Effects of atmospheric pollution on lichen biodiversity (LB) in a Mediterranean region (Liguria, northwest Italy)

The effects of air pollution on lichen biodiversity (LB) were monitored in Liguria (northwest Italy). A systematic sampling strategy was adopted in order to avoid the influence of spatial autocorrelation on the results. An eight LB class scale permitted to point out the levels of naturality/alteration in the region. The comparison of these results with the ones obtained by mean of physico-chemical methodologies shows a good accordance. The results of this study suggest the possibility of designing an integrated monitoring network, in which biological monitoring will allow to estimate the level of alteration in remote areas, which account for most of this region and which are currently not covered by measurements with automatic systems.     

Ozone biomonitoring in Northern Italy

This report presents the results of an ozone monitoring experience performed with tobacco indicator plants (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Bel-W3). These bioindicators were exposed to ambient air in 23 sites in Northern Italy from 27 April 1987 to 21 October 1987. Typical ozone-induced leaf necrosis was observed in every site. The percentage increase in injured leaf area was estimated weekly and a Leaf Injury Index (LII) was calculated. The weekly series of LIIs were statistically inspected for spatial and temporal relationships. Sample correlation coefficients were statistically significant for almost every possible pair of sites. The time series properties of ten series of LIIs with no missing data were analyzed using Box-Jenkins models. An autoregressive first order model, or AR(1), was selected to remove the autocorrelation from these series. Linear correlation coefficients between prewhitened (i.e. from which autocorrelation had been removed) pairs of LII series were statistically significant. Hence synchronous variations in leaf necrosis could only be related to the regional diffusion of tropospheric ozone.Work carried out as part of the research programme: ENEL's contribution to the knowledge of important environmental issues, Research line; Effects of atmospheric pollution on the land.     

Correlation between environmental parameters and leaf injury in Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. ‘Bel-W 3’

Tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Bel-W3) were exposed to ambient air for 25 weeks during the 1987 growing season next to an air pollution monitoring station in Brera (Milan, Italy). The research objective was to study the influence of selected environmental parameters on leaf damage in this plant, which is widely used as an ozone indicator. A multiple linear correlation model was estimated between leaf damage and available meteorological and air pollution data. Leaf injury was positively correlated with ozone integrated exposure and temperature, but negatively with vapour pressure deficit. A linear correlation model was used to estimate ozone integrated exposure from the leaf injury indexWork carried out as part of the research programme: ENEL's contribution to the knowledge of important environmental issues, research line: Effects of atmospheric pollution on the land.     

A new route for the chemical valorisation of lactose

A totally protected di-O-benzyl derivative of triacetonlactose dimethyl acetal was transformed into a 4'-hexeno disaccharide by elimination of acetone with t-BuOK in DMF and subsequently in 5'-C-methoxy derivative by oxidation with MCPBA in methanol as a solvent. The hydrolysis of this latter compound affords 2,6-di-O-benzyl-L-arabino-aldohexosos-5-ulose, which by intramolecular aldol condensation with DBU gives an inosose that was stereoselectively reduced to epi-inositol. Therefore our synthetic strategy offers a new and simple method to transform lactose into carbocyclic monosaccharide analogues.     

Mercury levels in sediments of central Mediterranean Sea: a 150+ year record from box-cores recovered in the Strait of Sicily

To evaluate the degree of anthropogenic mercury pollution, Hg contents have been measured for box-core sediments sampled along three nearshore–offshore transects in the Strait of Sicily and well constrained for their mineralogy, bulk geochemistry and TOC%. Hg values are generally low (from 15 to 70 μg kg⁻¹); however, depth profiles clearly display upcore rising concentrations (up to 202 μg kg⁻¹ near the SE Sicily coast) that are attributed to anthropogenic load. Based on ²¹⁰Pb chronology, these trends are more dramatic across the last 20–30 years. Geogenic influence is thought to explain some anomalies related to volcanic emission and geothermal activity. Combined effects due to eastward flowing of the Modified Atlantic Water (MAW) and sea bottom morphology drove major anthropogenic accumulation.     

Metal accumulation in poplar plant grown with industrial wastes

In this study the effects of different levels of industrial wastes on growth traits and metal accumulation in aerial portions were determined for Populusxeuramericana clone I-214. The experiment started in April 2003. Scions of Populusxeuramericana clone I-214, were grown outdoor near Pisa (Italy), in lisimeters filled with soil naturally present in the land around the experimental site, were daily drip irrigated, hand weeded, monthly fertilized, pruned for a unique shoot and cultivated with four increasing treatments: soil non-amended, soil amended with 4.8 kgm(-2), with 9.6 kgm(-2) and with 19.2 kgm(-2) of fresh tannery waste. The climatic parameters were daily recorded throughout the whole experiment. Growth relieves were performed during the growing season. After six months since the plantation of the scions, aerial portions of every plant were harvested for biomass and metal content analyses. Data demonstrated that the waste exerted beneficial effects on poplars mainly through a general increase of growth traits and that the nutrients relocation is the mechanisms involved in modulating growth rate. The concentration and the amount of the mineral elements analysed (N, P, K, Na, Ca, Mg, S, B, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Cr) changed determinately among treatments, organs and position. We concluded that phytoremediation strategies of tannery wastes might be possible and sustainable for polar plantations in soil amended with non-hazardous levels of industrial waste, which maintain total heavy metals concentration close to background values.     

COVID-19 pandemic: impacts on bees,beekeeping, and potential role of bee products as antiviral agents and immune enhancers

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - COVID-19 pandemic has passed to the front all the contradictions of the beekeeping sector: the valuable role of bee products as immune enhancers and...