Potential Risk of Norovirus Infection Due to the Consumption of “Ready to Eat” Food

In this study, we investigated the presence of enteric viruses such as norovirus (NoV), hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis E virus (HEV), and adenovirus (HAdV), in vegetables available on the Italian markets. For this aim, 110 national and international ??ready to eat?? samples were collected and analyzed by biomolecular tests and positive samples were confirmed by sequencing. All samples (100?%) were negative for HAV, HEV, and HAdV, while 13.6?% (15/110) were positive for NoV. Actually there is not a formal surveillance system for NoV infections in Italy but we clearly demonstrated a potential risk associated with the consumption of ??ready to eat?? vegetables. This study confirmed for the first time in Italy the presence of norovirus in semi-dried tomatoes by PCR technique.     

A systematic review of research conducted by pioneer groups in ecotoxicological studies with bees in Brazil: advances and perspectives

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Brazil presents the most threatened endemic or rare species among neotropical regions, with the Hymenoptera order, to which bees belong, classified as...     

Consequences of maternal isolation from salinity stress for brooded embryos and future juveniles in the estuarine direct-developing gastropod Crepipatella dilatata

At reduced salinities, brooding females of some gastropods and bivalves may isolate their mantle cavities from the environment for several days, maintaining internal osmotic concentration but causing severe declines in dissolved oxygen and pH, and increases in ammonia and other toxic substances in the mantle fluid. This study in November–December examined the immediate consequences of such stresses for brooded embryos of Quempillén estuary gastropod Crepipatella dilatata, in terms of time to juvenile emergence and rates of embryonic growth [measured as shell length (SL)]. Juveniles were also monitored for latent effects on feeding rates, oxygen consumption, and growth for the first 4 weeks after emergence into normal salinity seawater. An acute salinity stress lasting 3 days applied to females that were brooding pre-shelled or intermediate-shelled stages increased embryonic incubation periods, but without affecting SL at emergence. Growth rates were reduced for encapsulated embryos regardless of the stage at which the salinity stress was applied. Latent effects on juvenile development included slower shell growth and reduced rates of oxygen consumption and feeding. These effects were sustained for the first month after release from the female. The results suggest that marked reductions in salinity lasting for several days indirectly but negatively affect the development of brooded embryos of C. dilatata and also affect the juveniles for at least several weeks following their release, even after salinity has returned to normal.     

Hg<Superscript>2+</Superscript> detection using a disposable and miniaturized screen-printed electrode modified with nanocomposite carbon black and gold nanoparticles

A miniaturized screen-printed electrode (SPE) modified with a carbon black-gold nanoparticle (CBNP-AuNP) nanocomposite has been developed as an electrochemical sensor for the detection of inorganic mercury ions (Hg²⁺). The working electrode surface has been modified with nanocomposite constituted of CBNPs and AuNPs by an easy drop casting procedure that makes this approach extendible to an automatable mass production of modified SPEs. Square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) was adopted to perform Hg²⁺ detection, revealing satisfactory sensitivity and detection limit, equal to 14 μA ppb^?1 cm^?2 and 3 ppb, respectively. The applicability of the CBNP-AuNP-SPE for the determination of inorganic mercury has been assessed in river water by a simple filtration and acidification of the sample as well as in soil by means of a facile acidic extraction procedure assisted by ultrasound.     

Active biomonitoring of heavy metal pollution using Rosa rugosa plants

The purpose of this work was to evaluate the quality of a rural area near Faenza (Italy) by using an active biomonitoring approach, i.e., by placing homogeneous individuals of the perennial shrub Rosa rugosa in different sites throughout the area. Further sites, within the city or its environs, were used for comparison. Soil and leaves of R. rugosa were analyzed for their heavy metal content. The total heavy metal pattern of leaves closely paralleled the pattern registered in soil, with the highest content (both in total and assimilable forms) at the site in the urban area, which is exposed to heavy traffic. Pollen quality (abortiveness and viability) was also tested as a potential indicator of pollution. Pollen abortiveness was strictly related to Pb levels in leaves, while viability was inversely related to leaf Cr content. Our results suggest that R. rugosa has the potential to be a good biomonitoring system.     

Integrated Ambient and Microenvironment Model for Estimation of PM10 Exposures of Children in Annual and Episode Settings

Particulate matter air pollution is estimated to cause in the order of 350,000 excess deaths in the European Union calling for policy development and evaluation tools. In the current work, a model for PM₁₀ exposures of children is developed using microenvironment time activities and infiltration of ambient pollution indoors, both evaluated against observations earlier and integrated with city-wide air quality models in the current work. The model is demonstrated using data from two cities in Italy. High-end short-term exposures are characterized by an episode-day situation in Turin, and annual mean exposures in downtown Bologna. The air quality model was unable to capture the highest levels during the episode, and therefore, the exposure model was adjusted using observed–modeled ratio from a monitoring station. Air quality model performance for the annual levels was significantly better. Annual exposure variability within the target population was 1.5-fold in the downtown area Bologna and tenfold during the episode day in Turin.     

Chironomid mouthpart deformities as indicator of environmental quality: a case study in Lake Trasimeno (Italy)

The aim of the present study was to monitor mouthpart deformities of Chironomus plumosus (Insecta-Diptera) in Lake Trasimeno (2000-2010) in relation with sediment contamination by heavy metals, which is one of the main causes of deformity induction. In Lake Trasimeno, concentrations of heavy metals in the investigated littoral zone were low, in comparison with those of the central area. By contrast, the incidence of deformities was much higher in the littoral station (2006-2009) than in the central area. In the littoral zone, the deformities progressively decreased and by 2010 reached values similar to those observed in the central area (2000-2002, 2010). This decrease was mainly due to the reduction of severe deformities, thus indicating an environmental quality recovery of this littoral sector. Chemical analysis revealed that the higher incidence of deformities in the littoral zone was not caused by heavy metal contamination, unless they may have contributed to a joint action with other toxicants. The present study on Lake Trasimeno provided additional evidence that chironomid mouthpart deformities can be used in biomonitoring programs to evaluate sediment contamination by toxicants. Since mouthpart deformities may also be induced by compounds not included in routine chemical analyses, they may better reflect sediment quality than chemical analysis alone.     

Clastogenicity of landfarming soil treated with sugar cane vinasse

The addition of nutrients and/or soil bulking agents is used in bioremediation to increase microbial activity in contaminated soils. For this purpose, some studies have assessed the effectiveness of vinasse in the bioremediation of soils contaminated with petroleum waste. The present study was aimed at investigating the clastogenic/aneugenic potential of landfarming soil from a petroleum refinery before and after addition of sugar cane vinasse using the Allium cepa bioassay. Our results show that the addition of sugar cane vinasse to landfarming soil potentiates the clastogenic effects of the latter probably due the release of metals that were previously adsorbed into the organic matter. These metals may have interacted synergistically with petroleum hydrocarbons present in the landfarming soil treated with sugar cane vinasse. We recommend further tests to monitor the effects of sugar cane vinasse on soils contaminated with organic wastes.     

Dissipation of terbuthylazine,metolachlor, and mesotrione in soils with contrasting texture

ABSTRACT

This study evaluates the dissipation of terbuthylazine, metolachlor, and mesotrione at different depths in soils with contrasting texture. The field trial was conducted at the Padua University Experimental Farm, north-east Italy. The persistence of three herbicides was studied in three different soil textures (clay soil, sandy soil, and loamy soil) at two depths (0–5 and 5–15 cm). Soil organic carbon content was highest in the clay (1.10%) followed by loam (0.67%) and sandy soil (0.24%); the pH of soils was sub-alkaline. Terbuthylazine, metolachlor, and mesotrione were applied on maize as a formulated product (Lumax®) at a dose of 3.5 L ha^?1. Their dissipation in the treated plots was followed for 2 months after application. The concentrations of herbicides were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The dissipation of terbuthylazine, metolachlor, and mesotrione could be described by a pseudo first-order kinetics. Terbuthylazine showed the highest DT50, followed by metolachlor and mesotrione. Considering the tested soil, the highest DT50 value was found in clay soil for terbuthylazine and metolachlor, whereas for mesotrione there was no difference among soils. Significant differences were found between the two soil depths for terbuthylazine and metolachlor, whereas none were found for mesotrione. These results suggest that soil texture and depth have a strong influence on the dissipation of terbuthylazine and metolachlor, whereas no influence was observed on mesotrione because of its chemical and physical properties.     

Effects of Geomorphic Setting and Urbanization on Wood,Pools, Sediment Storage,and Bank Erosion in Puget Sound Streams1

Segura, Catalina and Derek B. Booth, 2010. Effects of Geomorphic Setting and Urbanization on Wood, Pools, Sediment Storage, and Bank Erosion in Puget Sound Streams. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 46(5):972-986. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-1688.2010.00470.x Abstract: Interrelationships between urbanization, the near-riparian zone, and channel morphology were examined in 44 lowland stream reaches in the Puget Lowlands of western Washington, United States. Both the degree of urbanization and channel type control channel response to a range of instream and riparian conditions. Some of these relationships are not evident in lumped datasets (i.e., with all channel types and/or degrees of urbanization) and highlight the importance of fluvial geomorphology in determining channel response. We found that in low-urbanized watersheds dominated by forced pool-riffle and plane-bed morphologies, the frequency and distribution of large woody debris (LWD), pool spacing, sediment storage, and bank erosion have a strong relationship with channel confinement and characteristics of near-riparian vegetation. In contrast, high-urbanized reaches dominated by simplified morphologies are substantially less sensitive to the condition of the near-riparian zone (e.g., size of the near-riparian vegetation and the level of channel confinement), due to the common disconnection of stream and floodplain caused by the placement of stabilizing structures in the banks. These structures are typically placed to prevent erosion; however, they also result in fewer LWD and pools, less sediment storage, and higher potential for incision.