Distribution of toxic elements and transfer from the environment to humans traced by using lead isotopes. A case of study in the Sarno River basin,south Italy

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - The results of a large geochemical study on various environmental media (soil, stream sediment, groundwater, surface water, lettuce and human hair) of the...     

Assessment of the environmental conditions of the Sarno river basin (south Italy): a stream sediment approach

The Sarno river basin covers an area of 500 km² collecting the waters of Solofrana and Cavaiola tributaries. Originally it manly represents a source of livelihood for inhabitants by fishing and transporting goods; currently, the Sarno river, still partially used for irrigation, is affected by an extreme environmental degradation as a result of uncontrolled outflow of industrial waste. Within the framework of a wider geochemical prospecting project aiming at characterizing the whole territory of the Campania region, 89 stream sediment samples with a sampling density of 1 sample per 5 km² were collected in the river basin and analyzed by means of inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry in order to assess the environmental conditions at a regional scale. A GIS-aided technique, based on both the actual distribution of potentially harmful elements and their regional background values, was used to generate the maps of the contamination factors and of the contamination degrees for As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn. Furthermore, a factor analysis was performed to assess the nature and the extent of contamination sources for the river sediments. Results showed that the Sarno river basin could be divided in two “environmental status” units: one, low contaminated, corresponding to the hilly and mountain areas, and the second, from moderately to very highly contaminated, corresponding to the economically developed areas of the valley floor characterized by a high population density. This work was developed within a project that aims to investigate the relationships between environmental pollution and human health by analyzing environmental media (stream sediments, water, soil and vegetation) together with human hair of resident population. In this context, the spatial correlation between the extremely compromised environmental conditions of developed areas and the incidence rate of liver cancer in the same area was also explored posing the need of a careful costs/benefits analysis to assess whether the deterioration of the environment, that could adversely affect the conditions of public health, is worth the economic development.     

Children and the Sphere standard on mental and social aspects of health

Most of the world's children live in resource-poor countries where people are at a relatively high risk of exposure to catastrophic situations arising from conflict and natural disasters.(6) Given the potential social, psychological and psychiatric consequences of exposure to disaster, mental health and psychosocial support programmes are increasingly part of humanitarian aid. A minimum standard on mental and social aspects of health is included in the recently revised Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (Sphere Handbook) (Sphere Project, 2004). Most recommendations for mental health and psychosocial interventions in guidance documents are based on expert opinion rather than research. Consequently, interventions are being implemented without full understanding of their potential benefit or harm. This paper offers a child-focused review of the evidence for each of the interventions described as indicators for the Sphere standard on mental and social aspects of health. It suggests some, but limited, support for each of them. However, the evidence base needs substantial strengthening.     

CFD simulation of pressure piling

The explosion of flammable mixtures in interconnected compartments is commonly defined as “pressure piling”. Peak pressures much higher than the predictable thermodynamic values are likely to be generated in this geometry, yielding the phenomenon of major interest in industrial safety. In this paper, a CFD model was implemented, aiming at understanding the major factors affecting pressure piling in two cylindrical interconnected vessels, by varying the volume ratio between the two interconnected vessels and the ignition position. A combustion model was specifically developed to follow the flame propagation in any combustion regimes as a function of the local conditions: laminar, flamelet and distributed reaction zone.The model was validated by comparison with experimental results. The agreement between the experiments and the simulations has allowed the interpretation of the pressure piling phenomenon and the understanding of the mechanisms involved. More precisely, the results have showed that the pressure peak intensity is mainly affected by the coupling between the pre-compression of the mixture in the secondary vessel and the violence of explosion in the same vessel as related to the venting time, the latest quantified by the turbulent Bradley number, Br_t i.e. by the reaction time to the venting time ratio.     

Evaluation of ABC efflux transporters genes expression in kidney of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fed with melamine and cyanuric acid diets

Gene expression experiments were targeted in order to monitor the ABC efflux transporters, which is potentially involved in cellular detoxification/defense. Changes in expression levels of different ABC genes in kidney of Oncorhynchus mykiss fed with melamine and melamine + cyanuric acid enriched diets were recorded in both treated groups by mRNA ΔΔ_CT relative quantification method. Expression profiles of eight different ABC genes basically showed low alterations in melamine group and more consistent changes in melamine + cyanuric acid treated fish, compared with own control. In the last group ABCC2 gene over expression was the more evident alteration. These results suggest that ABC efflux system could be involved in mobilization of hydrophilic molecules in the forcing condition of chronic exposure.     

The Environmental Performance Strategy Map: an integrated LCA approach to support the strategic decision-making process

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a well-known tool for analyzing environmental impacts on a wide perspective with reference to a product system and the related environmental and economic impacts. The need for a novel approach that complements environmental and financial considerations is addressed in this study with the introduction of a new graphical representation: the Environmental Performance Strategy Map. This graphical map allows one to combine the main environmental indicators (footprints) with the additional dimension of cost. The paper defines the Sustainable Environmental Performance Indicator as a single measure for sustainability of a given option. Comparison of different options for strategic decision-making purposes can be enhanced and facilitated by the use of this indicator.     

Study of the severity of hybrid mixture explosions and comparison to pure dust-air and vapour-air explosions

The explosion behaviour of heterogeneous/homogeneous fuel-air (hybrid) mixtures is here analysed and compared to the explosion features of heterogeneous fuel-air and homogeneous fuel-air mixtures separately.Experiments are performed to measure the pressure history, deflagration index and flammability limits of nicotinic acid/acetone-air mixtures in a standard 20 L Siwek bomb adapted to vapour-air mixtures. Literature data are also used for comparison.The explosion tests performed on gas-air mixtures in the same conditions as explosion tests of dust-air mixtures, show that the increase in explosion severity of dust/gas-air mixtures has to be addressed to the role of initial level of turbulence prior to ignition.At a fixed value of the equivalence ratio, by substituting the dust to the flammable gas in a dust/gas-air mixture the explosion severity decreases. Furthermore, the most severe conditions of dust-gas/air mixtures is found during explosion of gas-air mixture at stoichiometric concentration.     

A correlation study between multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes incidences and geochemical data in Europe

Complex multifactorial disorders usually arise in individuals genetically at risk in the presence of permissive environmental factors. For many of these diseases, predisposing gene variants are partly known while the identification of the environmental component is much more difficult. This study aims to investigate whether there are correlations between the incidence of two complex traits, multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes, and some chemical elements and compounds present in soils and stream sediments in Europe. Data were obtained from the published literature and analyzed by calculating the mean values of each element and of disease incidence for each Country, respectively, 17 for multiple sclerosis and 21 for type 1 diabetes. Correlation matrices and regression analyses were used in order to compare incidence data and geochemical data. R correlation index and significance were evaluated. The analyses performed in this study have revealed significant positive correlations between barium and sodium oxide on one hand and multiple sclerosis and diabetes incidences on the other hand that may suggest interactions to be evaluated between silicon-rich lithologies and/or marine environments. The negative correlations shown by cobalt, chromium and nickel (typical of silicon-poor environment), which in this case can be interpreted as protective effects against the two diseases onset, make the split between favorable and protective environments even more obvious. In conclusion, if other studies will confirm the involvement of the above elements and compounds in the etiology of these pathologies, then it will be possible to plan strategies to reduce the spread of these serious pandemics.     

Correction to: Human behavior and Homo-mammal interactions at the first European peopling: new evidence from the Pirro Nord site (Apricena,Southern Italy)

The Science of Nature - Female-only colour polymorphism is rare in birds, but occurs in brood parasitic cuckoos (Cuculidae). Obligate brood parasites leave incubation and parental care to other...     

Combined effects of initial pressure and turbulence on explosions of hydrogen-enriched methane/air mixtures

Hydrogen-enrichment has been proposed as a useful method to overcome drawbacks (local flame extinction, combustion instabilities, lower power output, etc.) associated to turbulent premixed combustion of natural gas in both stationary and mobile systems. For the safe use of hydrogen-enriched hydrocarbon fuels, explosion data are needed.In this work, a comparative experimental study of the explosion behavior of stoichiometric hydrogen-enriched methane/air (with 10% of hydrogen molar content in the fuel) and pure methane/air mixtures is presented. Tests were carried out in a 5 l closed cylindrical vessel at different initial pressures (1, 3 and 6 bar), and starting from both quiescent and turbulent conditions.Results allow quantifying the combined effects of hydrogen substitution to methane, pressure and turbulence on maximum pressure, maximum rate of pressure rise, burning velocity and Markstein lengths.