Occurrence and Trend of Hepatitis A Virus in Bivalve Molluscs Production Areas Following a Contamination Event

The aim of this study was to assess the trend of hepatitis A virus (HAV) in a coastal zone impacted by a contamination event, providing data for the development of management strategies. A total of 352 samples, including four bivalve mollusc species (Mytilus galloprovincialis, Solen vagina, Venus gallina and Donax trunculus), were taken over a period of 6 months from 27 production areas of the coast and analysis were performed according to ISO/TS 15216-1:2013. HAV presence was detected in 77 samples from 11 production areas and all positive results were related to samples collected in the first 3 months of the surveillance, during which HAV prevalence was 39.9% and values as high as 5096 genome copies/g were detected. A progressive reduction of viral contamination was evident during the first trimester of the monitoring, with prevalence decreasing from 78.8% in the first month, to 37.8% in the second and 3.9% in the third and quantitative levels reduced from an average value of 672 genome copies/g to 255 genome copies/g over a period of 4 weeks (virus half-life: 21.5 days). A regression analysis showed that, during the decreasing phase of the contamination, the data fitted a reciprocal quadratic model (Ra² = 0.921) and, based on the model, a residual presence of HAV could be estimated after negativization of the production areas. The statistical analysis of the results per shellfish species and per production area showed that there were limited differences in contamination prevalence and levels among diverse bivalve species, while a statistically significant difference was present in quantitative levels of one production area. These data could be useful for the development of both risk assessment models and code of practice for the management of viral contamination in primary production.     

An assessment of the environmental effects of energy systems, with emphasis on oil

This paper describes the approach of the VESE project undertaken by ENEA to assess the environmental and socioeconomic effects of various energy systems, and it refers to the fundamental choices adopted for the development of the project, to the work plan and to the analytical methods employed. This paper also reports the findings of an oil system case study concerning the Italian province of Piacenza: a set of oil-fired electric power plants, together with industrial and civil installations burning oil products. Fuel consumption and air pollution emissions were characterized through a field survey. The emission inventory of sulfur and nitrogen oxides and particulate matter were estimated with reference to area and point sources. A multisource dispersion model (DIMULA) was developed, which took into account certain meteorological peculiarities of the area (e.g., calm weather and/or fog). The model, first applied to the dispersion of sulfur oxides, has given encouraging results. A study of comparative forced expiratory volumes in elementary school children has been chosen to determine the air pollution health effects in the Piacenza province. Plant and animal resources in the province of Piacenza were identified through a field investigation. Published data on crop damage by air pollutants are discussed and statistically analyzed. A dose-response relationship was obtained for the yield loss of alfalfa caused by SO₂.     

Population dynamics of Eudendrium racemosum (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa) from the North Adriatic Sea

Benthic suspension feeders in shallow waters develop in relation to the food availability and the variation of physical parameters giving rise to complex communities that act as a control factor on the plankton biomass. The aim of the work is to establish the role of the hydrozoan Eudendrium racemosum in the energy transfer from the plankton to the benthos in marine food chains of the North Adriatic Sea. This study highlighted that the hydroid biomass changed over time in relation to temperature and irradiance, and the highest abundance was observed during summer with about 400,000 polyps m⁻² (about 19 g C m⁻²). The population suffered an evident summer decrease in relation to a peak of abundance of its predator, the nudibranch Cratena peregrina, whose adult specimens were able to eat up to 500 polyps day⁻¹ and reached an abundance of 10 individuals m⁻². The gut content analysis revealed that the hydroid diet was based on larvae of other benthic animals, especially bivalves and that the amount of ingested preys changed during the year with a peak in summer when it was estimated an average predation rate of 13.7 mg C m⁻² day⁻¹. In July, bivalves represented over 60 % of the captured items and about 18 mg C m⁻² day⁻¹. Values of biomass of E. racemosum are the highest ever recorded in the Mediterranean Sea, probably supported by the eutrophic conditions of the North Adriatic Sea. Moreover, our data suggest that settling bivalves provide the greater part of the energetic demand of E. racemosum.     

Retaining natural vegetation to safeguard biodiversity and humanity

Global efforts to deliver internationally agreed goals to reduce carbon emissions, halt biodiversity loss, and retain essential ecosystem services have been poorly integrated. These goals rely in part on preserving natural (e.g., native, largely unmodified) and seminatural (e.g., low intensity or sustainable human use) forests, woodlands, and grasslands. To show how to unify these goals, we empirically derived spatially explicit, quantitative, area-based targets for the retention of natural and seminatural (e.g., native) terrestrial vegetation worldwide. We used a 250-m-resolution map of natural and seminatural vegetation cover and, from this, selected areas identified under different international agreements as being important for achieving global biodiversity, carbon, soil, and water targets. At least 67 million km² of Earth's terrestrial vegetation (∼79% of the area of vegetation remaining) required retention to contribute to biodiversity, climate, soil, and freshwater conservation objectives under 4 United Nations’ resolutions. This equates to retaining natural and seminatural vegetation across at least 50% of the total terrestrial (excluding Antarctica) surface of Earth. Retention efforts could contribute to multiple goals simultaneously, especially where natural and seminatural vegetation can be managed to achieve cobenefits for biodiversity, carbon storage, and ecosystem service provision. Such management can and should co-occur and be driven by people who live in and rely on places where natural and sustainably managed vegetation remains in situ and must be complemented by restoration and appropriate management of more human-modified environments if global goals are to be realized.     

Factors influencing the food transition in riverine communities in the Brazilian Amazon

The objective of this study was to determine the main patterns and factors influencing food transition in riverine people in the Brazilian Amazon. Through interviews with a semi-structured questionnaire, we inferred their food habits and provide information about general demographic, socioeconomic, resource use and environmental context. Data from the questionnaires were categorized and analyzed using a logistic regression model to assess the relative influence of socioeconomic and environment factors on the local diet. Based on a logistic regression data analysis, it was found a greater consumption of processed food significantly associated with multiple factors such as market participation, sex (female and male), government aid to forest conservation and environment context (upland and wetland). Although the local diet is composed mainly of local resources such as fish and cassava flour, increasing incomes due to direct government subsidy programs and marketing of cassava flour have influenced these local practices and habits. Through the analysis of factors influencing food transition, it was possible to evaluate those having the greatest effect on this Amazon region and propose an alternative method to subsidy food policy grounded in local opinion surveys.     

Contribution of vehicular traffic and industrial facilities to PM10 concentrations in a suburban area of Caserta (Italy)

PM10 levels have been recorded in the suburban area of Caserta (Italy) from February to October 2012. The daily limit was exceeded in 13 % of the determinations, with no significant difference between weekdays and weekends. Benzo[a]pyrene concentrations were in the range 0.01–0.46 ng/m³, thus, never exceeding the National Standard. The B(a)P-eq was 0.20 ng/m³. PM10 peaks were associated with wind from east–northeast. The same was observed for Ca concentrations, whereas no relation with wind direction was observed for organic pollutants. The results point to a local limestone quarry and cement factory as the likely major source of PM10 pollution in the area investigated.     

Hair mercury levels in an urban population from southern Italy: fish consumption as a determinant of exposure

Mercury levels in hair of a general population, 237 adults aged between 35-45, in Naples, Italy, were assessed. The subjects were asked to fill in a questionnaire about age, gender, body weight, height, body mass index (BMI), fish consumption, number, surface and area of dental amalgam fillings. Total mercury (THg) concentrations in human hair ranged from 0.221 to 3.402 microg/g and the mean value for the subjects under study was 0.638 microg/g. Study participants were divided into three groups in accordance with fish consumption and dental amalgam: ANF (amalgam and no fish); NAF (no amalgam but with fish) and AAF (amalgam and fish). Significant differences in THg were found in the three groups (p<0.05). A multiple linear regression analysis showed a weak but significant correlation of THg content in hair with respect to gender and age, but almost no association was found between THg and dental fillings. Conversely, a strong correlation was obtained between THg and fish consumption regardless of the group evaluated. Finally, mercury levels in hair exceeded the levels corresponding to the EPA reference dose (RfD) of 0.1 microg Hg/kg body weight per day (1 microg Hg/g hair) in 6% of the population (4% men and 2% women). However, the THg limits in our subjects were not exceeded according to the WHO guidelines, which use a benchmark dose of 0.23 microg Hg/kg bw/day (14 microg Hg/g maternal hair).     

Traffic aerosol lobar doses deposited in the human respiratory system

Aerosol pollution in urban environments has been recognized to be responsible for important pathologies of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. In this perspective, great attention has been addressed to Ultra Fine Particles (UFPs?<?100 nm), because they efficiently penetrate into the respiratory system and are capable of translocating from the airways into the blood circulation. This paper describes the aerosol regional doses deposited in the human respiratory system in a high-traffic urban area. The aerosol measurements were carried out on a curbside in downtown Rome, on a street characterized by a high density of autovehicular traffic. Aerosol number-size distributions were measured by means of a Fast Mobility Particle Sizer in the range from 5.6 to 560 nm with a 1 s time resolution. Dosimetry estimates were performed with the Multiple-Path Particle Dosimetry model by means of the stochastic lung model. The exposure scenario close to traffic is represented by a sequence of short-term peak exposures: about 6.6?×?10¹⁰ particles are deposited hourly into the respiratory system. After 1 h of exposure in proximity of traffic, 1.29?×?10¹⁰, 1.88?×?10¹⁰, and 3.45?×?10¹⁰ particles are deposited in the head, tracheobronchial, and alveolar regions. More than 95 % of such doses are represented by UFPs. Finally, according to the greater dose estimated, the right lung lobes are expected to be more susceptible to respiratory pathologies than the left lobes.     

Automatic classification of climate change effects on marine species distributions in 2050 using the AquaMaps model

Environmental and Ecological Statistics - Habitat modifications driven by human impact and climate change may influence species distribution, particularly in aquatic environments. Niche-based...