Biomedical subjects

L Musmeci

Publications and source records attributed to L Musmeci.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2002

Determination of As in environmental solid matrix.

In line with recent European environmental guidelines on biomasses, one of the most important parameters to take into account is the As concentration, especially when present in biomasses and complex matrices. The goal of the present study is to give information about possible technical-analytical problems during the determinations of such elements by means of different instrumental spectroscopy techniques, in particular inductively coupled plasma atomic emission (ICP-AES) and atomic absorption (AAS), using two different wavelengths, 188.98 nm and 193.70 nm. In the Laboratory of Hygiene of National Institute of Health in Italy, a specific study has been carried out concerning the determination of As contents in environmental solid matrices, using as reference material BCR 141 R, represented by a calcareous soil. In particular, whereas recovery tests did not show particular drawbacks, difficulties were met in the As detection in reference material. Spectral interference was seen during determination by ICP-AES and matrix interference during determination by AAS, in particular using ETAAS with deuterium background correction and HAAS. Using ETAAS with Zeeman background correction at 193.70 nm, the As line did not show particular matrix interference during the reading of samples.A ring test involving two more laboratories and another certified reference material (IAEA-356 in marine sediment matrix) produced important information about problems of under/over estimation of data. Two different instrumental techniques, ICP-MS and HAAS, confirmed previous data, i.e., overestimation for inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and that As values achieved by HAAS were of the same order as the references, but affected by considerable standard deviation. In the light of this study, data achieved on the environmental matrices investigated suggest that the critical step in As determination is the instrumental reading, rather than the mineralization process. Further, each of the methods proposed, apart from ETAAS with Zeeman background correction, presents its own peculiar drawbacks and no particular advantage over other techniques.

Arsenic↗

PubMed2001

[Review of significant studies on monomer vinyl chloride produced in municipal waste landfill plants].

It is known that presently in Italy about 78% of generated urban waste solids get deposited in waste dumpsites. As of today, there is little known knowledge regarding the quality of the ambient surrounding dumpsites. Therefore it has become extremely important to understand the "risk factors" associated with a dumpsite. Through recent studies carried out mostly in the USA, there is evidence of widespread presence of vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) in the environment in proximity of industrial as well as urban dumpsites. The following is a summary of the most significant study reports with respect to the above. From an estimate based on study results, it is estimated that waste dumpsites in the USA emit altogether between 60 and 33,000 tons/year of vinyl chloride monomer into the atmosphere and ground water. Consequently these studies have shown the necessity to include vinyl chloride monomer amongst the monitoring parameters at waste dumpsites both during the operational phase, as well as during the post mortem phase.

Italy↗

PubMed1999

[The microbiological characterization of the bioaerosol and leachate from an urban solid refuse dump: preliminary data].

The present paper shows the results of an experimental study aimed at arranging a microbiological characterization of bioaerosol and leachate resulting from a sanitary landfill for solid urban waste situated near Rome. Bioaerosol sampling was performed by using the active sampling method referred to as surface air system, that is extensively used during indoor environmental monitoring. The microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) believed to be of relevance on bioaerosol and leachate with a view to hygienic risks, were investigated in order to estimate the potential risks to which the population and the workers can be exposed and consequently to allow corrective measures by monitoring campaigns of the examined matrices and by models of low environmental impact landfill.

Aerosols↗

PubMed1997

[Health and hygiene aspects of the production of high-quality compost].

The present national and international trends about waste management favour recycling and recovery of waste either as materials or as energy. Therefore, it can be supposed that recycling activities of materials as for example the composting of urban waste organic fraction will be more and more encouraged in the future. Nevertheless, if we intend really to develop a market of recycling and recovery of waste, the quality of products obtained must be especially considered. As regards the compost, these problems have taken a great importance in the last years, since only high quality compost finds utilization in agriculture. In this paper, we investigate the procedure to carry out in order to obtain a compost of high quality either from a chemical, microbiological or technological point of view, by examining particularly the effects on compost quality, in consequence of separation of some specific waste streams at source.

Agricultural Workers' Diseases↗

PubMed1989

Solid waste management and bioelements in soil.

Two studies are reported in the field of solid waste management. The first concerns heavy metal migration below a landfill site. The results show that total and leachable heavy metal concentrations are more variable in refuse than in soil samples, as refuse is not homogeneous but can be influenced by local conditions and the seasons. In the soil below refuse, the concentration of total metals is low and similar to control soil samples, whereas leachable metals behaved differently in the two drillings, their mobility depending on soil characteristics. The bulk of heavy metals, however, remains immobile. The second study regards the utilization of compost as a filter bed for pig slurry to reduce its pollution load hence enriching the compost of the nutrients it lacks. A pilot plant was installed utilizing pressed straw bale containers filled with compost through which pig slurry was filtered. The filtering tests demonstrated a reduction of the pollution load of slurry and at the same time evidenced the possibility of utilizing the entire filtering system as a fertilizer to improve compost, with heavy metal concentration tolerance limits lower than the ones proposed at a national level to prevent environmental pollution.

Italy↗

PubMed1988

Determination of heavy metals in samples of urban solid wastes by means of the ICP atomic spectrometry technique.

The concentration of elements of environmental significance in the leachate from landfills of urban solid wastes was determined by means of Inductively-Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES). The suitability of extraction tests which simulate the leaching process were undertaken. Both highly toxic elements (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Pb and V) and elements present at major concentrations (Al, B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn) were quantified at different levels within and under the landfill. Results showed that the extraction test recommended by EPA is acceptable in order to simulate natural leaching compared with the amounts of the elements which are brought into solution after digestion with nitric acid. Furthermore, significant correlations were found in the landfill composition at different levels for element pairs such as Al-Mn, Co-Cr, Co-Cu, Co-Fe, Co-Mn, Co-Zn, Cr-Fe, Cr-Mn, Cu-Fe, Cu-Zn, Fe-Mn, Fe-Zn, Mn-Zn and Pb-Zn.

Humans↗

PubMed1978

[Cadmium as an air pollutant].

Daily concentrations of airborne cadmium has been determined for a year in three italian urban areas presenting different characteristics. Results obtained are in the following ranges: Rome, 0,0017--0,0194 micrograms/m3; Venice, 0,0012--0,2234 micrograms/m3 and Marghera, 0,0037--0,704 micrograms/m3. Some data for urban inciniretors emissions are also presented. Origin, effects and legislation concerning airborne cadmium are briefly discussed.

Air Pollutants↗

PubMed1977

[Determination of acidity of urban aerosol].

The determination of the particulate acidity by the Commins method has been evaluated in order to examine the influence of sampling conditions on the results of the measurements. This method, which requires controlled and restricted sampling conditions, has been used for the determination of acid particulate in Rome over a period of one year. The monthly average concentration of the acid particulate are related to the suspended particulate and atmospheric precipitation.

Acids↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Arsenic and heavy metals in leachate from a real landfill and a laboratory landfill.

A preliminary study, based particularly on Arsenic and some heavy metals determination (Cd, Cr, Hg and Pb) in three leachate tipologies produced from municipal waste landfill plant, lab-scale aerobic landfill, lab-scale anerobic landfill was undertaken. Leachate was collected and analysed monthly; samples were homogenized and then, all heavy metals were determined after mineralization, except for Hg, determined before mineralization, due to his high volatility. In all samples pH was measured. In general we can say that low concentrations of the elements analyzed were found in all kinds of landfills considered; in particular, in the lab-scale anaerobic reactors, where low pH values have been found, we have a more considerable mobilization of As and the others heavy metals, moreover due to the behaviour of these elements.

Aerobiosis↗