Local seismic amplification analysis in the industrial area of Sulmona, Central Italy

The possibility to discriminate between different emission sources and between natural and anthropogenic contributions is a key issue for planning efficient air pollution reduction and mitigation strategies. Moreover, the knowledge of the particulate matter (PM) chemical composition for the different size fractions is recognized as increasingly important, in particular with respect to health effects of exposed population. This study is focused on the characterization of PM10 and PM2.5 main sources located in the Civitavecchia harbor-industrial area (Central Italy), namely a large coal-fired power plant, a natural gas power plant, the harbor area, the vehicular traffic (due to both the local traffic and the highway crossing the area) and small industrial activities. The approach was based on PM10/PM2.5 samples monthly collected for one year and a further relative chemical characterization of organic and inorganic fractions. Wind-select sensors, allowing a selective PM10 and PM2.5 sampling downwind to specific emission sources, were used for the overall sampling. This methodology manages to explain specific emission patterns and to assess the concentration levels of the micro pollutants emitted by local sources and particularly toxic for health. A descriptive statistical analysis of data was performed, also verifying the occurrence of legislative threshold exceedances. Moreover, in order to highlight the contribution of specific sources, the differences in the measured micro pollutants concentrations between wind directions, PM size fractions and sampling sites have been investigated, as well as the seasonal trends of pollutants concentrations. These results allow to highlight that the applied methodology represents a valid support in source apportionment studies.

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A study of chlorinated solvent contamination of the aquifers of an industrial area in central Italy: a possibility of bioremediation

Frontiers in Microbiology ◽

10.3389/fmicb.2015.00924 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Federica Matteucci ◽

Claudia Ercole ◽

Maddalena del Gallo

Keyword(s):

Central Italy ◽

Industrial Area ◽

Chlorinated Solvent

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BACKGROUND�NOISE�MEASUREMENTS�IN�THE�INDUSTRIAL�AREA�OF�SULMONA,�CENTRAL�ITALY

SGEM2012 12th International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference ◽

10.5593/sgem2012/s06.v2003 ◽

2012 ◽

Author(s):

Alessio Rinaldini

Keyword(s):

Background Noise ◽

Central Italy ◽

Industrial Area ◽

Noise Measurements

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Engineering-Geological Features Supporting a Seismic-Driven Multi-Hazard Scenario in the Lake Campotosto Area (L’Aquila, Italy)

Geosciences ◽

10.3390/geosciences11030107 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 107

Author(s):

Benedetta Antonielli ◽

Francesca Bozzano ◽

Matteo Fiorucci ◽

Salomon Hailemikael ◽

Roberto Iannucci ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hazard Analysis ◽

Central Italy ◽

Holistic Approach ◽

Disaster Mitigation ◽

Ground Shaking ◽

Geological Features ◽

Geologic Hazards ◽

Seismic Amplification ◽

Hazard Scenario ◽

Using Data

This paper aims to describe the seismic-driven multi-hazard scenario of the Lake Campotosto artificial basin (Abruzzo Region, Central Italy), and it can represent a preparatory study for a quantitative multi-hazard analysis. A comprehensive multi-hazard scenario considers all the effects that can occur following the base ground shaking, providing a holistic approach to assessing the real hazard potential and helping to improve management of disaster mitigation. The study area might be affected by a complex earthquake-induced chain of geologic hazards, such as the seismic shaking, the surface faulting of the Gorzano Mt. Fault, which is very close to one of the three dams that form the Lake Campotosto, and by the earthquake-triggered landslides of different sizes and typologies. These hazards were individually and qualitatively analyzed, using data from an engineering-geological survey and a geomechanical classification of the rock mass. With regard to the seismic shaking, a quantitative evaluation of the seismic response of the Poggio Cancelli valley, in the northern part of Lake Campotosto, was performed, highlighting different seismic amplification phenomena due to morphologic and stratigraphic features. Some insights about the possible multi-hazard approaches are also discussed.

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Association Between Air Pollution and Acute Coronary Syndromes During Lockdown for COVID-19: Results From the Terni Hub Center

Frontiers in Public Health ◽

10.3389/fpubh.2021.683683 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Author(s):

Alessio Arrivi ◽

Marcello Dominici ◽

Nicola Bier ◽

Mauro Truglio ◽

Gaetano Vaudo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Hospital Admissions ◽

Central Italy ◽

Monitoring Network ◽

Industrial Area ◽

University Hospital ◽

Invasive Procedures ◽

Causality Test ◽

Catheterization Laboratory ◽

Coronary Syndrome

Background: During the lockdown for COVID-19, a massive decrease in hospital admissions for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and a drop in air pollution were both detected in Italy. Our aim was to investigate the possible association between these two events at the Province of Terni, one of the most polluted urban and industrial area in Central Italy.Methods: We analyzed data of daily 24-h urban air concentrations of particulate matter (PM)10 and PM2.5 from fixed station monitoring network located in the main city centers of the Terni province, and accesses for ACS at the catheterization laboratory of the Cardiological Hub Center of the Terni University Hospital during lockdown. A comparison was made with data corresponding to the same lockdown time period of years 2019, 2018, and 2017.Results: Invasive procedures for ACS decreased in 2020 (n = 49) as compared with previous years (n = 93 in 2019, n = 109 in 2018, and n = 89 in 2017, p < 0.001). Conversely, reductions in average PM10 (20.7 μg/m3) and PM2.5 (14.7 μg/m3) in 2020 were consistent with a long-term decreasing trend, being comparable to those recorded in 2019 and 2018 (all p > 0.05) and slightly lower than 2017 (p < 0.05). The Granger-causality test demonstrated the lack of association between time-varying changes in air pollution and the number of procedures for ACS.Conclusions: Our results did not support the hypothesis that reduction in invasive procedures for ACS during lockdown was linked to an air cleaning effect. Reasons other than reduced air pollution should be sought to explain the observed decrease in ACS procedures.

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Urinary Mercury Levels and Predictors of Exposure among a Group of Italian Children

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17249225 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (24) ◽

pp. 9225

Author(s):

Maria Luisa Astolfi ◽

Matteo Vitali ◽

Elisabetta Marconi ◽

Stefano Martellucci ◽

Vincenzo Mattei ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Anthropogenic Impacts ◽

Geometric Mean ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Central Italy ◽

Reference Value ◽

Human Biomonitoring ◽

Industrial Area ◽

Multiple Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Urinary Mercury ◽

Italian Children

Urinary mercury (Hg) levels are suitable to assess long-term exposure to both elemental and inorganic Hg. In this study, the urinary Hg levels of 250 children (aged 6–11 years) from three areas with different anthropogenic impacts in the Rieti province, central Italy, were assessed. The Hg concentrations were in the range of 0.04–2.18 µg L−1 with a geometric mean equal to 0.18 µg L−1 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.17–0.20 µg L−1] or 0.21 µg g−1 creatinine (95% CI, 0.19–0.23 µg g−1 creatinine), and a reference value calculated as 95th percentile of 0.53 µg L−1 (95% CI, 0.44–0.73 µg L−1) or 0.55 µg g−1 creatinine (95% CI, 0.50–0.83 µg g−1 creatinine). In all cases, urinary Hg data were below the HBM-I values (7 µg L−1 or 5 µg g−1 creatinine) established for urine, while the 95th percentile was above the German Human Biomonitoring Commission’s RV95 (0.4 µg L−1) set for children without amalgam fillings. A significant correlation (p < 0.05) was found between creatinine-corrected results and residence area, with higher urinary Hg levels in children living in the industrial area. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that creatinine was the main predictor of urinary Hg.

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