Polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in Tiber River and Estuary: Occurrence, distribution and ecological risk

The polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) pollution in the Tiber River and its environmental impact on the Tyrrhenian Sea (Central Mediterranean Sea) were estimated. 32 PCBs and 17 OCPs (aldrin, α-BHC, β-BHC, δ-BHC, lindane, p,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDT, dieldrin, endosulfan I, endosulfan II, endosulfan sulfate, endrin, endrin aldehyde, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, methoxychlor) were determined in the water dissolved phase (DP), suspended particulate matter (SPM) and sediment samples. Total concentrations of PCBs ranged from 0.54 to 74.75ngL-1 in water (sum of DP and SPM) and from 3.73 to 79.30ngg-1 dry weigh in sediment samples; while the concentrations of total OCPs collected in water (sum of DP and SPM) ranged from 0.07 to 7.04ngL-1 and from 0.66 to 10.02ngg-1 dry weigh in sediment samples. Contaminant discharges into the sea were calculated in about 227.08kgyear-1 for PCBs and 24.91kgyear-1 for OCPs, showing that this river should account as one of the main contribution sources of PCBs and OCPs to the Tyrrhenian Sea. The ∑TEQPCB from the sediment samples ranged from 0.0006 to 0.37ngg-1 with an average level of 0.13ngg-1. Based on Sediments Quality Guidelines, biological adverse effects on aquatic ecosystem were rare to occasional for PCB and OCP levels in Tiber water syste

Distribution, sources and ecological risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water and sediments from Tiber River and estuary, Italy

The concentration, source and ecological risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Tiber River and its environmental impact on the Tyrrhenian Sea (Central Mediterranean Sea) were estimated. The 16 priority PAHs were determined in the water dissolved phase (DP), suspended particulate matter (SPM) and sediments collected from 21 sites in four different seasons. Total concentrations of PAHs ranged from 10.3 to 951.6ngL-1 and from 36.2 to 545.6ngg-1 in water (sum of DP and SPM) and in sediment samples, respectively. The compositions of PAHs showed that 2- to 4-ring PAHs were abundant in DP, 4- to 6-ring PAHs were predominant in SPM samples, and 4- to 5-ring PAHs were abundant in sediments. The diagnostic ratio analysis indicated that the PAHs mainly had a pyrolytic source. The toxic equivalent concentration of carcinogenic PAHs was 45.3ngTEQg-1, suggesting low carcinogenic risk for Tiber River. Total PAHs loads into the sea were calculated in about 3161.7kgyear-1 showing that this river is one of the main contribution sources of these contaminants to the Tyrrhenian Sea

Estimates of Tiber River organophosphate pesticide loads to the Tyrrhenian Sea and ecological risk

The organophosphate pesticides pollution in the Tiber River and its environmental impact on the Tyrrhenian Sea (Central Mediterranean Sea) were estimated. Eight selected organophosphate pesticides (diazinon, dimethoate, malathion, chlorpyrifos, pirimiphos-methyl, fenitrothion, methidathion, tolclofos-methyl) were determined in the water dissolved phase, suspended particulate matter and sediment samples collected from 21 sites in different seasons. Total organophosphate pesticides concentrations ranged from 0.40 to 224.48 ng L-1 in water (as the sum of the water dissolved phase and suspended particulate matter) and from 1.42 to 68.46 ng g(-1) in sediment samples. Contaminant discharges of organophosphate pesticides into the sea were calculated in about 545.36 kg year(-1) showing that this river should be consider as one of the main contribution sources of organophosphate pesticides to the Tyrrhenian Sea. In relation to the eco-toxicological assessment, the concentrations of most OPPs in the water and sediments from the Tiber River and its estuary were lower than guideline values

Exercise stress testing in clinical practice

Exercise stress testing is an important diagnostic tool for evaluating patient’s cardiovascular performance. The present review describes the accuracy and the value of exercise stress testing in different settings: after an acute coronary event, after percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass graft; in patients risk assessment before non-cardiac surgery; in diabetic population; in patients with baseline electrocardiographic abnormalities. Moreover, this review provides insights relating to test accuracy in women and geriatric patients. Finally, this review explores new variables/parameters (dyspnea, chronotropic incompentence, heart rate recovery, functional capacity, integrated scores) that in the last few years added an incremental value to conventional analysis of exercise-induced angina or electrocardiographic changes

Large-Scale Survey of Human Enteroviruses in Wastewater Treatment Plants of a Metropolitan Area of Southern Italy

Human enteroviruses (HEVs) occur in high concentrations in wastewater and can contaminate receiving environmental waters, constituting a major cause of acute waterborne disease worldwide. In this study, we investigated the relative abundance, occurrence, and seasonal distribution of polio and other enteroviruses at three wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Naples, Southern Italy, from January 2010 to December 2014. Influent and effluent samples from the three WWTPs were collected monthly. One hundred and sixty-one of the 731 wastewater samples collected (22.0%) before and after water treatment were CPE positive on RD cells; while no samples were positive on L20B cells from any WWTPs. Among the 140 non-polio enterovirus isolated from inlet sewage, 69.3% were Coxsackieviruses type B and 30.7% were Echoviruses. Among these, CVB3 and CVB5 were most prevalent, followed by CVB4 and Echo6. The twenty-one samples tested after treatment contained 6 CVB4, 5 CVB3, 3 Echo11, and 2 Echo6; while other serotypes were isolated less frequently. Data on viral detection in treated effluents of WWTPs confirmed the potential environmental contamination by HEVs and could be useful to establish standards for policies on wastewater managemen

Takotsubo syndrome in a young woman during puerperium: case report

Introduction. Takotsubo syndrome is a reversibile cardiomyopathy that often occurs during an emotional stress and is more frequent in post-menopausal women. Case presentation. We describe a clinic case of a 42 years old woman, admitted to our emergency unit because of a thoracic pain. The ECG showed ST-T elevation in V1- V4, the echocardiography revealed akinesia of apical segment of left ventricle. Coronary arteries were free from significant stenosis and ventriculography showed akinesia of apical segment of left ventricle. In the following days, ECG evolved toward a normalization of ST-T segment with appearance of negative T wave in V2-V6, and also the echocardiography showed a normalized LV wall motion. The patient was discharged and ECG and echocardiography were normal at two months follow up. Conclusion. In this case report, a young woman during puerperium presented with a Takotsubo syndrome. We speculate that the high Prolactin level and her emotional state contributed to the clinical manifestation of the syndrome

Exercise stress testing in clinical practice

Exercise stress testing is an important diagnostic tool for evaluating patient's cardiovascular performance. The present review describes the accuracy and the value of exercise stress testing in different settings: after an acute coronary event, after percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass graft; in patients risk assessment before non-cardiac surgery; in diabetic population; in patients with baseline electrocardiographic abnormalities. Moreover, this review provides insights relating to test accuracy in women and geriatric patients. Finally, this review explores new variables/parameters (dyspnea, chronotropic incompentence, heart rate recovery, functional capacity, integrated scores) that in the last few years added an incremental value to conventional analysis of exercise-induced angina or electrocardiographic changes

Estimation of heavy metal loads from Tiber River to the Tyrrhenian Sea and environmental quality assessment

In order to evaluate the heavy metal pollution in the Tiber River and its environmental impact on the Tyrrhenian Sea (Central Mediterranean Sea), eight heavy metals (As, Hg, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) were determined in the water dissolved phase, suspended particulate matter and sediment samples collected from 21 sites in different seasons. Total heavy metal concentrations ranged from 34.88 to 4201.23 μg L−1 in water (as the sum of the water dissolved phase and suspended particulate matter) and from 42.81 to 1686.84 mg kg−1 in sediment samples. The total selected heavy metal load contribution into the sea is calculated in about 21,257.85 kg year−1, showing that this River should account as one of the main contribution sources of heavy metals in the Mediterranean Sea. In relation to the ecological assessment, the Tiber River and Estuary would be considered as an area in which the ecological integrity is possibly at risk