Occurrence of PAH in the seasonal snowpack of the Eastern Italian Alps

PAH concentrations have been determined in 47 seasonal snowpack samples collected in the Valbelluna valley and in the Bellunesi Dolomites National Park, in the Italian North-Eastern Alps, during the winter of 2005. The ΣPAH concentration in high-altitude alpine sites (above 1700 m) was 32 ± 20 ng/kg while in valley bottom urban areas it was 165 ± 54 ng/kg with maximum values of 290 ng/kg. The GIS mapping technique was employed to produce a PAH spatial distribution. The urbanized Valbelluna valley, and in particular the SW part, had the highest accumulation of all PAH, with values an order of magnitude more than those in rural and alpine areas. This behaviour is consistent with urban air quality data, and is due to geo-morphological and meteorological factors such as the deeper shape of the valley at the position of the town of Feltre and the low altitude of the boundary layer during the winter season.     

A multi-approach monitoring of particulate matter, metals and PAHs in an urban street canyon

For the first time until now, the results from a prediction model (Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling System (ADMS)-Road) of pollutant dispersion in a street canyon were compared to the results obtained from biomonitors. In particular, the instrumental monitoring of particulate matter (PM10) and the biomonitoring of 14 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 11 metals by Quercus ilex leaves and Hypnum cupressiforme moss bags, acting as long- and short-term accumulators, respectively, were carried out. For both PAHs and metals, similar bioaccumulation trends were observed, with higher concentrations in biomonitors exposed at the leeward canyon side, affected by primary air vortex. The major pollutant accumulation at the leeward side was also predicted by the ADMS-Road model, on the basis of the prevailing wind direction that determines different exposure of the street canyon sides to pollutants emitted by vehicular traffic. A clear vertical (3, 6 and 9 m) distribution gradient of pollutants was not observed, so that both the model and biomonitoring results suggested that local air turbulences in the street canyon could contribute to uniform pollutant distribution at different heights.     

Evaluation of geomorphic changes and retreat rates of a coastal pyroclastic cliff in the Campi Flegrei volcanic district,southern Italy

Geomorphic evolution of sea cliffs has significant impact on coastal settlements worldwide, so that evaluation of cliff instability processes, failure factors, and retreat rates involves a growing number of scientists for coastal risk and management purposes. Aerial photogrammetry and lidar are among the most used techniques for topographic characterization and geomorphic monitoring of coastal environments. A crucial role in the combined use of such techniques is the evaluation of different spatial accuracy and co-registration between derived terrain models, so that a robust error analysis is required. In this study, we present a change detection analysis of the Torrefumo coastal cliff, in the Campi Flegrei volcanic area (Southern Italy). Aerial images taken in 1956 and 1974, processed through digital photogrammetry, and an airborne lidar point cloud acquired in 2008 were used to produce Digital Elevation Models of the cliff. The analysis was based on the multi-temporal comparison of these models and included the calculation of volumetric changes and average retreat rates of the cliff face with reference to the 1956–1974 and 1974–2008 time intervals. The spatially variable elevation uncertainty of each Digital Elevation Model was evaluated with a probabilistic approach based on the fuzzy set theory. The results of this study showed significant eroded volumes during the period 1956–1974 and relatively smaller volumes in the 1974–2008 time span, with mean annual retreat rates of 1.2 m/year and 0.17 m/year, respectively. We infer that the significant decrease of erosion characterizing the second period was induced by the sheltering effect at the base of the cliff produced by the construction of a seawall in the early 80’s.     

Monitoring of water quality inflow and outflow of a farm in Italian Padana plain for rice cultivation: a case study of two years

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Rice cultivation requires a large use of pesticides and nutrients to control weed proliferation and improve production. The water quality of four...     

A “measurable” definition of sustainable development based on closed cycles of resources and its application to energy systems

Human society consumes resources that it is not able to reproduce. Human activities are still based on “open cycles,” starting from a condition of natural environmental balance and reaching an environmental imbalance. The challenging scope of scientific and technological research towards sustainability appears clear if it is based on this analysis: to find development systems based on “closed cycles” of resources. The challenging objective of realizing closed cycles leads to a definition of sustainability that indicates the path to sustainable development, as well as stating the general principle. It also provides a key to the qualitative measurement of sustainability. This means that the sustainability level of a system can be measured by measuring its capacity to avoid the consumption of resources. Zero consumption is a necessary condition for sustainability, and brings about as a side effect the highly desired “zero-waste” result. Materials entering the proposed endless scheme pass through the process of usefulness without losing their capacity to feed the system again after being used. Thus, the concept of “consumption” itself is replaced by one of “use” when resources are inserted into closed loops capable of feeding human development. The application of the closed cycle sustainability criterion particularly displays its feasibility, and a theoretical guiding role, in the energy sector. Energy vectors such as hydrogen and electricity enable the closure of the energy resources loop by effectively approaching the objective of “zero consumption” (and the side result of “zero waste”) through already demonstrated technological solutions.     

Double Green Process: a low environmental impact method for recycling of CdTe,a-Si and CIS/CIGS thin-film photovoltaic modules

On the basis of the method for managing the end of life of CdTe photovoltaic panels previously proposed by the authors, a new method for the recycling of all types of thin-film panels (CdTe, a-Si and CIS/CIGS) has been developed and optimised under a research project founded by Enel Foundation and CRUI Foundation. The DGP process has been developed through a feasibility study carried out from three points of view: technical, environmental and economic. The process is composed by two sub-processes matched to each other, one suitable for CdTe panels (named DGPa) and the other one for a-Si and CIS/CIGS panels (DGPb). The Double Green Panel process is based mainly on mechanical treatments with a minimum use of chemicals and it is characterised by a greater level of automation and a high flexibility in production capacity. The potential environmental impacts of various configurations of the DGP process have been extensively analysed with LCA tool in order to develop an environmentally friendly process. The economic feasibility has been assessed through the Discounted Cash Flow Analysis (DCFA) method. The revenues associated to the recovery of valuable and common materials and the recycling costs have been taken into account.     

A new photoproduct of the drug furosemide in aqueous media

The solar phototransformation of furosemide has been investigated in aqueous media. Irradiation of the drug in distilled water, in water and humic acids or nitrate ions, and in sewage sludge water affords a new dehalogenated dimer. The formation of the dimer has been explained by the formation of a cation radical intermediate. The low-measured environmental concentration of furosemide with respect to predicted environmental concentration in the Po and Lambro Rivers could be justified by its phototransformation.