Olive mill wastes. A source of bioactive molecules for plant growth and protection against pathogens

Olive oil production generates high amounts of liquid and solid wastes. For a long time, such complex matrices were considered only as an environmental issue, due to their polluting properties. On the other hand, olive mill wastes (OMWs) exert a positive effect on plant growth when applied to soil due to the high content of organic matter and mineral nutrients. Moreover, OMWs also exhibit antimicrobial activity and protective properties against plant pathogens possibly due to the presence of bioactive molecules including phenols and polysaccharides. This review covers the recent advances made in the identification, isolation, and characterization of OMW-derived bioactive molecules able to influence important plant processes such as plant growth and defend against pathogens. Such studies are relevant from different points of view. First, basic research in plant biology may benefit from the isolation and characterization of new biomolecules to be potentially applied in crop growth and protection against diseases. Moreover, the valorization of waste materials is necessary for the development of a circular economy, which is foreseen to drive the future development of a more sustainable agriculture

European Atlas of Natural Radiation

Natural ionizing radiation is considered as the largest contributor to the collective effective dose received by the world population. The human population is continuously exposed to ionizing radiation from several natural sources that can be classified into two broad categories: high-energy cosmic rays incident on the Earth’s atmosphere and releasing secondary radiation (cosmic contribution); and radioactive nuclides generated during the formation of the Earth and still present in the Earth’s crust (terrestrial contribution). Terrestrial radioactivity is mostly produced by the uranium and thorium radioactive families together with potassium. In most circumstances, radon, a noble gas produced in the radioactive decay of uranium, is the most important contributor to the total dose. This Atlas aims to present the current state of knowledge of natural radioactivity, by giving general background information, and describing its various sources. This reference material is complemented by a collection of maps of Europe displaying the levels of natural radioactivity caused by different sources. It is a compilation of contributions and reviews received from more than 80 experts in their field: they come from universities, research centres, national and European authorities and international organizations. This Atlas provides reference material and makes harmonized datasets available to the scientific community and national competent authorities. In parallel, this Atlas may serve as a tool for the public to: • familiarize itself with natural radioactivity; • be informed about the levels of natural radioactivity caused by different sources; • have a more balanced view of the annual dose received by the world population, to which natural radioactivity is the largest contributor; • and make direct comparisons between doses from natural sources of ionizing radiation and those from man-made (artificial) ones, hence to better understand the latter.JRC.G.10-Knowledge for Nuclear Security and Safet

Effects on growth and biomass production of patè olive cake for agronomic application

The cultivation of olive trees (Olea europaea L.) is very important worldwide and especially for the Mediterranean area. This crop is mainly used for the production of oil, but also of olives and precious wood. The chemical-physical characteristics of the by-products derived from the transformation of olives depend on the synergy between the soil and climatic conditions of the cultivation area, the variety, the state of ripeness of the olives and, above all, the processing system adopted. These wastes, in fact, due to their acidity, the presence of phenolic compounds, suspended substances and the high organic load, can be characterized by a high polluting and phytotoxic degree. These characteristics, combined with the seasonality of olive production, concentrated from October to March, and therefore the high concentration of potential pollutants in a short period of the year, are unable to guarantee cost-effectiveness of management in the transformation and disposal phase. The need arises for the recovery and recycling of oil waste for the production of compounds of commercial value to be reused in agriculture as an excellent combination between the enhancement of the by-product and waste management. This requires both the use of eco-sustainable separation and extraction technologies for the selective recovery of biological macromolecules of high added value, and the implementation of the agricultural use of the fractions with greater bio-stimulating potential. In this context is the study conducted within the ABASA project (Agricultural By-products into valuable Assets for Sustainable Agriculture), funded by Lazio Innova-Regione Lazio, CUP: B81G18000770002 "Green technologies for sustainable agriculture: protection from phytopathogens and fertilizers of agri-food crops using biomolecules obtained from oil waste". Object of this work is the evaluation of the effect on plant growth and biomass production of a new olive mill by-products named “Patè Olive Cake” (POC) generated by a multi-phase decanter (DMF) technology that combine an extraction technology without the addition of water. POC is an olive mill by-product consisting of olive pulp, olive skin and vegetative water. The aim of this research was to adopt protocols for the evaluation of different POC fractions through laboratory bioassays to highlight their nutritional, bio-stimulating, toxic and genotoxic properties. In the present work the first results obtained are reported and discussed. Tests in pots are being carried out in order to investigate the effects of different fractions on growth and biomass production tested on ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and on the chemical and microbiological characteristics on two different soils used for the experimental test

Chapter 5: Radon

Natural ionising radiation is considered the largest contributor to the collective effective dose received by the world’s population. Man is continuously exposed to ionising radiation from several sources that can be grouped into two categories: first, high-energy cosmic rays incident on the Earth’s atmosphere and releasing secondary radiation (cosmic contribution); and, second, radioactive nuclides generated when the Earth was formed and still present in its crust (terrestrial contribution). Terrestrial radioactivity is mostly produced by the uranium (U) and thorium (Th) radioactive families together with potassium (40K), a long-lived radioactive isotope of the elemental potassium. In most cases, radon (222Rn), a noble gas produced by radioactive decay of the 238U progeny, is the major contributor to the total dose. This European Atlas of Natural Radiation has been conceived and developed as a tool for the public to become familiar with natural radioactivity; be informed about the levels of such radioactivity caused by different sources; and have a more balanced view of the annual dose received by the world’s population, to which natural radioactivity is the largest contributor. At the same time, it provides reference material and generates harmonised data, both for the scientific community and national competent authorities. Intended as an encyclopaedia of natural radioactivity, the Atlas describes the different sources of such radioactivity, cosmic and terrestrial, and represents the state-of-the art of this topic. In parallel, it contains a collection of maps of Europe showing the levels of natural sources of radiation. This work unfolds as a sequence of chapters: the rationale behind; some necessary background information; terrestrial radionuclides; radon; radionuclides in water and river sediments; radionuclides in food; cosmic radiation and cosmogenic radionuclides. The final chapter delivers the overall goal of the Atlas: a population-weighted average of the annual effective dose due to natural sources of radon, estimated for each European country as well as for all of them together, giving, therefore, an overall European estimate. As a complement, this introductory chapter offers an overview of the legal basis and requirements on protecting the public from exposure to natural radiation sources. In Europe, radiation has a long tradition. Based on the Euratom Treaty, the European Atomic Energy Community early established a set of legislation for protecting the public against dangers arising from artificial ('man-made') ionising radiation, but this scope has since been extended to include natural radiation. Indeed, the recently modernised and consolidated Basic Safety Standards Directive from 2013 contains detailed provisions on the protection from all natural radiation sources, including radon, cosmic rays, natural radionuclides in building material, and naturally occurring radioactive material