Pub Date : 2014-12-12DOI: 10.6092/ISSN.2281-4485/4554
A. Gallo, Massimo Spiandorello, C. Bini
Since almost ten years, the Soil Science Research Group in Venice is carrying out studies on the characterization of soils in the Veneto region and their suitability for specific uses. Several areas have been investigated with the aim to select the best land use for a sustainable environment. The scenarios taken into consideration range from the Alpine and pre – Alpine region to the alluvial plain. Attention has been focused especially to land suitability for forestry, typical and niche crops, pasture and vineyard. The land evaluation procedure has been applied by a GIS – based methodology. Today, the GIS techniques are essential for the success of a correct and fast work, concerning the interpretation and processing of soil data and its display in form of map. Integrating information with crop and soil requirements, by means of "matching tables", it was possible to edit and manage land suitability maps for specific purposes. The applied methodology proved a useful and effective tool for sustainable land management.
{"title":"A GIS – BASED METHODOLOGY FOR LAND SUITABILITY EVALUATION IN VENETO (NE ITALY)","authors":"A. Gallo, Massimo Spiandorello, C. Bini","doi":"10.6092/ISSN.2281-4485/4554","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.6092/ISSN.2281-4485/4554","url":null,"abstract":"Since almost ten years, the Soil Science Research Group in Venice is carrying out studies on the characterization of soils in the Veneto region and their suitability for specific uses. Several areas have been investigated with the aim to select the best land use for a sustainable environment. The scenarios taken into consideration range from the Alpine and pre – Alpine region to the alluvial plain. Attention has been focused especially to land suitability for forestry, typical and niche crops, pasture and vineyard. The land evaluation procedure has been applied by a GIS – based methodology. Today, the GIS techniques are essential for the success of a correct and fast work, concerning the interpretation and processing of soil data and its display in form of map. Integrating information with crop and soil requirements, by means of \"matching tables\", it was possible to edit and manage land suitability maps for specific purposes. The applied methodology proved a useful and effective tool for sustainable land management.","PeriodicalId":42340,"journal":{"name":"EQA-International Journal of Environmental Quality","volume":"24 1","pages":"1-7"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2014-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71265231","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2014-12-12DOI: 10.6092/ISSN.2281-4485/4555
J. Makovníková, R. Kanianska, M. Kizeková
The objective of this paper was to investigate the effects of simulated acid load on the fate of inorganic pollutants (Cd, Pb), soil sorption potential, soil filtration func-tion. We made use of a short-term acidification pot experiment with grown plant of spring barley cultivated at 4 different soil types (Fluvisol, Cambisol, Stagnosol, Podzol). The potential of soil filtration was evaluated according to the Eq.: [Soil filtration function]=[Potential of soil sorbents]+[Potential of total content of inor-ganic pollutants]. Potential of soil sorbents (PSS) is defined by qualitative (pH, or-ganic matter quality - A400/600) and quantitative factors (carbon content-Cox, humus layer thickness-H) according to the Eq.:[PSS]=F(pH)+F(A465/665)+F(Cox)*F(H). Acid load significantly influenced soil sorption potential and thus affected increase in Cd and Pb mobility what was reflected in their transfer into the plants. Results of soil filtration function showed significant change of filtration function in Cambisol.
{"title":"IMPACT OF ACIDIFICATION ON POLLUTANTS FATE AND SOIL FILTRATION FUNCTION","authors":"J. Makovníková, R. Kanianska, M. Kizeková","doi":"10.6092/ISSN.2281-4485/4555","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.6092/ISSN.2281-4485/4555","url":null,"abstract":"The objective of this paper was to investigate the effects of simulated acid load on the fate of inorganic pollutants (Cd, Pb), soil sorption potential, soil filtration func-tion. We made use of a short-term acidification pot experiment with grown plant of spring barley cultivated at 4 different soil types (Fluvisol, Cambisol, Stagnosol, Podzol). The potential of soil filtration was evaluated according to the Eq.: [Soil filtration function]=[Potential of soil sorbents]+[Potential of total content of inor-ganic pollutants]. Potential of soil sorbents (PSS) is defined by qualitative (pH, or-ganic matter quality - A400/600) and quantitative factors (carbon content-Cox, humus layer thickness-H) according to the Eq.:[PSS]=F(pH)+F(A465/665)+F(Cox)*F(H). Acid load significantly influenced soil sorption potential and thus affected increase in Cd and Pb mobility what was reflected in their transfer into the plants. Results of soil filtration function showed significant change of filtration function in Cambisol.","PeriodicalId":42340,"journal":{"name":"EQA-International Journal of Environmental Quality","volume":"16 1","pages":"9-20"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2014-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71265247","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2014-12-12DOI: 10.6092/ISSN.2281-4485/4550
M. Wahsha, C. Bini, Mandana Nadimi-Goki
Soil contamination may influence negatively soil health, which often limits and sometimes disqualifies soil biodiversity and decreases plant growth. Soil health is the continued capacity of the soil to function as a vital living system, providing essential ecosystem services. Within soils, all bio-geo-chemical processes of the different ecosystem components are combined. These processes are able to sustain biological productivity of soil, to maintain the quality of surrounding air and water environments, as well as to promote plant, animal, and human health. A common criterion to evaluate long term sustainability of ecosystems is to assess the quality of soil. However, the increased concentration and distribution of toxic substances in soils by mismanagement of industrial activities, overuse of agrochemicals and waste disposal are causing worldwide concern. A major environmental concern in the Mediterranean countries is the production of the large quantities of olive oil mill wastewater (OMW) produced during olive oil extraction process. OMW inhibits several groups of bacteria and fungal species, thus affecting soil stability. In the present study, we investigated the effect of OMW on the soil physical, chemical characteristics and the microarthropods structure. All soil samples were collected from an olive mill garden in Northwest Jordan. Biological soil quality index (QBS-ar) values appeared to decrease with respect to soil pollution by OMW. All investigated parameters were significantly different depending on the levels of OMW contamination in soil. Anthropogenic activities influenced the microarthropod community, altering both quantity and quality of soil chemical and physical structure of the microhabitats. Preliminary data obtained in this study suggest that the application of QBS-ar index could be a useful tool for evaluating surface soils health status.
{"title":"THE IMPACT OF OLIVE MILL WASTEWATER ON THE PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF SOILS IN NORTHWEST JORDAN.","authors":"M. Wahsha, C. Bini, Mandana Nadimi-Goki","doi":"10.6092/ISSN.2281-4485/4550","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.6092/ISSN.2281-4485/4550","url":null,"abstract":"Soil contamination may influence negatively soil health, which often limits and sometimes disqualifies soil biodiversity and decreases plant growth. Soil health is the continued capacity of the soil to function as a vital living system, providing essential ecosystem services. Within soils, all bio-geo-chemical processes of the different ecosystem components are combined. These processes are able to sustain biological productivity of soil, to maintain the quality of surrounding air and water environments, as well as to promote plant, animal, and human health. A common criterion to evaluate long term sustainability of ecosystems is to assess the quality of soil. However, the increased concentration and distribution of toxic substances in soils by mismanagement of industrial activities, overuse of agrochemicals and waste disposal are causing worldwide concern. A major environmental concern in the Mediterranean countries is the production of the large quantities of olive oil mill wastewater (OMW) produced during olive oil extraction process. OMW inhibits several groups of bacteria and fungal species, thus affecting soil stability. In the present study, we investigated the effect of OMW on the soil physical, chemical characteristics and the microarthropods structure. All soil samples were collected from an olive mill garden in Northwest Jordan. Biological soil quality index (QBS-ar) values appeared to decrease with respect to soil pollution by OMW. All investigated parameters were significantly different depending on the levels of OMW contamination in soil. Anthropogenic activities influenced the microarthropod community, altering both quantity and quality of soil chemical and physical structure of the microhabitats. Preliminary data obtained in this study suggest that the application of QBS-ar index could be a useful tool for evaluating surface soils health status.","PeriodicalId":42340,"journal":{"name":"EQA-International Journal of Environmental Quality","volume":"15 1","pages":"25-31"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2014-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71265181","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2014-12-01DOI: 10.6092/ISSN.2281-4485/4543
A. Gallo, C. Bini
Land development is the result of the economic and social organization of a community, and is connected to the adaption of resident population to changing environment. The assessment of land use changes can help controlling and understanding these transformations. This study illustrates the land use modifications of the Muson river basin (Treviso province, Northern Italy), occurred in the last twenty years, and that contribute to conditioning the river hydrodynamics, in relation to climate change
{"title":"SHORT - TERM LAND USE CHANGES AND HYDRODYNAMICS IN THE MUSON RIVER WATERSHED (TV) IN RELATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE","authors":"A. Gallo, C. Bini","doi":"10.6092/ISSN.2281-4485/4543","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.6092/ISSN.2281-4485/4543","url":null,"abstract":"Land development is the result of the economic and social organization of a community, and is connected to the adaption of resident population to changing environment. The assessment of land use changes can help controlling and understanding these transformations. This study illustrates the land use modifications of the Muson river basin (Treviso province, Northern Italy), occurred in the last twenty years, and that contribute to conditioning the river hydrodynamics, in relation to climate change","PeriodicalId":42340,"journal":{"name":"EQA-International Journal of Environmental Quality","volume":"14 1","pages":"11-18"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2014-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71265042","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2014-11-27DOI: 10.6092/ISSN.2281-4485/4527
S. Némethy, G. Molnár
Lake management is extremely complex and requires a coordinated effort of research institutions, community groups, individuals, landowners, and government. Lakes constitute an important group of natural resources due to their ecosystem services and often unique cultural environments. Climate change is a growing concern, which particularly strongly affects shallow lakes. The adverse impact of climate change is enhanced by extreme water level fluctuations and human factors such as environmental pollution from waste water discharge, large scale agriculture and shoreline constructions reducing or eliminating valuable wetlands. Since eutrophication is a leading cause of impairment of freshwater ecosystems, specific strategies to address a lake's nutrient enrichment must focus on activities in the watershed and, if needed, in-lake restoration techniques. Analyzing the key factors of sustainable local and regional development in the vicinity of lakes, assessing the environmental risks of pollution, large scale agriculture, waste management and energy production, we propose a complex, stakeholder based management system and holistic regional development in lake areas, which will preserve natural ecosystems without compromising the sustainable use of ecosystem services. There are available technologies to develop ecologically acceptable water level regulations, promote organic agriculture applying grey water irrigation, stop leachate from landfills and control invasive species. Regional and local production and use of renewable energy is essential both for environmental and economical sustainability. Renewable energy production should be well coordinated with agriculture, forestry, waste management and management of water resources of lakes and their watershed areas in a sustainable, holistic way through a participatory approach. This is particularly pronounced in connection with tourism as one of the main uses of lake-ecosystem services, but also an environmental risk for natural ecosystems when mass tourism and short-sighted profit are the driving forces.
{"title":"SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF LAKES IN CONNECTION WITH MITIGATION OF ADVERSE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, AGRICULTURE AND DEVELOPMENT OF GREEN MICRO REGIONS BASED ON RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCTION","authors":"S. Némethy, G. Molnár","doi":"10.6092/ISSN.2281-4485/4527","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.6092/ISSN.2281-4485/4527","url":null,"abstract":"Lake management is extremely complex and requires a coordinated effort of research institutions, community groups, individuals, landowners, and government. Lakes constitute an important group of natural resources due to their ecosystem services and often unique cultural environments. Climate change is a growing concern, which particularly strongly affects shallow lakes. The adverse impact of climate change is enhanced by extreme water level fluctuations and human factors such as environmental pollution from waste water discharge, large scale agriculture and shoreline constructions reducing or eliminating valuable wetlands. Since eutrophication is a leading cause of impairment of freshwater ecosystems, specific strategies to address a lake's nutrient enrichment must focus on activities in the watershed and, if needed, in-lake restoration techniques. Analyzing the key factors of sustainable local and regional development in the vicinity of lakes, assessing the environmental risks of pollution, large scale agriculture, waste management and energy production, we propose a complex, stakeholder based management system and holistic regional development in lake areas, which will preserve natural ecosystems without compromising the sustainable use of ecosystem services. There are available technologies to develop ecologically acceptable water level regulations, promote organic agriculture applying grey water irrigation, stop leachate from landfills and control invasive species. Regional and local production and use of renewable energy is essential both for environmental and economical sustainability. Renewable energy production should be well coordinated with agriculture, forestry, waste management and management of water resources of lakes and their watershed areas in a sustainable, holistic way through a participatory approach. This is particularly pronounced in connection with tourism as one of the main uses of lake-ecosystem services, but also an environmental risk for natural ecosystems when mass tourism and short-sighted profit are the driving forces.","PeriodicalId":42340,"journal":{"name":"EQA-International Journal of Environmental Quality","volume":"13 1","pages":"21-35"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2014-11-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71265441","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2014-05-01DOI: 10.6092/ISSN.2281-4485/4547
C. Bini, L. Maleci
Serpentine soils have relatively high concentrations of PTEs (Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni) but generally low amounts of major nutrients. They often bear a distinctive vegetation, and a frequently-used approach to understanding serpentine ecology and related environmental hazard has been the chemical analysis of soils and plants. In this paper we report past and current studies on serpentine soils and serpentinophytes. The serpentine vegetation differs from the conterminous non-serpentine areas, being often endemic, and showing macroscopic physionomical characters. Similarly, at microscopic level cytomorphological characteristics of the roots and variations in biochemical parameters were recorded in serpentinophytes. Light microscopy observations showed depressed mitotic activity in the meristematic zone, and consequent reduced root growth. The different tolerance mechanisms responsible for plant adaption to high concentrations of PTEs in serpentine soils can be related to the capacity of plants to limit metal uptake and translocation. The majority of serpentinophytes tend to limit metal absorption to roots: the cell wall constitutes a barrier against metal penetration inside plant tissues. Only a few species are able to accumulate metals in their aerial parts, acting a tolerance mechanism to very high metal concentrations. Serpentinophytes, therefore, could represent proxies for plants used in remediation of metal-contaminated soils and in phytomining as well.
{"title":"THE “SERPENTINE SYNDROME” (H. JENNY, 1980): A PROXY FOR SOIL REMEDIATION","authors":"C. Bini, L. Maleci","doi":"10.6092/ISSN.2281-4485/4547","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.6092/ISSN.2281-4485/4547","url":null,"abstract":"Serpentine soils have relatively high concentrations of PTEs (Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni) but generally low amounts of major nutrients. They often bear a distinctive vegetation, and a frequently-used approach to understanding serpentine ecology and related environmental hazard has been the chemical analysis of soils and plants. In this paper we report past and current studies on serpentine soils and serpentinophytes. The serpentine vegetation differs from the conterminous non-serpentine areas, being often endemic, and showing macroscopic physionomical characters. Similarly, at microscopic level cytomorphological characteristics of the roots and variations in biochemical parameters were recorded in serpentinophytes. Light microscopy observations showed depressed mitotic activity in the meristematic zone, and consequent reduced root growth. The different tolerance mechanisms responsible for plant adaption to high concentrations of PTEs in serpentine soils can be related to the capacity of plants to limit metal uptake and translocation. The majority of serpentinophytes tend to limit metal absorption to roots: the cell wall constitutes a barrier against metal penetration inside plant tissues. Only a few species are able to accumulate metals in their aerial parts, acting a tolerance mechanism to very high metal concentrations. Serpentinophytes, therefore, could represent proxies for plants used in remediation of metal-contaminated soils and in phytomining as well.","PeriodicalId":42340,"journal":{"name":"EQA-International Journal of Environmental Quality","volume":"15 1","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2014-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71265112","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2013-12-08DOI: 10.6092/ISSN.2281-4485/4085
R. Francaviglia, C. Baffi, A. Nassisi, C. Cassinari, R. Farina
We evaluated the efficiency of the RothC model to simulate Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) dynamics after 12 years of organic and mineral fertilization practices in a study area located in northern Italy, on a silty-loam Inceptisol with a rotation including tomato, maize and alfalfa. The model performance was assessed by RMSE and EF coefficients. RothC simulated well observed SOC decreases in 71 samples (RMSE=7.42; EF=0.79), while performed with less accuracy when considering all samples (96 samples; RMSE=12.37; EF=0.58), due to the fact that the model failed in case of measured SOC increases (25 samples; RMSE=20.77; EF=-0.038). The model was used to forecast the SOC dynamics over a 50 year period under the same pedoclimatic conditions. Only clay contents >15% allowed to predict increasing levels of SOC respect to the starting values.
{"title":"USE OF THE “ROTHC” MODEL TO SIMULATE SOIL ORGANIC CARBON DYNAMICS ON A SILTY-LOAM INCEPTISOL IN NORTHERN ITALY UNDER DIFFERENT FERTILIZATION PRACTICES","authors":"R. Francaviglia, C. Baffi, A. Nassisi, C. Cassinari, R. Farina","doi":"10.6092/ISSN.2281-4485/4085","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.6092/ISSN.2281-4485/4085","url":null,"abstract":"We evaluated the efficiency of the RothC model to simulate Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) dynamics after 12 years of organic and mineral fertilization practices in a study area located in northern Italy, on a silty-loam Inceptisol with a rotation including tomato, maize and alfalfa. The model performance was assessed by RMSE and EF coefficients. RothC simulated well observed SOC decreases in 71 samples (RMSE=7.42; EF=0.79), while performed with less accuracy when considering all samples (96 samples; RMSE=12.37; EF=0.58), due to the fact that the model failed in case of measured SOC increases (25 samples; RMSE=20.77; EF=-0.038). The model was used to forecast the SOC dynamics over a 50 year period under the same pedoclimatic conditions. Only clay contents >15% allowed to predict increasing levels of SOC respect to the starting values.","PeriodicalId":42340,"journal":{"name":"EQA-International Journal of Environmental Quality","volume":"11 1","pages":"17-28"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2013-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71264781","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2013-12-08DOI: 10.6092/ISSN.2281-4485/4173
Valentina Rastelli, A. Benedetti, L. Canfora, Valeria Giovannelli, G. Staiano, Paola Vinesi, M. Lener
The fast development of agro-biotechnologies asks for a harmonized approach in risk analysis of GMOs releases. An Italian experts group has elaborated an operating model for the environmental risk assessment (OMERA) based on the assumption that the occurring of a risk is related to the presence of four components: source, diffusion factors, dispersal routes, receptors. This model has been further developed to become a Decision Supporting System based on Fuzzy logic (FDSS) to assessors and notifiers. It is a web based Questionnaire that conducts the user through a decision tree from the source to the receptors and leads to the identification and assessment of the risks. The FDSS has been tested on case studies, simulating, as source, herbicide tolerant oilseed rape and insect resistant maize. The resulting identified potential effects on soil are changes to structure and microbial diversity.
{"title":"AN OPERATING MODEL FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL RISK ASSESSMENT APPLIED TO ITALIAN SITES OF COMMUNITY IMPORTANCE: IDENTIFICATION OF POTENTIAL EFFECTS ON SOIL","authors":"Valentina Rastelli, A. Benedetti, L. Canfora, Valeria Giovannelli, G. Staiano, Paola Vinesi, M. Lener","doi":"10.6092/ISSN.2281-4485/4173","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.6092/ISSN.2281-4485/4173","url":null,"abstract":"The fast development of agro-biotechnologies asks for a harmonized approach in risk analysis of GMOs releases. An Italian experts group has elaborated an operating model for the environmental risk assessment (OMERA) based on the assumption that the occurring of a risk is related to the presence of four components: source, diffusion factors, dispersal routes, receptors. This model has been further developed to become a Decision Supporting System based on Fuzzy logic (FDSS) to assessors and notifiers. It is a web based Questionnaire that conducts the user through a decision tree from the source to the receptors and leads to the identification and assessment of the risks. The FDSS has been tested on case studies, simulating, as source, herbicide tolerant oilseed rape and insect resistant maize. The resulting identified potential effects on soil are changes to structure and microbial diversity.","PeriodicalId":42340,"journal":{"name":"EQA-International Journal of Environmental Quality","volume":"11 1","pages":"39-48"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2013-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71265428","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2013-12-08DOI: 10.6092/ISSN.2281-4485/4086
S. Priori, Nadia Bianconi, M. Fantappiè, S. Pellegrini, Giuseppe Ferrigno, F. Guaitoli, E. Costantini
Gamma-ray spectroscopy surveys the intensity and distribution of γ-rays emitted from radionuclides of soils and bedrocks. The most important radionuclides of soils and rocks are: 40 K, 232 Th, 238 U and 137 Cs, the latter due to Chernobyl explosion or radioactive pollution. Distribution and quantity of these radionuclides in the soil are strictly linked to parent material mineralogy and soil cation exchange capacity. The aim of this work was to show the potential results of γ-ray proximal survey spectroscopy within experimental fields of clayey soils in western Sicily. The γ-ray spectrometer used for the fieldwork was “The Mole”, made by “The Soil Company”, “Medusa system” and the University of Groningen, Netherlands. During the survey of eight experimental fields, 55 soil samples were collected for laboratory analysis of particle size distribution, calcium carbonate, organic carbon and total nitrogen content. The results of the work show the statistical correlations between soil features and γ-ray data.
{"title":"THE POTENTIAL OF γ-RAY SPECTROSCOPY FOR SOIL PROXIMAL SURVEY IN CLAYEY SOILS LE POTENTIEL DE LA SPECTROSCOPIE A RAYONS-γ LORS DE L'ECHANTILLONNAGE PEDOLOGIQUE DE SOLS ARGILEUX LE POTENZIALITÀ DELLA SPETTROSCOPIA DI RAGGI-γ NEL RILEVAMENTO PEDOLOGICO DI SUOLI ARGILLOSI","authors":"S. Priori, Nadia Bianconi, M. Fantappiè, S. Pellegrini, Giuseppe Ferrigno, F. Guaitoli, E. Costantini","doi":"10.6092/ISSN.2281-4485/4086","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.6092/ISSN.2281-4485/4086","url":null,"abstract":"Gamma-ray spectroscopy surveys the intensity and distribution of γ-rays emitted from radionuclides of soils and bedrocks. The most important radionuclides of soils and rocks are: 40 K, 232 Th, 238 U and 137 Cs, the latter due to Chernobyl explosion or radioactive pollution. Distribution and quantity of these radionuclides in the soil are strictly linked to parent material mineralogy and soil cation exchange capacity. The aim of this work was to show the potential results of γ-ray proximal survey spectroscopy within experimental fields of clayey soils in western Sicily. The γ-ray spectrometer used for the fieldwork was “The Mole”, made by “The Soil Company”, “Medusa system” and the University of Groningen, Netherlands. During the survey of eight experimental fields, 55 soil samples were collected for laboratory analysis of particle size distribution, calcium carbonate, organic carbon and total nitrogen content. The results of the work show the statistical correlations between soil features and γ-ray data.","PeriodicalId":42340,"journal":{"name":"EQA-International Journal of Environmental Quality","volume":"11 1","pages":"29-38"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2013-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71265032","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2013-09-25DOI: 10.6092/ISSN.2281-4485/3930
C. Bini, S. Fontana, Massimo Spiandorello
Soil is the basis of the ecosystems and of our system of food production. Crops can uptake heavy metals and potentially toxic elements from the soil and store them in the roots or translocate them to the aerial parts. Excessive content of these elements in edible parts can produce toxic effects and, through the food chain and food consumption, result in a potential hazard for human health. In this study soils and plants (spring wheat, Triticum aestivum L. and maize, Zea mays L.) from a tannery district in North-East Italy were analyzed to determine the content of some major and micro-nutrients and potentially toxic elements (Al, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Ni, P, Pb, S, Zn, V). The soils of the area are moderately polluted; Cr is the most important inorganic contaminant, followed by Ni, Cu and V. Factor analysis evidenced that the contaminants are in part anthropogenic and in part geogenic. Major anthropogenic origin was detected for Cr, Ni (from industrial activities), Zn, Cu, Cd (from agriculture practices). Biological Absorption Coefficient (BAC) from soil to plant roots and Translocation factor (TF) within the plant were calculated; major nutrients (K, P, S) and some micronutrients (Cu, Zn, Mg, Mn) are easily absorbed and translocated, whilst other nutrients (Ca, Fe) and potentially toxic elements or micronutrients (Al, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, V) are not accumulated in the seeds of the two considered plants. However, the two edible species proved differently able to absorb and translocate elements, and this suggests to consider separately every species as potential PHEs transporter to the food chain and to humans. Cr concentrations in seeds and other aerial parts (stem and leaves) of the examined plants are higher than the values found for the same species and for other cereals grown on unpolluted soils. Comparing the Cr levels in edible parts with recommended dietary intake, besides other possible Cr sources (dust ingestion, water), there seems to be no health risk for animal breeding and population due to the consumption of wheat and maize grown in the area.
{"title":"TOWARDS FOOD SAFETY. POTENTIALLY HARMFUL ELEMENTS (PHEs) FLUXES FROM SOIL TO FOOD CROPS","authors":"C. Bini, S. Fontana, Massimo Spiandorello","doi":"10.6092/ISSN.2281-4485/3930","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.6092/ISSN.2281-4485/3930","url":null,"abstract":"Soil is the basis of the ecosystems and of our system of food production. Crops can uptake heavy metals and potentially toxic elements from the soil and store them in the roots or translocate them to the aerial parts. Excessive content of these elements in edible parts can produce toxic effects and, through the food chain and food consumption, result in a potential hazard for human health. In this study soils and plants (spring wheat, Triticum aestivum L. and maize, Zea mays L.) from a tannery district in North-East Italy were analyzed to determine the content of some major and micro-nutrients and potentially toxic elements (Al, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Ni, P, Pb, S, Zn, V). The soils of the area are moderately polluted; Cr is the most important inorganic contaminant, followed by Ni, Cu and V. Factor analysis evidenced that the contaminants are in part anthropogenic and in part geogenic. Major anthropogenic origin was detected for Cr, Ni (from industrial activities), Zn, Cu, Cd (from agriculture practices). Biological Absorption Coefficient (BAC) from soil to plant roots and Translocation factor (TF) within the plant were calculated; major nutrients (K, P, S) and some micronutrients (Cu, Zn, Mg, Mn) are easily absorbed and translocated, whilst other nutrients (Ca, Fe) and potentially toxic elements or micronutrients (Al, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, V) are not accumulated in the seeds of the two considered plants. However, the two edible species proved differently able to absorb and translocate elements, and this suggests to consider separately every species as potential PHEs transporter to the food chain and to humans. Cr concentrations in seeds and other aerial parts (stem and leaves) of the examined plants are higher than the values found for the same species and for other cereals grown on unpolluted soils. Comparing the Cr levels in edible parts with recommended dietary intake, besides other possible Cr sources (dust ingestion, water), there seems to be no health risk for animal breeding and population due to the consumption of wheat and maize grown in the area.","PeriodicalId":42340,"journal":{"name":"EQA-International Journal of Environmental Quality","volume":"10 1","pages":"23-36"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2013-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71264760","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}