Interactive effects of nanoparticles with other contaminants in aquatic organisms: Friend or foe?

none3The increasing production and use of nanoparticles (NPs) will lead to their release into the aquatic environment, posing a potential threat to the health of aquatic organisms. Both in the water phase and in the sediments NPs could mix and interact with other pollutants, such as organic xenobiotics and heavy metals, leading to possible changes in their bioavailability/bioconcentration/toxicity. However, whether these interactive effects may lead to increased harmful effects in marine organisms is largely unknown. In this work, available data mainly obtained on carbon based NPs and n-TiO2, as examples of widespread NPs, in aquatic organisms are reviewed. Moreover, data are summarized on the interactive effects of n-TiO2 with 2,3,7,8-TCDD and Cd(2+), chosen as examples of common and persistent organic and inorganic contaminants, respectively, in the model marine bivalve Mytilus. The results reveal complex and often unexpected interactive responses of NPs with other pollutants, depending on type of contaminant and the endpoint measured, as well as differences in bioaccumulation. The results are discussed in relation with data obtained in freshwater organisms. Overall, information available so far indicate that interactive effects of NPs with other contaminants do not necessarily lead to increased toxicity or harmful effects in aquatic organisms.openCanesi, L; Ciacci, C; Balbi, TCanesi, L; Ciacci, C; Balbi,

Toward sustainable reprocessing and valorization of sulfidic copper tailings: Scenarios and prospective LCA

There has been increasing attention recently to reprocessing of mining waste, which aims to recover potentially valuable materials such as metals and other byproducts from untapped resources. Mining waste valorization may offer environmental advantages over traditional make-waste-dispose approaches. However, a quantitative environmental assessment for large-scale reprocessing, accounting for future trends and a broad set of environmental indicators, is still lacking. This article assesses the life cycle impacts and resource recovery potential associated with alternative waste management through mine tailings reprocessing at a regional scale. Sulfidic copper tailings in the EU were selected as a case study. We perform prospective life cycle assessments of future reprocessing scenarios by considering emerging resource recovery technologies, market supply & demand forecasts, and energy system changes. We find that some reprocessing and valorization technologies in future scenarios may have reduction potentials for multiple impact indicators. However, results for indicators such as climate change and energy-related impacts suggest that specific scenarios perform sub-optimally due to energy/resource-intensive processes. The environmental performance of reprocessing of tailings is influenced by technology routes, secondary material market penetration, and choices of displaced products. The trade-off between climate change and energy related impacts, on the one hand, and toxicity impacts, on the other hand, requires critical appraisal by decision makers when promoting alternative tailings reprocessing. Implementing value recovery strategies for building material production, can save up to 3 Mt. CO2-eq in 2050 compared to business as usual, helping the copper sector mitigate climate impacts. Additional climate mitigation efforts in demand-side management are needed though to achieve the 1.5 °C climate target. This work provides a scientific basis for decision-making toward more sustainable reprocessing and valorization of sulfidic tailings

Phosphorous flow analysis and resource circularity at the province level in north Italy

Phosphorus is an essential element for living organisms, but its unequal distribution combined with the current anthropogenic activity make it a critical resource. To decrease the risks of future shortages, new techniques to manage phosphorous are needed to be mainstreamed under a Circular Economy approach to boost a sustainable transition. A full characterization of flows and stocks is necessary to measure the contribution of secondary materials to meet the overall demand in a system and support decision-making process towards potential improvements. This understanding is determinant for a successful implementation of phosphorous recovery at the regional level, where site-specific conditions dictate local constraints. In this study, material flow analysis has been applied to characterize the 2020 phosphorous cycle in the Province of Rimini (Italy) and the State of San Marino, which are served by a wastewater treatment plant with a 560,000 person-equivalent capacity. Our model shows that, about 236 ± 23 t P entered the system, while 155 ± 14 t P left it, resulting in a net accumulation of 81 ± 21 t P, mainly located in soil for crop production, water bodies, and sedimentation due to dissipative flows. The greatest potential for phosphorous recovery is embedded into the digested sludge from the wastewater treatment plant, which would ideally meet 96% of the annual local demand of mineral fertilizers. However, this flow is currently disposed of by landfilling. Further technical, economic, environmental, and regulatory valuations are ultimately needed to build a positive business case to recover phosphorous in the region

Prevalence Of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders According To Rome III Criteria In Italian Morbidly Obese Patients

The relationship between GI symptoms and obesity has yet to be completely clarified. Aim. To determine in a morbidly obese southern Italy adult population the prevalence of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (FGID) and its association with the presence of a Binge Eating (BE) behavior pattern. Methods. Consecutive obese patients eligible for bariatric surgery and 100 Healthy Controls (HC) were recruited. All participants were questioned and scored for the presence of FGID according to Rome III criteria and for the presence or the frequency-intensity of a number of upper and lower GI symptoms. BE behavior pattern was assessed. Results. One-hundred obese patients met the inclusion criteria. The prevalence of FGID was similar between obese patients and HC. There was a significant association between obese patients with BE behavior and postprandial distress syndrome (P = 0.04). Moreover, a significantly higher frequency-intensity score for epigastric fullness (1.23 ± 0.45 versus 0.35 ± 0.13, P = 0.01) was found in obese patients with BE behavior compared to obese patients without. Conclusions. Obese patients with a BE behavior pattern showed a significantly higher prevalence of postprandial distress syndrome. A greater knowledge of the GI symptoms associated with obesity along with the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying will be important in the clinical management of these patients

Carbon Fibers Waste Recovery via Pyro-Gasification: Semi-Industrial Pilot Plant Testing and LCA

Carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) are increasingly used in a variety of applications demanding a unique combination of mechanical properties and lightweight characteristics such as automotive and aerospace, wind turbines, and sport and leisure equipment. This growing use, however, has not yet been accompanied by the setting of an adequate recycling industry, with landfilling still being the main management route for related waste and end-of-life products. Considering the fossil-based nature of carbon fibers, the development of recovery and recycling technologies is hence prioritized to address the environmental sustainability challenges in a bid to approach mitigating the climate emergency and achieving circularity in materials’ life cycles. To this aim, we scaled up and tested a novel semi-industrial pilot plant to pyrolysis and subsequent oxidation of uncured prepreg offcuts and cured waste of CFRPs manufacturing. The environmental performance of the process proposed has been evaluated by means of a life cycle assessment to estimate the associated carbon footprint and cumulative energy demand according to three scenarios. The scale-up of the process has been performed by investigating the influence of the main parameters to improve the quality of the recovered fibers and the setting of preferable operating conditions. The pyro-gasification process attested to a reduction of 40 kgCO2 eq per kg of recycled CFs, compared to virgin CFs. If the pyro-gasification process was implemented in the current manufacturing of CFRPs, the estimated reduction of the carbon footprint, depending on the composite breakdown, would result in 12% and 15%. This reduction may theoretically increase up to 59–73% when cutting and trimming waste-optimized remanufacturing is combined with circular economy strategies based on the ideal recycling of CFRPs at end-of-life

Environmental Impact of Surgical Masks Consumption in Italy Due to COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic suddenly changed the lifestyle of billions of people. Face masks became indispensable to protect from the contagion providing a significant environmental impact. The aim of this work is to propose possible solutions to decrease masks’ impact on the environment. For this reason, different masks (surgical and fabric) were considered, and the CO2 emissions associated with the mask materials production were calculated. Carbon Footprint (CF) for each material composing the masks was evaluated through the database Ces Selector 2019. The software Qgis (version 2.18.20) allows us to elaborate the CO2 emissions maps for each Italian region. Finally, for surgical masks, which are often imported from abroad, the CF related to transport was considered. It results that fabric masks are a sustainable solution to prevent contagion. The total CO2 emission associated with the use of fabric masks from the beginning of the pandemic (March 2020) to December 2021 resulted in about 7 kton compared to 350 kton for surgical masks

KINEMATIC AND DYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF SPRINT START

Aims of this study were the tuning of the methods for kinematic and dynamic analysis of sprint start and the assessment of their relevance for field practice. Data collection was performed by means of an Elite Motion Analysis System (two cameras,3D) at 100 Hzi and a Kistler force platform (type 9281b ) at 500 Hz. Three elite athletes participated in the study; each subject performed three trials. statistical analysis ( ONEWAY ANOVA - SPSSPC software package) was performed in order to highlight significant differences ( F>0.05 ) between the subjects. The start movement was divided into three temporal phases: release of the starting block, landing on first supported push off from platform. significant differences were observed with respect to hip horizontal linear velocity within these phases (F > 0.02-0.001-0.0003) between the subjects. In order to give a complete description of the movement pattern four groups of variables were selected: 1)LINEAR DISPLACEMENTS. Eighteen variables were studied ; thirteen of them show significant differences index of different positions on the starting blocks -and different movement pattern during push-of f . 2)ANGULAR DISPLACEMENTS. Thirty-five variables were selected; eighteen show significant differences. 3) LINEAR AND ANGULAR-VEMCITIES Of the 54 variables studied (20 linear var. and 34 angular var.) , 38 (13 linear var. and 15 angular var. ) shows significant differences. 4)DYNAMIC DATA. We studied 62 variables, 26 of which showed significant differences. Exit velocity from starting blocks is influenced by the force produced during the first support phase and by the kinematics of the body segments. The different results obtained by the athletes in hip horizontal velocity, can be explained with the significant differences observed with respect to kinematic and dynamic of the phases of start studied. Main variables that shows significant differences are: hip, knee and ankle peak angular velocities, duration of first support phase and joint moments during push-off from first support phase. These variables seems to be logically related with the index of performance,hip horizontal velocity

Visuo-tactile stimulation, but not type of movement, modulates pain during the vision of a moving virtual limb

Aims: Evidence has revealed a relationship between pain and the observation of limb movement, but it is unknown whether different types of movements have diverse modulating effects. In this immersive virtual reality study we explored the effect of the vision of different virtual arm movements (arm vs. wrist) on pain threshold from heat applied to the wrist. Patients & Methods: Forty healthy participants underwent four conditions in virtual reality while heat pain thresholds were measured. Visuo-tactile stimulation was used to attempt to modulate the feeling of virtual limb ownership. Results: Effects on pain threshold were present for type of stimulation but not type of movement. Conclusions: The type of observed movement does not appear to influence pain modulation, at least not during acute pain states

Aquatic Therapy after Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury: Gait Initiation Analysis Using Inertial Sensors

: Populations with potential damage to somatosensory, vestibular, and visual systems or poor motor control are often studied during gait initiation. Aquatic activity has shown to benefit the functional capacity of incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI) patients. The present study aimed to evaluate gait initiation in iSCI patients using an easy-to-use protocol employing four wearable inertial sensors. Temporal and acceleration-based anticipatory postural adjustment measures were computed and compared between dry-land and water immersion conditions in 10 iSCI patients. In the aquatic condition, an increased first step duration (median value of 1.44 s vs. 0.70 s in dry-land conditions) and decreased root mean squared accelerations for the upper trunk (0.39 m/s2 vs. 0.72 m/s2 in dry-land conditions) and lower trunk (0.41 m/s2 vs. 0.85 m/s2 in dry-land conditions) were found in the medio-lateral and antero-posterior direction, respectively. The estimation of these parameters, routinely during a therapy session, can provide important information regarding different control strategies adopted in different environments