, Zn, Mn, Co, Ni and Cd show small variations downstream. Lead is initially adsorbed onto Fe(III)-(oxy)hydroxides, then desorbed as pH drops below 5.4. A conservative estimation of dissolved metals discharged into the Mediterranean Sea is significant (e.g. 900 kg day-1 Zn, 1.4 kg day-1 Cd, 5 kg day-1 Ni)

A swift approach for identifying vulnerable linear transport infrastructures in areas prone to floods and erosion

Linear transport infrastructures are essential for the socioeconomic development of industrialized countries. However, adverse meteorological and hydrogeological events can result in significant economic losses. Globally, floods have the most substantial socio-economic impact. Climate Change, due to the extent of transport infrastructures over flood -prone territories, is a very important factor in worsening flood risk. The main objective of this study is to identify the sections of the hydrographic network that are susceptible to flood and erosion hazards where road infrastructures are located. The Metropolitan City of Cagliari (Sardinia, Italy) is selected as test site, due to the presence of several coastal watersheds and of a high population density. A swift methodological approach, based on already available datasets from public repositories and GIS analyses, is presented. This approach includes: i) geomorphological characterization of the hydrographic network; ii) census of stream tracts where bridges were damaged in past flood events; iii) identification of potentially critical tracts (PCT), based on similar geomorphological conditions; iv) multi -temporal satellite imagery analysis of PCT for the identification of flood -prone areas and, therefore, vulnerable road crossings. The adopted methodology has proved to be effective for the identification of vulnerable road crossings over wide portion of territories, identifying critical sites that need further investigation

Arsenic in mining environments: evidences from Sardinia (Italy)

In Sardinia, the dispersion of arsenic in the environment appears strictly linked with mineralised bodies and mining activities. Currently, the areas of main concern are the active gold mine at Furtei, and the abandoned Pb- As mine at Baccu Locci. At Furtei, the main sources of arsenic are enargite, and arsenian pyrite; an ongoing monitoring program of water quality in the area around the mine documented so far no major changes with respect to pre-mine conditions, except for the formation of extremely acid, As-rich pit lakes. At Baccu Locci, the main primary source is arsenopyrite; arsenic dispersion is essentially due to the past unwise practice of discarding mine tailings into the nearby creek. Arsenic is slowly released from residual arsenopyrite and temporary secondary mineral traps such as Fe-oxyhydroxides, causing contamination of soils and waters as far as 10 km downstream of the mine

Exploring the aquifers shaping Italy's sub-urban landscape

This review paper examines the hydrogeological characteristics and challenges of urban groundwater management in ten major Italian cities: Torino, Milano, Padova, Bologna, Roma, Pescara, Napoli, Bari, Catania, and Cagliari. Urbanisation has placed significant pressure on groundwater systems, highlighting the need for sustainable management. The study categorises the cities based on their hydrogeological settings and groundwater uses, identifying key issues such as salinisation, industrial contamination, and land subsidence. The findings emphasise the importance of urban local aquifers (ULAs) not only for meeting the demand for both drinking and industrial water but also for providing ecological support. The paper advocates for integrated urban water management and governance to enhance resilience against potential future water shortages and climate change impacts

Hydrogeological and multi-isotopic approach to define nitrate pollution and denitrification processes in a coastal aquifer (Sardinia, Italy)

Agricultural coastal areas are frequently affected by the superimposition of various processes, with a combination of anthropogenic and natural sources, which degrade groundwater quality. In the coastal multi-aquifer system of Arborea (Italy)¿a reclaimed morass area identified as a nitrate vulnerable zone, according to Nitrate Directive 91/676/EEC¿intensive agricultural and livestock activities contribute to substantial nitrate contamination. For this reason, the area can be considered a bench test for tuning an appropriate methodology aiming to trace the nitrate contamination in different conditions. An approach combining environmental isotopes, water quality and hydrogeological indicators was therefore used to understand the origins and attenuation mechanisms of nitrate pollution and to define the relationship between contaminant and groundwater flow dynamics through the multi-aquifer characterized by sandy (SHU), alluvial (AHU), and volcanic hydrogeological (VHU) units. Various groundwater chemical pathways were consistent with both different nitrogen sources and groundwater dynamics. Isotope composition suggests a mixed source for nitrate (organic and synthetic fertilizer), especially for the AHU and SHU groundwater. Moreover, marked heterotrophic denitrification and sulfate reduction processes were detected; although, for the contamination related to synthetic fertilizer, the attenuation was inefficient at removing NO3− to less than the human consumption threshold of 50 mg/L. Various factors contributed to control the distribution of the redox processes, such as the availability of carbon sources (organic fertilizer and the presence of lagoon-deposited aquitards), well depth, and groundwater flow paths. The characterization of these processes supports water-resource management plans, future actions, and regulations, particularly in nitrate vulnerable zones

Using Large Databases of Groundwater Chemistry in the Northern Midwest USA: The Effects of Geologic and Anthropogenic Factors

Regional geochemical databases for the northern Midwest USA are being compiled to examine the various geogenic and anthropogenic factors that control the chemistry of groundwater. At the regional scale, variations are seen that are attributable to agricultural and urban effects, or to geologic factors. Examples of the former include enrichments of nitrate in groundwater, while examples of the latter mainly highlight geochemical differences between carbonate rocks and all other rock types in the region. This paper examines a few of these regional effects and the spatial scales at which they can be observe

НАУКОВЕ ОБҐРУНТУВАННЯ ОСВІТНЬО-ПРОФЕСІЙНИХ ПРОГРАМ ПІДГОТОВКИ БАКАЛАВРІВ ТА МАГІСТРІВ ГРОМАДСЬКОГО ЗДОРОВ’Я

Purpose: to substantiate the goals, objectives, content of educational and professional programs for training bachelors and masters of public health. Materials and Methods. Bibliographic, information-analytical methods and content analysis were used. Results. Medical and social research revealed the imperfection of the modern system of training specialists for public health services. Insufficient compliance of the training system with modern strategies for the development of human resources for health care has been revealed. Analysis of strategic and programmatic documents at the global, regional and national levels, the provisions of the European Program of Key Competencies of Public Health Professionals, ASPHER, the experience of training public health professionals in leading universities in the world and Europe identified priority areas for the formation of human resources for public health, requirements for theoretical and practical training of specialists. Taking into account the provisions of educational standards and on the basis of data from our own research, educational and professional training programs for bachelors and masters of public health have been substantiated and developed. Conclusions. Educational and professional training programs for bachelors and masters of public health ensure the assimilation of a wide range of knowledge, the acquisition of skills and competencies for the implementation of the main operational functions of public health and the provision of relevant services within the framework of interdisciplinary cooperation and intersectoral interaction.Мета: обґрунтувати цілі, завдання, змістове наповнення освітньо-професійних програм підготовки бакалаврів та магістрів громадського здоров’я. Матеріали і методи. Використано бібліографічний, інформаційно-аналітичний методи та контент-аналізу. Результати. Медико-соціальним дослідженням встановлено недосконалість сучасної системи підготовки фахівців для служби громадського здоров’я, її недостатню відповідність сучасним стратегіям розвитку кадрових ресурсів охорони здоров’я. У результаті аналізу стратегічних та програмних документів глобального, регіонального та національного рівнів, положень Європейської програми ключових компетенцій фахівців громадського здоров’я ASPHER, досвіду підготовки фахівців громадського здоров’я в провідних університетах Європи і світу з урахуванням положень освітніх стандартів та на основі даних власних досліджень, виявлено пріоритетні напрями формування кадрових ресурсів громадського здоров’я, вимоги до теоретичної і практичної підготовки фахівців, обґрунтовано та розроблено освітньо-професійні програми підготовки бакалаврів та магістрів громадського здоров’я. Висновки. Освітньо-професійні програми підготовки бакалаврів та магістрів громадського здоров’я забезпечують засвоєння широкого переліку знань, набуття вмінь та компетентностей для реалізації основних оперативних функцій громадського здоров’я, надання відповідних послуг у рамках міждисциплінарної співпраці та міжгалузевої взаємодії

An infrared thermography approach to evaluate the strength of a rock cliff

The mechanical strength is a fundamental characteristic of rock masses that can be empirically related to a number of properties and to the likelihood of instability phenomena. Direct field acquisition of mechanical information on tall cliffs, however, is challenging, particularly in coastal and alpine environments. Here, we propose a method to evaluate the compressive strength of rock blocks by monitoring their thermal behaviour over a 24-h period by infrared thermography. Using a drone-mounted thermal camera and a Schmidt (rebound) hammer, we surveyed granitoid and aphanitic blocks in a coastal cliff in south-east Sardinia, Italy. We observed a strong correlation between a simple cooling index, evaluated in the hours succeeding the temperature peak, and strength values estimated from rebound hammer test results. We also noticed different heatingcooling patterns in relation to the nature and structure of the rock blocks and to the size of the fractures. Although further validation is warranted in different morpho-lithological settings, we believe the proposed method may prove a valid tool for the characterisation of non-directly accessible rock faces, and may serve as a basis for the formulation, calibration, and validation of thermo-hydro-mechanical constitutive models