Attitudes of rural population in emergency exposure situations

People growing crops in kitchen gardens eat locally self-produced food and are the subject of growing attention as the potential for a more sustainable development. A survey was carried out in two provinces in northern Italy to gather information on the consumption of local horticultural products, peoples’ expectations of authorities in the case of a nuclear accident and peoples’ behaviour in the absence of official information. Results show that up to 70% of the owners of kitchen gardens possess diets comprised of more than 60% of self-produced vegetables and can be regarded as particular groups of population. In the case of a dispersion of radioactive material, the local population would take advantage of official information on preventive measures to protect farms and local crops from contamination. Results of the survey show differences in the attitude of the population due to age, gender and past experience.     

Spatial analysis of plant detritus processing in a Mediterranean river type: the case of the River Tirso Basin,Sardinia, Italy

The river continuum concept represents the most general framework addressing the spatial variation of both structure and function in river ecosystems.In the Mediterranean ecoregion,summer drought events and dams constitute the main sources of local disturbance to the structure and functioning of river ecosystems occurring in the river basin.In this study,we analysed patterns of spatial variation of detritus processing in a 7th order river of the Mediterranean ecoregion(River Tirso,Sardinia0Italy)and in three 4th order sub-basins which were exposed to different summer drought pressures.The study was carried out on phragmites australis and Alnus glutionsa leaf detritus at 31 field sites in seasonal field experiment Detritus processing rates were higher for Alnus glutionsa than for Phragmites australis plant detritus.Processing rates of Alnus glutionsa leaves varied among seasons and study sites from 0.006d^-1 to 0.189d^-1 and those of Phragmites australis leaves ranged from 0.0008d^-1 to 0.102d^-1,with the lowest values occurring at sites exposed to summer drought.Seasons and sites accounted for a significant proportion of such variability.Alder detritus decay rates generally decreased with increasing stream order,while reed detritus decay rates generallyincreased on the same spatial gradient.Summer drought events affected these spatial patterns of variation by influencing significantly the decay rates of both plant detritus.The comparisons among and within sub-basins showed strong negative influence of summer drought on detritus processing rates.Similarly,in the entire River Tirso basin decay rates were always lower at disturbed than at undisturbed sites for each stream order;decay rates of reed detritus remained lower at those sites even after the end of the disturbance events,while alder decay rates recovered rapidly from the summer drought perturbations.The different recovery of the processing rates of the two leaves could also explain the different patterns of spatial variation observed between the two leaves.     

Comparison of different analytical procedures in the determination of trace elements in lichens

A BCR standard reference material of lichen (CRM 482) was used to validate an analytical procedure consisting of a microwave oven digestion associated with ICP-OES, ICP-MS and GFAAS techniques for the analysis of trace elements (Al, B, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Ti, V and Zn) in biomonitor samples. Two different acid mixtures were used: (a) 7 ml of HNO3, 1 ml of H2O2; (b) 7 ml of HNO3, 1 ml of H2O2 and 200 microl of HF; all digestions were carried out using 100-250 mg samples brought to a final volume of 50 ml. The validation of the procedure was carried out by two laboratories in terms of accuracy and precision; the former was estimated as percentage recovery by comparing experimental data with certificate values; the latter evaluated according to ISO standard 5725. Real lichen samples were analysed too with the procedures above described. In certified CRM 482 and real lichen samples the procedure with HF showed higher recovery values for Al, Ti, V, Ba and Fe than the procedure without HF. For all the other elements the two procedures gave comparable results both in terms of accuracy and precision. The recovery obtained with HF procedure for all the elements was generally better than 90-103%.     

Radionuclide transfer to fruit in the IAEA TRS 364 Revision

Information on the transfer of radionuclides to fruits was almost absent in the former TRS 364 “Handbook of parameter values for the prediction of radionuclide transfer in temperate environments”. The revision of the Handbook, carried out under the IAEA Programme on Environmental Modelling for RAdiation Safety (EMRAS), takes into account the information generated in the years following the Chernobyl accident and the knowledge produced under the IAEA BIOMASS (Biosphere Modelling and Assessment) Programme in the years 1997–2000. This paper describes the most important processes concerning the behaviour of radionuclides in fruits reported in the IAEA TRS 364 Revision and provides recommendations for research and modelling.     

Transverse limb reduction defects after chorion villus sampling: A retrospective Cohort study

A retrospective cohort study was performed in five Italian obstetrical centres from 1984 to 1991 in order to verify the association between chorionic villus sampling (CVS) and transverse limb reduction defects (TLRDs). TLRD rates by period of gestation at CVS were calculated, and the study's results were compared with data from the general population. Of the 3430 pregnancies for which CVS was performed, 2759 had a known outcome. The overall rate for TLRDs was 1 in 1143 CVS pregnancies, four times higher than that of the general population in Italy (1 in 4458). The rate of TLRDs was 2·9/1000 for CVS performed at 9 weeks' gestation and 1·0/1000 for CVS at 10 weeks' gestation. A scalp defect was detected in a pregnancy in which CVS was performed at 10 weeks. A high proportion of pregnancies lost to follow-up and the poor quality of the data may have affected the results. Nevertheless, our results suggest an association between CVS carried out at less than 10 weeks' gestation and TLRDs which is consistent with the findings of other studies. CVS should not be prepared at less than 10 weeks' gestation until additional evidence is obtained.     

First trimester prenatal diagnosis of Sanfilippo disease (MPSIII) type B

Two pregnancies of a family at risk for Sanfilippo disease type B were monitored in the first trimester. In one case an affected fetus was diagnosed on chorionic villi by the assay of N-acetyl-a-D -glucosaminidase and confirmed on cultured fibroblasts from the aborted fetus. Pathological findings are also reported and compared with changes observed later in life. The disease was excluded in the second pregnancy.     

Détermination des Métaux Lourds dans la Mer Ligurienne. IV;Cd, Cu, Fe et Ni dans le Filtré, dans le Particulate et Paramètres de L'environnement dans les Eaux Côtières Liguriennes

The aim of this study is to estimate the distribution of heavy metals in water and in suspended particulates in relation to the observations made on hydrology, concentrations of oxygen, nutrients and chlorophylls in different coastal areas of the Ligurian Sea.

The superficial water samples were collected during the cruise of the R/V “Bannock” in 25 stations placed at different distances from the coast at Alassio, Savona, Genova, Chiavari and Corniglia (between 0.5 and 6.1 nautical miles from the coast). Furthermore water samples were collected at a depth of 10, 20, 30, 50, 75 and 100m, on offshore stations of every transect.     

Structure of a dense release produced by varying initial conditions

Buoyancy driven flows such as gravity currents, present in nature and human made applications, are conveyors of particles or dissolved substances for long distances with clear implications for the environment. This transport depends on the triggering conditions of the current. Gravity currents are experimentally simulated under varying initial conditions by combining three different initial buoyancies and five volumes of dense fluid released. The horizontal and vertical structures of the gravity currents are analysed and it is shown that the variation on the initial configuration is conditioning for these. Vertical transport through the gravity current is influenced at the bottom by the solid wall over which the current flows, and at the upper interface by the contact with the ambient water. The relative contribution of shear stress at the bottom and at the upper interfaces are estimated and analysed in terms of the initial triggering conditions of the current; these two compete with the buoyancy, the driver of the current, determining mixing and entrainment. By using a proper parametrization, which accounts for both initial volume of release and location of the observation position relative to the lock, a relation between the resistance at the bottom and at the upper interfaces with the initial conditions of release (i.e. the lock-length) has been found; this is found to be independent of the initial density in the lock. The present study shows that the variation of the initial conditions have consequences on (1) the configuration of the currents and on (2) the hydrodynamics of the currents, including mass and momentum exchanges, which are in addition mutually dependent.     

The Role of the Organic Particulate Matter in the Distribution of Trace Metals in Sea Water

Studies on the distribution of heavy metals in water began and developed within the framework of research which has as its main purpose the evaluation of the anthropomorphic impact upon the environment. This outlook has resulted in the investigation being directed towards a definition of the concentrations of the chemical species being examined.