Stefania Gaudino | ISPRA - ROME ITALY (original) (raw)

Papers by Stefania Gaudino

Radiation protection dosimetry, 2001

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has performed a field survey at 11 sites located ... more The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has performed a field survey at 11 sites located in Kosovo, where depleted uranium (DU) ammunitions were used by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) during the last Balkans conflict (1999). Soil sampling was performed to assess the spread of DU ground contamination around and within the NATO target sites and the migration of DU along the soil profile. The 234U/238U and 235U/238U activity concentration ratios have been used as an indicator of natural against anthropogenic sources of uranium. The results show that levels of 238U activity concentrations in soils above 100 Bq x kg(-1) can be considered a 'tracer' of the presence of DU in soils. The results also indicate that detectable ground surface contamination by DU is limited to areas within a few metres from localised points of concentrated contamination caused by penetrator impacts. Vertical distribution of DU along the soil profile is measurable up to a depth of 1...

Science of The Total Environment, 2001

A field study, organised, coordinated and conducted under the responsibility of the United Nation... more A field study, organised, coordinated and conducted under the responsibility of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), took place in Kosovo in November 2000 to evaluate the level of depleted uranium (DU) released into the environment by the use of DU ammunition during the 1999 conflict. Representatives of six different scientific organisations took part in the mission and a total of approximately 350 samples were collected. During this field mission, the Italian National Environmental Protection Agency (ANPA) collected water, soil, lichen and tree bark samples from different sites. The samples were analysed by alpha-spectroscopy and in some cases by inductively coupled plasma-source mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The 234U/238U and 235U/238U activity concentration ratios were used to distinguish natural from anthropogenic uranium. This paper reports the results obtained on these samples. All water samples had very low concentrations of uranium (much below the average concentration of drinking water in Europe). The surface soil samples showed a very large variability in uranium activity concentration, namely from approximately 20 Bq kg(-1) (environmental natural uranium) to approximately 2.3 x 10(5) Bq kg(-1) (approximately 18000 mg kg(-1) of depleted uranium), with concentrations above environmental levels always due to DU. The uranium isotope measurements refer to soil samples collected at places where DU ammunition had been fired; this variability indicates that the impact of DU ammunitions is very site-specific, reflecting both the physical conditions at the time of the impact of the DU ammunition and any physical and chemical alteration which occurred since then. The results on tree barks and lichens indicated the presence of DU in all cases, showing their usefulness as sensitive qualitative bio-indicators for the presence of DU dusts or aerosols formed at the time the DU ammunition had hit a hard target. This result is particularly interesting considering that at some sites, which had been hit by DU ammunition, no DU ground contamination could be detected.

Environmental Pollution, 2007

Effects of high ammonia emissions and nitrogen deposition were investigated on lichens around a p... more Effects of high ammonia emissions and nitrogen deposition were investigated on lichens around a pig stockfarm (ca. 7,000 animals) in central Italy. Four sites were selected along a transect at 200, 400, 1000 and 2500 m from the stockfarm, the diversity of epiphytic lichens was measured and transplanted thalli of Xanthoria parietina and Flavoparmelia caperata exposed, together with passive NH 3 (diffusion tubes) samplers. Ammonia dramatically decreased from the centre of the stockfarm to the sampled sites, where it was correlated with bark pH. Total lichen diversity was not associated with either NH 3 concentrations or bark pH, but the diversity of strictly nitrophytic species was highly correlated with both parameters. Physconia grisea was the best indicator species for NH 3 pollution. Total N accumulated in X. parietina and F. caperata was correlated with NH 3 concentrations.

Environmental Pollution, 2006

The results of a survey aimed at investigating whether NO 2 and NH 3 emitted by road traffic can ... more The results of a survey aimed at investigating whether NO 2 and NH 3 emitted by road traffic can influence lichen diversity, lichen vitality and the accumulation of nitrogen in lichen thalli are reported. For this purpose, distance from a highway in a rural environment of central Italy was regarded as the main parameter to check this hypothesis. The results of the present survey indicated that road traffic is not a relevant source of NH 3. On the other hand, NO 2 concentrations, although rather low, were negatively correlated with distance from the highway according to a typical logarithmic function. No association between NO 2 concentrations and the diversity of epiphytic lichens was found, probably because of the low NO 2 values measured. Also bark properties were not influenced by distance from the highway. Accumulation of nitrogen, reduction in the content of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total carotenoids were found in transplanted thalli of Evernia prunastri, but NO 2 was not responsible for these changes, which were probably caused by applications of N-based fertilizers.

Accreditation and Quality Assurance, 2007

The measurement of trace-element concentration in soil, sediment and waste, is generally a combin... more The measurement of trace-element concentration in soil, sediment and waste, is generally a combination of a digestion procedure for dissolution of elements and a subsequent measurement of the dissolved elements. "Partial" and "total" digestion methods can be used in environmental monitoring activities. To compare measurement results obtained by different methods, it is crucial to determine and to maintain control of the bias of the results obtained by these methods. In this paper, ICP-MS results obtained after matrix digestion with modified aqua regia (HCl + HNO 3 + H 2 O 2) method and two "total" digestion methods (microwave aqua regia + HF and HNO 3 + HF) are compared with those obtained by instrumental neutron activation analysis, a nondestructive analytical method for the determination of the total mass concentrations of inorganic components in environmental matrices. The comparison was carried out on eight agricultural soil samples collected in one test area and measured by k 0-INAA and ICP-MS to determine As, Co, Cr, Sb and Zn mass concentration. The bias of results for As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sb and Zn of the three digestion methods were assessed using selected measurement standards. This

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 2000

The smear samples of the penetrator were analyzed for the determination of the uranium compositio... more The smear samples of the penetrator were analyzed for the determination of the uranium composition. The obtained relative composition (m/m) of uranium isotopes in all the smear samples is in the range of 99.76-99.78% for 238 U, 0.000659-0.000696% for 234 U, 0.213-0.234% for 235 U, and 0.00274-0.00328% for 236 U, showing characteristics of depleted uranium (DU). The uranium concentrations in Kosovo soil and water samples as well as biological samples were investigated. It was found that the uranium concentrations in the Kosovo soil samples are in the range of 11.3-2.26 . 10 5 Bq . kg -1 for 238 U, 10.3-3.01 . 10 4 Bq . kg -1 for 234 U, 0.60-3251 Bq . kg -1 for 235 U, and 0.019-1309 Bq . kg -1 for 236 U. The obtained activity ratios are in the range of 0.112-1.086 for 234 U/ 238 U, 0.0123-0.1144 for 235 U/ 238 U, and 0-0.0078 for 236 U/ 238 U, indicating the presence of DU in about 77% of the surface soil samples. At a specific site, the DU inventory in the surface soil is about 140 mg . cm -2 , which is 1.68 . 10 6 times higher as the estimated mean DU dispersion rate in the region. The uranium concentrations in Kosovo lichen, mushroom, bark, etc., are in the range of 1.97-4.06 . 10 4 Bq . kg -1 for 238 U, 0.48-5158 Bq . kg -1 for 234 U, 0.032-617 Bq . kg -1 for 235 U, and 0.019-235 Bq . kg -1 for 236 U with mean activity ratios of 0.325±0.0223 for 234 U/ 238 U, of 0.0238±0.0122 for 235 U/ 238 U, and 0.0034±0.0028 for 236 U/ 238 U, indicating the presence of DU in the entire sample. On the contrary, the uranium concentrations in Kosovo water samples are low, compared with the water samples collected in central Italy, indicating the presence of negligible amount of DU. The uranium isotopes in Kosovo waters do not constitute a risk of health at the present time.

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, Jul 1, 2011

The results of a survey aimed at testing the hypothesis that the lichen Evernia prunastri, when t... more The results of a survey aimed at testing the hypothesis that the lichen Evernia prunastri, when transplanted in an agricultural area with high atmospheric NH 3 concentrations, would respond to NH 3 air pollution accumulating nitrogen in its thalli and showing changes in the concentration of assimilation pigments are presented. The results confirmed the hypothesis and showed that all lichen transplants accumulated nitrogen, suggesting that besides the release of atmospheric ammonia by animal stockfarms, the use of Nbased fertilizers and the deposition of N-rich dust also may contribute to the high nitrogen availability to lichens in the study area. The result indicated that in the study area both the critical level of NH 3 and the critical load of N for lichens are exceeded and physiological damage is to be expected in sensitive species. The results of assimilation pigments in E. prunastri, with a decrease in the concentration of chlorophylls a and b and carotenoids, as well as chlorophyll degradation to phaeophytin, confirmed this hypothesis. However, owing to the limited data set and pending further studies, these conclusions should be considered as limited to the study area.

Radioactivity in the Environment, 2006

ABSTRACT The concentrations and characteristics of uranium isotopes in drinking waters of Italy a... more ABSTRACT The concentrations and characteristics of uranium isotopes in drinking waters of Italy and the Balkan regions were studied. The obtained mean uranium activity concentrations in drinking waters in Italy are 20.6 ± 29.0 mBq l−1 for 238U, 25.3 ± 35.6 mBq l−1 for 234U and 1.00 ± 1.27 mBq l−1 for 235U. The mean activity ratios are 1.33 ± 0.33 for 234U/238U and 0.047 ± 0.038 for 235U/238U. The activity concentrations of uranium isotopes in waters of the Balkan regions are much lower than those in Italy. Depleted uranium has been detected in some water samples collected in the Balkan regions, but the measured concentrations do not constitute a health risk. The estimated average annual committed effective doses to the public due to water intake were 1.62 μSv yr−1 in Italy, 0.30 μSv yr−1 in Kosovo, 0.42 μSv yr−1 in Serbia and Montenegro, and 0.21 μSv yr−1 in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Periodico di Mineralogia

The Geological Survey of Italy/Land Resources and Soil Protection Dept. of ISPRA is achieving a p... more The Geological Survey of Italy/Land Resources and Soil Protection Dept. of ISPRA is achieving a project which foresees the harmonized realization of different surveys, including hydrogeological activities, as an approach for a possible improvement of the CARG Project (Italian geological mapping), in the test-site of the Antrodoco Sheet territory, located between Lazio and Abruzzo regions (Rieti and L'Aquila province, Central Italy). One of the first targets was the hydrochemical characterization and classification of springs, along with their grouping on the basis of their affiliation to hydrogeochemical facies and the definition of their hydrogeochemical trends, contributing to assess groundwater circulation model in the involved aquifers. In addition, the study allowed us to evidence, by means of different analytical criteria, two aspects of the hydrogeochemical asset of the territory: (i) a regional variability model, which is explicative of the most examined factors; (ii) a ...

Radioprotection, 2002

A new and accurate method for determination of uranium isotopes ( 238 U, 234 U and 235 U) in envi... more A new and accurate method for determination of uranium isotopes ( 238 U, 234 U and 235 U) in environmental samples by alpha spectrometry has been developed. Uranium is preconcentrated from filtered water samples by coprecipitation with iron (III) hydroxide at pH 9-10 using ammonia solution and the precipitate is dissolved with HN0 3 and mineralised with H 2 0 2 and HF; uranium in biological samples is ashed at 600 °C, leached out with Na 2 C0 3 solution and mineralised with HN0 3 , HF and H 2 0 2 ; uranium in soil samples is melted with Na 2 C0 3 and Na 2 0 2 at 600 °C and leached out with HC1, HN0 3 and HF. The mineralised or leaching solution in 2 M HN0 3 is passed through a Microthene-TOPO (trioctyl-phosphine oxide) column; after washing uranium is directly eluted into a cell with ammonium oxalate solution, electrodeposited on a stainless steel disk and measured by alpha spectrometry. The lower limits of detection of the method are 0.37 Bq kg" 1 (soil) and 0.22 mBq l" 1 (water) for 238 U and 234 U and 0.038 Bq kg" 1 (soil) and 0.022 mBq l" 1 (water) for 235 U if 0.5 g of soil and 1 litre of water are analysed. Five reference materials supplied by IAEA have been analysed and reliable results are obtained. The average uranium yields for waters, mosses, lichens and sediments are 74.5+9.0%, 80.5±8.3%, 77.8±4.9% and 89.4±9.7% respectively.

Annali dell'Istituto superiore di sanità, 2008

In recent years, the importance of trace metal mobile fractions rather than total contents in env... more In recent years, the importance of trace metal mobile fractions rather than total contents in environmental matrices is increasing in risk assessment evaluation of contaminated sites. In this study different leaching/extraction tests, aimed at the measurements of mobile fractions of trace metals and standardized at European Committee for Standardization (CEN) for the characterization of waste, have been compared with those adopted by the Italian legislation for soils. All these procedures have been applied on Venice Lagoon sediments, in order to extend the appliance of these methods to sediments and to verify the consistency of the results when different leaching tests are applied on the same sample. The results show that these tests can be applied successfully to sediments and confirm that leaching/extraction methods based on the main parameters controlling the remobilisation of trace metals are useful tools for risk-assessment, because they can allow a "transparent" inte...

During the Balkan conflicts, in 1995 and 1999, depleted uranium (DU) rounds were employed and wer... more During the Balkan conflicts, in 1995 and 1999, depleted uranium (DU) rounds were employed and were left in the battlefield. Health concern is related to the risk arising from contamination of the environment with DU penetrators and dust. In order to evaluate the impact of DU on the environment and population in Serbia and Montenegro, radiological surveys of DU in water, air and biological samples were carried out over the period 27 October-5 November 2001. The uranium isotopic concentrations in biological samples collected in Serbia and Montenegro, mainly lichens and barks, were found to be in the range of 0.67-704 Bq kg À1 for 238 U, 0.48-93.9 Bq kg À1 for 234 U and 0.02-12.2 Bq kg À1 for 235 U, showing uranium levels to be higher than in the samples collected at the control sites. Moreover, 236 U was detectable in some of the samples. The isotopic ratios of 234 U/ 238 U showed DU to be detectable in many biological samples at all examined sites, especially in Montenegro, indicating widespread ground-surface DU contamination, albeit at very low level. The uranium isotopic concentrations in air obtained from the air filter samples collected in Serbia and Montenegro were found to be in the range of 1.99-42.1 mBq m À3 for 238 U, 0.96-38.0 mBq m À3 for 234 U, and 0.05-1.83 mBq m À3 for 235 U, being in the typical range of natural uranium values. Thus said, most of the air samples are DU positive, this fact agreeing well with the widespread DU contamination detected in the biological samples. The uranium concentrations in water samples collected in Serbia and Montenegro were found to be in the range of 0.40-21.9 mBq l À1 for 238 U, 0.27-28.1 mBq l À1 for 234 U, and 0.01-0.88 mBq l À1 for 235 U, these values being much lower than those in mineral water found in central Italy and below the WHO guideline for drinking water. From a radiotoxicological point of view, at this moment there is no significant radiological risk related to these investigated sites in terms of possible DU contamination of water, air and/or plants. r

Science of The Total Environment, 2001

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 2006

Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry, 2004

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) performed field surveys at 15 sites in Bosnia-Her... more The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) performed field surveys at 15 sites in Bosnia-Herzegovina where depleted uranium (DU) ammunition was used by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) during the Balkans conflict (1994)(1995). During the field missions, the Italian Environmental Protection Agency (APAT) evaluated airborne contamination due to DU dusts or aerosol particles, generated at the time of the conflict by the impact of DU ammunition on hard "targets," using lichens and tree barks as biomonitors. Each sample was analyzed by alpha-spectrometry for DU determination. The 234 U/ 238 U activity concentration ratios were used to distinguish natural from anthropogenic uranium. This paper reports the data obtained by the UNEP investigation, including (non-radioactive) metal and other element concentrations in lichen and tree bark samples measured by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). The results indicated: (i) lichens and tree barks are sensitive bio-accumulators of past airborne contamination by depleted uranium dusts; (ii) 8 years after the conflict, environmental DU contamination is still present at some of the target sites; and (iii) the highest concentrations of most non-radioactive elements were found at sites used for ammunition destruction.

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 2011

The results of a survey aimed at testing the hypothesis that the lichen Evernia prunastri, when t... more The results of a survey aimed at testing the hypothesis that the lichen Evernia prunastri, when transplanted in an agricultural area with high atmospheric NH 3 concentrations, would respond to NH 3 air pollution accumulating nitrogen in its thalli and showing changes in the concentration of assimilation pigments are presented. The results confirmed the hypothesis and showed that all lichen transplants accumulated nitrogen, suggesting that besides the release of atmospheric ammonia by animal stockfarms, the use of Nbased fertilizers and the deposition of N-rich dust also may contribute to the high nitrogen availability to lichens in the study area. The result indicated that in the study area both the critical level of NH 3 and the critical load of N for lichens are exceeded and physiological damage is to be expected in sensitive species. The results of assimilation pigments in E. prunastri, with a decrease in the concentration of chlorophylls a and b and carotenoids, as well as chlorophyll degradation to phaeophytin, confirmed this hypothesis. However, owing to the limited data set and pending further studies, these conclusions should be considered as limited to the study area.

… of radioanalytical and …, 2002

A new and accurate method for the determination of uranium isotopes (238 U, 234 U and 235 U) in e... more A new and accurate method for the determination of uranium isotopes (238 U, 234 U and 235 U) in environmental samples by alpha-spectrometry has been developed. Uranium is preconcentrated from filtered water samples by coprecipitation with iron (III) ...

Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 2005

Radiation protection dosimetry, 2001

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has performed a field survey at 11 sites located ... more The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has performed a field survey at 11 sites located in Kosovo, where depleted uranium (DU) ammunitions were used by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) during the last Balkans conflict (1999). Soil sampling was performed to assess the spread of DU ground contamination around and within the NATO target sites and the migration of DU along the soil profile. The 234U/238U and 235U/238U activity concentration ratios have been used as an indicator of natural against anthropogenic sources of uranium. The results show that levels of 238U activity concentrations in soils above 100 Bq x kg(-1) can be considered a 'tracer' of the presence of DU in soils. The results also indicate that detectable ground surface contamination by DU is limited to areas within a few metres from localised points of concentrated contamination caused by penetrator impacts. Vertical distribution of DU along the soil profile is measurable up to a depth of 1...

Science of The Total Environment, 2001

A field study, organised, coordinated and conducted under the responsibility of the United Nation... more A field study, organised, coordinated and conducted under the responsibility of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), took place in Kosovo in November 2000 to evaluate the level of depleted uranium (DU) released into the environment by the use of DU ammunition during the 1999 conflict. Representatives of six different scientific organisations took part in the mission and a total of approximately 350 samples were collected. During this field mission, the Italian National Environmental Protection Agency (ANPA) collected water, soil, lichen and tree bark samples from different sites. The samples were analysed by alpha-spectroscopy and in some cases by inductively coupled plasma-source mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The 234U/238U and 235U/238U activity concentration ratios were used to distinguish natural from anthropogenic uranium. This paper reports the results obtained on these samples. All water samples had very low concentrations of uranium (much below the average concentration of drinking water in Europe). The surface soil samples showed a very large variability in uranium activity concentration, namely from approximately 20 Bq kg(-1) (environmental natural uranium) to approximately 2.3 x 10(5) Bq kg(-1) (approximately 18000 mg kg(-1) of depleted uranium), with concentrations above environmental levels always due to DU. The uranium isotope measurements refer to soil samples collected at places where DU ammunition had been fired; this variability indicates that the impact of DU ammunitions is very site-specific, reflecting both the physical conditions at the time of the impact of the DU ammunition and any physical and chemical alteration which occurred since then. The results on tree barks and lichens indicated the presence of DU in all cases, showing their usefulness as sensitive qualitative bio-indicators for the presence of DU dusts or aerosols formed at the time the DU ammunition had hit a hard target. This result is particularly interesting considering that at some sites, which had been hit by DU ammunition, no DU ground contamination could be detected.

Environmental Pollution, 2007

Effects of high ammonia emissions and nitrogen deposition were investigated on lichens around a p... more Effects of high ammonia emissions and nitrogen deposition were investigated on lichens around a pig stockfarm (ca. 7,000 animals) in central Italy. Four sites were selected along a transect at 200, 400, 1000 and 2500 m from the stockfarm, the diversity of epiphytic lichens was measured and transplanted thalli of Xanthoria parietina and Flavoparmelia caperata exposed, together with passive NH 3 (diffusion tubes) samplers. Ammonia dramatically decreased from the centre of the stockfarm to the sampled sites, where it was correlated with bark pH. Total lichen diversity was not associated with either NH 3 concentrations or bark pH, but the diversity of strictly nitrophytic species was highly correlated with both parameters. Physconia grisea was the best indicator species for NH 3 pollution. Total N accumulated in X. parietina and F. caperata was correlated with NH 3 concentrations.

Environmental Pollution, 2006

The results of a survey aimed at investigating whether NO 2 and NH 3 emitted by road traffic can ... more The results of a survey aimed at investigating whether NO 2 and NH 3 emitted by road traffic can influence lichen diversity, lichen vitality and the accumulation of nitrogen in lichen thalli are reported. For this purpose, distance from a highway in a rural environment of central Italy was regarded as the main parameter to check this hypothesis. The results of the present survey indicated that road traffic is not a relevant source of NH 3. On the other hand, NO 2 concentrations, although rather low, were negatively correlated with distance from the highway according to a typical logarithmic function. No association between NO 2 concentrations and the diversity of epiphytic lichens was found, probably because of the low NO 2 values measured. Also bark properties were not influenced by distance from the highway. Accumulation of nitrogen, reduction in the content of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total carotenoids were found in transplanted thalli of Evernia prunastri, but NO 2 was not responsible for these changes, which were probably caused by applications of N-based fertilizers.

Accreditation and Quality Assurance, 2007

The measurement of trace-element concentration in soil, sediment and waste, is generally a combin... more The measurement of trace-element concentration in soil, sediment and waste, is generally a combination of a digestion procedure for dissolution of elements and a subsequent measurement of the dissolved elements. "Partial" and "total" digestion methods can be used in environmental monitoring activities. To compare measurement results obtained by different methods, it is crucial to determine and to maintain control of the bias of the results obtained by these methods. In this paper, ICP-MS results obtained after matrix digestion with modified aqua regia (HCl + HNO 3 + H 2 O 2) method and two "total" digestion methods (microwave aqua regia + HF and HNO 3 + HF) are compared with those obtained by instrumental neutron activation analysis, a nondestructive analytical method for the determination of the total mass concentrations of inorganic components in environmental matrices. The comparison was carried out on eight agricultural soil samples collected in one test area and measured by k 0-INAA and ICP-MS to determine As, Co, Cr, Sb and Zn mass concentration. The bias of results for As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sb and Zn of the three digestion methods were assessed using selected measurement standards. This

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 2000

The smear samples of the penetrator were analyzed for the determination of the uranium compositio... more The smear samples of the penetrator were analyzed for the determination of the uranium composition. The obtained relative composition (m/m) of uranium isotopes in all the smear samples is in the range of 99.76-99.78% for 238 U, 0.000659-0.000696% for 234 U, 0.213-0.234% for 235 U, and 0.00274-0.00328% for 236 U, showing characteristics of depleted uranium (DU). The uranium concentrations in Kosovo soil and water samples as well as biological samples were investigated. It was found that the uranium concentrations in the Kosovo soil samples are in the range of 11.3-2.26 . 10 5 Bq . kg -1 for 238 U, 10.3-3.01 . 10 4 Bq . kg -1 for 234 U, 0.60-3251 Bq . kg -1 for 235 U, and 0.019-1309 Bq . kg -1 for 236 U. The obtained activity ratios are in the range of 0.112-1.086 for 234 U/ 238 U, 0.0123-0.1144 for 235 U/ 238 U, and 0-0.0078 for 236 U/ 238 U, indicating the presence of DU in about 77% of the surface soil samples. At a specific site, the DU inventory in the surface soil is about 140 mg . cm -2 , which is 1.68 . 10 6 times higher as the estimated mean DU dispersion rate in the region. The uranium concentrations in Kosovo lichen, mushroom, bark, etc., are in the range of 1.97-4.06 . 10 4 Bq . kg -1 for 238 U, 0.48-5158 Bq . kg -1 for 234 U, 0.032-617 Bq . kg -1 for 235 U, and 0.019-235 Bq . kg -1 for 236 U with mean activity ratios of 0.325±0.0223 for 234 U/ 238 U, of 0.0238±0.0122 for 235 U/ 238 U, and 0.0034±0.0028 for 236 U/ 238 U, indicating the presence of DU in the entire sample. On the contrary, the uranium concentrations in Kosovo water samples are low, compared with the water samples collected in central Italy, indicating the presence of negligible amount of DU. The uranium isotopes in Kosovo waters do not constitute a risk of health at the present time.

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, Jul 1, 2011

The results of a survey aimed at testing the hypothesis that the lichen Evernia prunastri, when t... more The results of a survey aimed at testing the hypothesis that the lichen Evernia prunastri, when transplanted in an agricultural area with high atmospheric NH 3 concentrations, would respond to NH 3 air pollution accumulating nitrogen in its thalli and showing changes in the concentration of assimilation pigments are presented. The results confirmed the hypothesis and showed that all lichen transplants accumulated nitrogen, suggesting that besides the release of atmospheric ammonia by animal stockfarms, the use of Nbased fertilizers and the deposition of N-rich dust also may contribute to the high nitrogen availability to lichens in the study area. The result indicated that in the study area both the critical level of NH 3 and the critical load of N for lichens are exceeded and physiological damage is to be expected in sensitive species. The results of assimilation pigments in E. prunastri, with a decrease in the concentration of chlorophylls a and b and carotenoids, as well as chlorophyll degradation to phaeophytin, confirmed this hypothesis. However, owing to the limited data set and pending further studies, these conclusions should be considered as limited to the study area.

Radioactivity in the Environment, 2006

ABSTRACT The concentrations and characteristics of uranium isotopes in drinking waters of Italy a... more ABSTRACT The concentrations and characteristics of uranium isotopes in drinking waters of Italy and the Balkan regions were studied. The obtained mean uranium activity concentrations in drinking waters in Italy are 20.6 ± 29.0 mBq l−1 for 238U, 25.3 ± 35.6 mBq l−1 for 234U and 1.00 ± 1.27 mBq l−1 for 235U. The mean activity ratios are 1.33 ± 0.33 for 234U/238U and 0.047 ± 0.038 for 235U/238U. The activity concentrations of uranium isotopes in waters of the Balkan regions are much lower than those in Italy. Depleted uranium has been detected in some water samples collected in the Balkan regions, but the measured concentrations do not constitute a health risk. The estimated average annual committed effective doses to the public due to water intake were 1.62 μSv yr−1 in Italy, 0.30 μSv yr−1 in Kosovo, 0.42 μSv yr−1 in Serbia and Montenegro, and 0.21 μSv yr−1 in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Periodico di Mineralogia

The Geological Survey of Italy/Land Resources and Soil Protection Dept. of ISPRA is achieving a p... more The Geological Survey of Italy/Land Resources and Soil Protection Dept. of ISPRA is achieving a project which foresees the harmonized realization of different surveys, including hydrogeological activities, as an approach for a possible improvement of the CARG Project (Italian geological mapping), in the test-site of the Antrodoco Sheet territory, located between Lazio and Abruzzo regions (Rieti and L'Aquila province, Central Italy). One of the first targets was the hydrochemical characterization and classification of springs, along with their grouping on the basis of their affiliation to hydrogeochemical facies and the definition of their hydrogeochemical trends, contributing to assess groundwater circulation model in the involved aquifers. In addition, the study allowed us to evidence, by means of different analytical criteria, two aspects of the hydrogeochemical asset of the territory: (i) a regional variability model, which is explicative of the most examined factors; (ii) a ...

Radioprotection, 2002

A new and accurate method for determination of uranium isotopes ( 238 U, 234 U and 235 U) in envi... more A new and accurate method for determination of uranium isotopes ( 238 U, 234 U and 235 U) in environmental samples by alpha spectrometry has been developed. Uranium is preconcentrated from filtered water samples by coprecipitation with iron (III) hydroxide at pH 9-10 using ammonia solution and the precipitate is dissolved with HN0 3 and mineralised with H 2 0 2 and HF; uranium in biological samples is ashed at 600 °C, leached out with Na 2 C0 3 solution and mineralised with HN0 3 , HF and H 2 0 2 ; uranium in soil samples is melted with Na 2 C0 3 and Na 2 0 2 at 600 °C and leached out with HC1, HN0 3 and HF. The mineralised or leaching solution in 2 M HN0 3 is passed through a Microthene-TOPO (trioctyl-phosphine oxide) column; after washing uranium is directly eluted into a cell with ammonium oxalate solution, electrodeposited on a stainless steel disk and measured by alpha spectrometry. The lower limits of detection of the method are 0.37 Bq kg" 1 (soil) and 0.22 mBq l" 1 (water) for 238 U and 234 U and 0.038 Bq kg" 1 (soil) and 0.022 mBq l" 1 (water) for 235 U if 0.5 g of soil and 1 litre of water are analysed. Five reference materials supplied by IAEA have been analysed and reliable results are obtained. The average uranium yields for waters, mosses, lichens and sediments are 74.5+9.0%, 80.5±8.3%, 77.8±4.9% and 89.4±9.7% respectively.

Annali dell'Istituto superiore di sanità, 2008

In recent years, the importance of trace metal mobile fractions rather than total contents in env... more In recent years, the importance of trace metal mobile fractions rather than total contents in environmental matrices is increasing in risk assessment evaluation of contaminated sites. In this study different leaching/extraction tests, aimed at the measurements of mobile fractions of trace metals and standardized at European Committee for Standardization (CEN) for the characterization of waste, have been compared with those adopted by the Italian legislation for soils. All these procedures have been applied on Venice Lagoon sediments, in order to extend the appliance of these methods to sediments and to verify the consistency of the results when different leaching tests are applied on the same sample. The results show that these tests can be applied successfully to sediments and confirm that leaching/extraction methods based on the main parameters controlling the remobilisation of trace metals are useful tools for risk-assessment, because they can allow a "transparent" inte...

During the Balkan conflicts, in 1995 and 1999, depleted uranium (DU) rounds were employed and wer... more During the Balkan conflicts, in 1995 and 1999, depleted uranium (DU) rounds were employed and were left in the battlefield. Health concern is related to the risk arising from contamination of the environment with DU penetrators and dust. In order to evaluate the impact of DU on the environment and population in Serbia and Montenegro, radiological surveys of DU in water, air and biological samples were carried out over the period 27 October-5 November 2001. The uranium isotopic concentrations in biological samples collected in Serbia and Montenegro, mainly lichens and barks, were found to be in the range of 0.67-704 Bq kg À1 for 238 U, 0.48-93.9 Bq kg À1 for 234 U and 0.02-12.2 Bq kg À1 for 235 U, showing uranium levels to be higher than in the samples collected at the control sites. Moreover, 236 U was detectable in some of the samples. The isotopic ratios of 234 U/ 238 U showed DU to be detectable in many biological samples at all examined sites, especially in Montenegro, indicating widespread ground-surface DU contamination, albeit at very low level. The uranium isotopic concentrations in air obtained from the air filter samples collected in Serbia and Montenegro were found to be in the range of 1.99-42.1 mBq m À3 for 238 U, 0.96-38.0 mBq m À3 for 234 U, and 0.05-1.83 mBq m À3 for 235 U, being in the typical range of natural uranium values. Thus said, most of the air samples are DU positive, this fact agreeing well with the widespread DU contamination detected in the biological samples. The uranium concentrations in water samples collected in Serbia and Montenegro were found to be in the range of 0.40-21.9 mBq l À1 for 238 U, 0.27-28.1 mBq l À1 for 234 U, and 0.01-0.88 mBq l À1 for 235 U, these values being much lower than those in mineral water found in central Italy and below the WHO guideline for drinking water. From a radiotoxicological point of view, at this moment there is no significant radiological risk related to these investigated sites in terms of possible DU contamination of water, air and/or plants. r

Science of The Total Environment, 2001

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 2006

Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry, 2004

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) performed field surveys at 15 sites in Bosnia-Her... more The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) performed field surveys at 15 sites in Bosnia-Herzegovina where depleted uranium (DU) ammunition was used by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) during the Balkans conflict (1994)(1995). During the field missions, the Italian Environmental Protection Agency (APAT) evaluated airborne contamination due to DU dusts or aerosol particles, generated at the time of the conflict by the impact of DU ammunition on hard "targets," using lichens and tree barks as biomonitors. Each sample was analyzed by alpha-spectrometry for DU determination. The 234 U/ 238 U activity concentration ratios were used to distinguish natural from anthropogenic uranium. This paper reports the data obtained by the UNEP investigation, including (non-radioactive) metal and other element concentrations in lichen and tree bark samples measured by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). The results indicated: (i) lichens and tree barks are sensitive bio-accumulators of past airborne contamination by depleted uranium dusts; (ii) 8 years after the conflict, environmental DU contamination is still present at some of the target sites; and (iii) the highest concentrations of most non-radioactive elements were found at sites used for ammunition destruction.

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 2011

The results of a survey aimed at testing the hypothesis that the lichen Evernia prunastri, when t... more The results of a survey aimed at testing the hypothesis that the lichen Evernia prunastri, when transplanted in an agricultural area with high atmospheric NH 3 concentrations, would respond to NH 3 air pollution accumulating nitrogen in its thalli and showing changes in the concentration of assimilation pigments are presented. The results confirmed the hypothesis and showed that all lichen transplants accumulated nitrogen, suggesting that besides the release of atmospheric ammonia by animal stockfarms, the use of Nbased fertilizers and the deposition of N-rich dust also may contribute to the high nitrogen availability to lichens in the study area. The result indicated that in the study area both the critical level of NH 3 and the critical load of N for lichens are exceeded and physiological damage is to be expected in sensitive species. The results of assimilation pigments in E. prunastri, with a decrease in the concentration of chlorophylls a and b and carotenoids, as well as chlorophyll degradation to phaeophytin, confirmed this hypothesis. However, owing to the limited data set and pending further studies, these conclusions should be considered as limited to the study area.

… of radioanalytical and …, 2002

A new and accurate method for the determination of uranium isotopes (238 U, 234 U and 235 U) in e... more A new and accurate method for the determination of uranium isotopes (238 U, 234 U and 235 U) in environmental samples by alpha-spectrometry has been developed. Uranium is preconcentrated from filtered water samples by coprecipitation with iron (III) ...

Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 2005