This page has only limited features, please log in for full access.

Prof. Dr. Marcello Di Bonito
School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG25 0QF, UK

Basic Info

Basic Info is private.

Research Keywords & Expertise

0 Water Quality
0 sustainability science
0 environmental geochemistry
0 ecosystem goods and services
0 GIS applications (including modeling, probability, and uncertainty)

Fingerprints

Water Quality
environmental geochemistry

Honors and Awards

The user has no records in this section


Career Timeline

The user has no records in this section.


Short Biography

The user biography is not available.
Following
Followers
Co Authors
The list of users this user is following is empty.
Following: 0 users

Feed

Preprint content
Published: 30 April 2020
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Petroleum biomarkers can provide reliable evidence for spilled crude oils and petroleum products and can correlate such to suspected sources. However, there seems to be limited reports relating these biomarkers to the quantification of Total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) in environmental matrices. This study utilises aliphatic and aromatic petroleum biomarkers to discriminate crude

ACS Style

Udeme John Dickson; Nicholas Ray; Marcello Di Bonito; Rob Mortimer; Michael Coffey. Utilising the biomarker compounds, dodecane and benzene-1,3-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl) as discriminant of crude oil types, and TPHs pollution index in soils. 2020, 1 .

AMA Style

Udeme John Dickson, Nicholas Ray, Marcello Di Bonito, Rob Mortimer, Michael Coffey. Utilising the biomarker compounds, dodecane and benzene-1,3-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl) as discriminant of crude oil types, and TPHs pollution index in soils. . 2020; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Udeme John Dickson; Nicholas Ray; Marcello Di Bonito; Rob Mortimer; Michael Coffey. 2020. "Utilising the biomarker compounds, dodecane and benzene-1,3-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl) as discriminant of crude oil types, and TPHs pollution index in soils." , no. : 1.

Preprint content
Published: 30 April 2020
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Petroleum biomarkers can provide reliable evidence for spilled crude oils and petroleum products and can correlate such to suspected sources. However, there seems to be limited reports relating these biomarkers to the quantification of Total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) in environmental matrices. This study utilises aliphatic and aromatic petroleum biomarkers to discriminate crude

ACS Style

Udeme John Dickson; Nicholas Ray; Marcello Di Bonito; Rob Mortimer; Michael Coffey. Utilising the biomarker compounds, dodecane and benzene-1,3-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl) as discriminant of crude oil types, and TPHs pollution index in soils. 2020, 1 .

AMA Style

Udeme John Dickson, Nicholas Ray, Marcello Di Bonito, Rob Mortimer, Michael Coffey. Utilising the biomarker compounds, dodecane and benzene-1,3-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl) as discriminant of crude oil types, and TPHs pollution index in soils. . 2020; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Udeme John Dickson; Nicholas Ray; Marcello Di Bonito; Rob Mortimer; Michael Coffey. 2020. "Utilising the biomarker compounds, dodecane and benzene-1,3-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl) as discriminant of crude oil types, and TPHs pollution index in soils." , no. : 1.

Preprint content
Published: 30 April 2020
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Petroleum biomarkers can provide reliable evidence for spilled crude oils and petroleum products and can correlate such to suspected sources. However, there seems to be limited reports relating these biomarkers to the quantification of Total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) in environmental matrices. This study utilises aliphatic and aromatic petroleum biomarkers to discriminate crude

ACS Style

Udeme John Dickson; Nicholas Ray; Marcello Di Bonito; Rob Mortimer; Michael Coffey. Utilising the biomarker compounds, dodecane and benzene-1,3-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl) as discriminant of crude oil types, and TPHs pollution index in soils. 2020, 1 .

AMA Style

Udeme John Dickson, Nicholas Ray, Marcello Di Bonito, Rob Mortimer, Michael Coffey. Utilising the biomarker compounds, dodecane and benzene-1,3-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl) as discriminant of crude oil types, and TPHs pollution index in soils. . 2020; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Udeme John Dickson; Nicholas Ray; Marcello Di Bonito; Rob Mortimer; Michael Coffey. 2020. "Utilising the biomarker compounds, dodecane and benzene-1,3-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl) as discriminant of crude oil types, and TPHs pollution index in soils." , no. : 1.

Preprint content
Published: 30 April 2020
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Petroleum biomarkers can provide reliable evidence for spilled crude oils and petroleum products and can correlate such to suspected sources. However, there seems to be limited reports relating these biomarkers to the quantification of Total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) in environmental matrices. This study utilises aliphatic and aromatic petroleum biomarkers to discriminate crude

ACS Style

Udeme John Dickson; Nicholas Ray; Marcello Di Bonito; Rob Mortimer; Michael Coffey. Utilising the biomarker compounds, dodecane and benzene-1,3-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl) as discriminant of crude oil types, and TPHs pollution index in soils. 2020, 1 .

AMA Style

Udeme John Dickson, Nicholas Ray, Marcello Di Bonito, Rob Mortimer, Michael Coffey. Utilising the biomarker compounds, dodecane and benzene-1,3-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl) as discriminant of crude oil types, and TPHs pollution index in soils. . 2020; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Udeme John Dickson; Nicholas Ray; Marcello Di Bonito; Rob Mortimer; Michael Coffey. 2020. "Utilising the biomarker compounds, dodecane and benzene-1,3-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl) as discriminant of crude oil types, and TPHs pollution index in soils." , no. : 1.

Preprint content
Published: 30 April 2020
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Petroleum biomarkers can provide reliable evidence for spilled crude oils and petroleum products and can correlate such to suspected sources. However, there seems to be limited reports relating these biomarkers to the quantification of Total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) in environmental matrices. This study utilises aliphatic and aromatic petroleum biomarkers to discriminate crude

ACS Style

Udeme John Dickson; Nicholas Ray; Marcello Di Bonito; Rob Mortimer; Michael Coffey. Utilising the biomarker compounds, dodecane and benzene-1,3-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl) as discriminant of crude oil types, and TPHs pollution index in soils. 2020, 1 .

AMA Style

Udeme John Dickson, Nicholas Ray, Marcello Di Bonito, Rob Mortimer, Michael Coffey. Utilising the biomarker compounds, dodecane and benzene-1,3-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl) as discriminant of crude oil types, and TPHs pollution index in soils. . 2020; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Udeme John Dickson; Nicholas Ray; Marcello Di Bonito; Rob Mortimer; Michael Coffey. 2020. "Utilising the biomarker compounds, dodecane and benzene-1,3-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl) as discriminant of crude oil types, and TPHs pollution index in soils." , no. : 1.

Journal article
Published: 24 September 2019 in Chemosphere
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Phyto- and myco-remediation have been identified as sustainable options for treatment of petroleum-contaminated soils. To appraise the benefits thereof, the potentials of 3 sunflower species, 2 palm wine types and P. ostreatus to treat petroleum-contaminated soils was investigated. The study involved sampling of petroleum-contaminated soils and treatment with the phyto- and myco-remediation agents for a period of 90-days. Agents used for the remediation were 3 species of sunflowers (Helianthus annus-pacino gold, Helianthus sunsation & Helianthus annus-sunny dwarf), fermented palm wine (from 2 species of palm trees -Elaeis guineensis & Raffia africana), and oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus). The study further investigated variation in remediation efficiency among the sunflower and palm wine species, as well as different substrates and conditions for optimal application of P. ostreatus. The results obtained revealed up to 340 g/kg dry weight of Total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) in the soils, with remediation outcomes of up to 69% by the sunflower- Helianthus annus (Pacino gold), 70% by fermented palm wine, and 85% by P. ostreatus. While the remediation efficiency of sunflower species was proportional to biomass, there was no significant difference in remediation efficiency of the palm wines. It was also found that substrates type and method of application has a significant impact on the remediation efficiency of P. ostreatus. The study further revealed available nitrate and electrical conductivity as possible useful indicators of TPHs concentration and remediation progress in soils.

ACS Style

Udeme John Dickson; Michael Coffey; Robert John George Mortimer; Barry Smith; Nicholas Ray; Marcello Di Bonito. Investigating the potential of sunflower species, fermented palm wine and Pleurotus ostreatus for treatment of petroleum-contaminated soil. Chemosphere 2019, 240, 124881 .

AMA Style

Udeme John Dickson, Michael Coffey, Robert John George Mortimer, Barry Smith, Nicholas Ray, Marcello Di Bonito. Investigating the potential of sunflower species, fermented palm wine and Pleurotus ostreatus for treatment of petroleum-contaminated soil. Chemosphere. 2019; 240 ():124881.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Udeme John Dickson; Michael Coffey; Robert John George Mortimer; Barry Smith; Nicholas Ray; Marcello Di Bonito. 2019. "Investigating the potential of sunflower species, fermented palm wine and Pleurotus ostreatus for treatment of petroleum-contaminated soil." Chemosphere 240, no. : 124881.

Original paper
Published: 24 August 2019 in Environmental Geochemistry and Health
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Mining activities are among the main sources of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the environment which constitute a real concern worldwide, especially in developing countries. These activities have been carried out for more than a century in Chile, South America, where, as evidence of incorrect waste disposal practices, several abandoned mining waste deposits were left behind. This study aimed to understand multi-elements geochemistry, source patterns and mobility of PTEs in soils of the Taltal urban area (northern Chile). Topsoil samples (n = 125) were collected in the urban area of Taltal city (6 km2) where physicochemical properties (redox potential, electric conductivity and pH) as well as chemical concentrations for 35 elements were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer. Data were treated following a robust workflow, which included factor analysis (based on ilr-transformed data), a new robust compositional contamination index (RCCI), and fractal/multi-fractal interpolation in GIS environment. This approach allowed to generate significant elemental associations, identifying pool of elements related either to the geological background, pedogenic processes accompanying soil formation or to anthropogenic activities. In particular, the study eventually focused on a pool of 6 PTEs (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn), their spatial distribution in the Taltal city, and the potential sources and mechanisms controlling their concentrations. Results showed generally low baseline values of PTEs in most sites of the surveyed area. On a smaller number of sites, however, higher values concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Zn and Pb were found. These corresponded to very high RCCI contamination level and were correlated to potential anthropogenic sources, such as the abandoned mining waste deposits in the north-eastern part of the Taltal city. This study highlighted new and significant insight on the contamination levels of Taltal city, and its links with anthropogenic activities. Further research is considered to be crucial to extend this assessment to the entire region. This would provide a comprehensive overview and vital information for the development of intervention limits and guide environmental legislation for these pollutants in Chilean soils.

ACS Style

Arturo Reyes; Matar Thiombane; Antonio Panico; Linda Daniele; Annamaria Lima; Marcello Di Bonito; Benedetto De Vivo. Source patterns of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and mining activity contamination level in soils of Taltal city (northern Chile). Environmental Geochemistry and Health 2019, 42, 2573 -2594.

AMA Style

Arturo Reyes, Matar Thiombane, Antonio Panico, Linda Daniele, Annamaria Lima, Marcello Di Bonito, Benedetto De Vivo. Source patterns of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and mining activity contamination level in soils of Taltal city (northern Chile). Environmental Geochemistry and Health. 2019; 42 (8):2573-2594.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Arturo Reyes; Matar Thiombane; Antonio Panico; Linda Daniele; Annamaria Lima; Marcello Di Bonito; Benedetto De Vivo. 2019. "Source patterns of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and mining activity contamination level in soils of Taltal city (northern Chile)." Environmental Geochemistry and Health 42, no. 8: 2573-2594.

Critical review
Published: 19 July 2019 in Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts
Reads 0
Downloads 0

A review on mycoremediation of petroleum-contaminated soils to identify developments, limitations and perspectives for its optimal utilization.

ACS Style

Udeme John Dickson; Michael Coffey; Robert John George Mortimer; Marcello Di Bonito; Nicholas Ray. Mycoremediation of petroleum contaminated soils: progress, prospects and perspectives. Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts 2019, 21, 1446 -1458.

AMA Style

Udeme John Dickson, Michael Coffey, Robert John George Mortimer, Marcello Di Bonito, Nicholas Ray. Mycoremediation of petroleum contaminated soils: progress, prospects and perspectives. Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts. 2019; 21 (9):1446-1458.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Udeme John Dickson; Michael Coffey; Robert John George Mortimer; Marcello Di Bonito; Nicholas Ray. 2019. "Mycoremediation of petroleum contaminated soils: progress, prospects and perspectives." Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts 21, no. 9: 1446-1458.

Journal article
Published: 01 December 2018 in Journal of Geochemical Exploration
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) have the potential to concentrate in the marine environment and threaten the local marine life. Here, we present the results of a study of the contamination profiles, spatial distribution, possible sources, and potential ecological risk of OCPs in marine sediments from Gulfs of Naples and Salerno, Southern Italy. The total concentrations of OCPs ranged from 0.54 to 99.6 ng/g (average mean: AM = 7.80 ± 16.3 ng/g). The concentration of OCPs from gulf of Salerno (AM = 9.20 ± 20.7 ng/g) was higher than Naples (AM = 7.49 ± 15.32 ng/g). The sediment levels of individual OCPs were (in sequence of concentration) dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs, including p,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDE, o,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDT) > CHLs (heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, trans-chlordane, and cis-chlordane) > hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs, including α-β-γ-and δ-HCH) > DRINs (aldrin, dieldrin, and endrin) > hexachlorobenzene (HCB) > SULPHs (α-endosulfan, β-endosulfan, and endosulfan sulfate). DDTs and heptachlor were the highest in proportion among the OCPs. High concentrations of OCPs were observed in the coastal area especially near the cities of Naples and Salerno as a result of terrigenous supply. The occurrence of high residual levels of OCPs found in this study may be attributed to their historical application. Marine dynamics influence the distribution of OCPs, in particular the HCHs, as they are less lipophilic and more soluble. According to established sediment quality guidelines, DDTs may cause ecological risk.

ACS Style

Chengkai Qu; Yan Sun; Stefano Albanese; Annamaria Lima; Wen Sun; Marcello Di Bonito; Shihua Qi; Benedetto De Vivo. Organochlorine pesticides in sediments from Gulfs of Naples and Salerno, Southern Italy. Journal of Geochemical Exploration 2018, 195, 87 -96.

AMA Style

Chengkai Qu, Yan Sun, Stefano Albanese, Annamaria Lima, Wen Sun, Marcello Di Bonito, Shihua Qi, Benedetto De Vivo. Organochlorine pesticides in sediments from Gulfs of Naples and Salerno, Southern Italy. Journal of Geochemical Exploration. 2018; 195 ():87-96.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Chengkai Qu; Yan Sun; Stefano Albanese; Annamaria Lima; Wen Sun; Marcello Di Bonito; Shihua Qi; Benedetto De Vivo. 2018. "Organochlorine pesticides in sediments from Gulfs of Naples and Salerno, Southern Italy." Journal of Geochemical Exploration 195, no. : 87-96.

Journal article
Published: 30 October 2018 in Journal of Environmental Sciences
Reads 0
Downloads 0

The traditional degradation of organic pollutants is based on the sacrifice of chemical or biological reagents. In this study, a purely physical technique was developed to break the chemical bonds and consequently decompose macromolecules in aqueous solution. Assisted with a high-speed mechanical blade, refined quartz sand grains with particularly sharp nano-scale edges can act as ‘nano-knives’, which are able to cut the long chain of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC, as a model molecule). High performance size exclusion chromatography measurements evidenced that the original CMC molecules (41,000 Da) were decomposed into a series of smaller molecules (460, 1000, 2200, 21,000, 27,000 and 31,000 Da). Consequently, the initial viscosity of the CMC solution (2 g/L) rapidly decreased by approximately 50% after 3 min treatment by the nano-knife materials along with the mechanical blade. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra indicated that the original functional groups were still present and new functional groups were not produced after shearing. The intensity of the main functional group β-1-4-glycosidic bond (wavenumber 1062 cm− 1) was observed to markedly decrease after shearing. These results indicated that the long-chain CMC was cleaved into short-chain CMC. A degradation mechanism was proposed whereby the cutting force generated by the rapid motion of the nano-knives may be responsible for the breakage of β-1-4-glycosidic bonds in the macromolecular cellulose backbone. These results provide support for a potentially more affordable and environment-friendly strategy for physical-based decomposition of recalcitrant organic pollutants from aqueous solution without the need of chemical or biological reagents.

ACS Style

Qin Zhou; Li Hong; Marcello Di Bonito; Gang Pan. Decomposition of carboxymethyl cellulose based on nano-knife principle. Journal of Environmental Sciences 2018, 80, 93 -98.

AMA Style

Qin Zhou, Li Hong, Marcello Di Bonito, Gang Pan. Decomposition of carboxymethyl cellulose based on nano-knife principle. Journal of Environmental Sciences. 2018; 80 ():93-98.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Qin Zhou; Li Hong; Marcello Di Bonito; Gang Pan. 2018. "Decomposition of carboxymethyl cellulose based on nano-knife principle." Journal of Environmental Sciences 80, no. : 93-98.

Journal article
Published: 01 September 2018 in Land Use Policy
Reads 0
Downloads 0

The concept of ‘Sustainable Intensification’ (SI) has been promoted as a potential solution to the many contemporary challenges facing agriculture, but has also received widespread criticism for being too narrow in scope and failing to address all aspects of sustainability. Despite this, there are few suggestions in the literature as to what a holistic, broad-based approach to SI should comprise and what issues and trade-offs are likely to arise in the adoption and operation of such a broadly-based approach. We report a suit of SI indicators suggested by UK stakeholders, evaluate the plausibility of these in terms of the commonly established principles of sustainability, and identify the critical issues that may arise in the adoption and operation of these indicators. The purpose of this paper is not to recommend a specific blueprint for SI but to raise issues and questions for dialogue amongst stakeholders. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews with 32 stakeholders from throughout the UK agrifood system. The data were analysed thematically and organised using a Social-Ecological Systems (SESs) framework. The interviewees suggested a total of 110 SI indicators, of which the most frequently suggested related to agricultural production and ecological considerations. There was less emphasis placed on social and cultural dimensions of agricultural systems. A number of the indicators suggested were poorly-defined and it was difficult to determine what particular aspects of sustainability they addressed. Many potential trade-offs between the indicators were also evident. The findings raise a number of questions. Is it appropriate to continue referring to SI as Sustainable Intensification when it fails to give equal consideration to all accepted aspects of sustainability? Would it be more appropriate to refer to the SI concept as ‘Ecological Intensification’? Is a broad-based and all-encompassing definition of ‘sustainability’ always desirable, or should ‘sustainability’ be considered as context specific, with the weighting of the different dimensions varying according to operational circumstances? We argue that these questions need to be resolved through stakeholder dialogues in order for the concept of SI to become more widely accepted and implementable in practice.

ACS Style

N. Mahon; I. Crute; M. Di Bonito; E.A. Simmons; M.M. Islam. Towards a broad-based and holistic framework of Sustainable Intensification indicators. Land Use Policy 2018, 77, 576 -597.

AMA Style

N. Mahon, I. Crute, M. Di Bonito, E.A. Simmons, M.M. Islam. Towards a broad-based and holistic framework of Sustainable Intensification indicators. Land Use Policy. 2018; 77 ():576-597.

Chicago/Turabian Style

N. Mahon; I. Crute; M. Di Bonito; E.A. Simmons; M.M. Islam. 2018. "Towards a broad-based and holistic framework of Sustainable Intensification indicators." Land Use Policy 77, no. : 576-597.

Journal article
Published: 08 August 2018 in Geoderma
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Geochemical studies that focus on environmental applications tend to approach the chemical elements as individual entities and may therefore offer only partial and sometimes biased interpretations of their distributions and behaviour. A potential alternative approach is to consider a compositional data analysis, where every element is part of a whole. In this study, an integrated methodology, which included compositional data analysis, multifractal data transformations and interpolation, as well as enrichment factor analysis, was applied to a geochemical dataset for the Campania region, in the south of Italy, focusing in particular on the behaviour, footprints and sources of a smaller pool of elements: Al, Na, K and P. The initial dataset included 3669 topsoil samples, collected at an average sampling density of 1 site per 2.3 km2, and analyzed (after an aqua regia extraction) by a combination of ICP-AES and ICP-MS for 53 elements. Frequency based methods (Clr biplot, Enrichment Factor computation) and frequency spatial-method (fractal and multifractal plots) allowed identifying the relationships between the elements and their possible source patterns in Campania soils in relation to a natural occurring concentrations in geogenic material (rocks, soils and sediments) or human input. Results showed how the interpretation of concentration and behaviour of Al, Na, K and P was enhanced thanks to the application of data log-ratio transformation in univariate and multivariate analysis compared to the use of raw or log-normal data. Multivariate analyses with compositional biplot allowed the identification of four element associations and their potential association with the underling geology and/or human activities. When focusing on the smaller pool of elements (Al, P, K and Na), these relationships with the unique geology of the region, were largely confirmed by multifractal interpolated maps. However, when the local background was used for the calculation of the enrichment factor, the resulting interpolated maps allowed to identify smaller areas where the greater concentrations of P could not be possibly associated to a mineralisation (e.g., ultrapotassic rocks) but were more likely to be associated to anthropogenic input such as agriculture activities with potentially extensive use of phosphate fertilizers. The integrated approach of this study allowed a more robust qualitative and quantitative evaluation of elemental concentration, providing in particular new and vital information on the distribution and patterns of P in soils of the Campania region, but also a viable, more robust, methodological approach to regional environmental geochemistry studies.

ACS Style

Matar Thiombane; Marcello Di Bonito; Stefano Albanese; Daniela Zuzolo; Annamaria Lima; Benedetto De Vivo. Geogenic versus anthropogenic behaviour and geochemical footprint of Al, Na, K and P in the Campania region (Southern Italy) soils through compositional data analysis and enrichment factor. Geoderma 2018, 335, 12 -26.

AMA Style

Matar Thiombane, Marcello Di Bonito, Stefano Albanese, Daniela Zuzolo, Annamaria Lima, Benedetto De Vivo. Geogenic versus anthropogenic behaviour and geochemical footprint of Al, Na, K and P in the Campania region (Southern Italy) soils through compositional data analysis and enrichment factor. Geoderma. 2018; 335 ():12-26.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Matar Thiombane; Marcello Di Bonito; Stefano Albanese; Daniela Zuzolo; Annamaria Lima; Benedetto De Vivo. 2018. "Geogenic versus anthropogenic behaviour and geochemical footprint of Al, Na, K and P in the Campania region (Southern Italy) soils through compositional data analysis and enrichment factor." Geoderma 335, no. : 12-26.

Comparative study
Published: 06 July 2018 in Environmental Science and Pollution Research
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are synthetic chemicals commonly used in agricultural activities to kill pests and are persistent organic pollutants (POPs). They can be detected in different environmental media, but soil is considered an important reservoir due to its retention capacity. Many different types of OCPs exist, which can have different origins and pathways in the environment. It is therefore important to study their distribution and behaviour in the environment, starting to build a picture of the potential human health risk in different contexts. This study aimed at investigating the regional distribution, possible sources and contamination levels of 24 OCP compounds in urban and rural soils from central and southern Italy. One hundred and forty-eight topsoil samples (0–20 cm top layer) from 78 urban and 70 rural areas in 11 administrative regions were collected and analysed by gas chromatography–electron capture detector (GC–ECD). Total OCP residues in soils ranged from nd (no detected) to 1043 ng/g with a mean of 29.91 ng/g and from nd to 1914 ng/g with a mean of 60.16 ng/g in urban and rural area, respectively. Endosulfan was the prevailing OCP in urban areas, followed by DDTs, Drins, Methoxychlor, HCHs, Chlordane-related compounds and HCB. In rural areas, the order of concentrations was Drins > DDTs > Methoxychlor > Endosulfans > HCHs > Chlordanes > HCB. Diagnostic ratios and robust multivariate analyses revealed that DDT in soils could be related to historical application, whilst (illegal) use of technical DDT or dicofol may still occur in some urban areas. HCH residues could be related to both historical use and recent application, whilst there was evidence that modest (yet significant) application of commercial technical HCH may still be happening in urban areas. Drins and Chlordane compounds appeared to be mostly related to historical application, whilst Endosulfan presented a complex mix of results, indicating mainly historical origin in rural areas as well as potential recent applications on urban areas. Contamination levels were quantified by Soil Quality Index (SoQI), identifying high levels in rural areas of Campania and Apulia, possibly due to the intensive nature of some agricultural practices in those regions (e.g., vineyards and olive plantations). The results from this study (which is in progress in the remaining regions of Italy) will provide an invaluable baseline for OCP distribution in Italy and a powerful argument for follow-up studies in contaminated areas. It is also hoped that similar studies will eventually constitute enough evidence to push towards an institutional response for more adequate regulation as well as a full ratification of the Stockholm Convention.

ACS Style

Matar Thiombane; Attila Petrik; Marcello Di Bonito; Stefano Albanese; Daniela Zuzolo; Domenico Cicchella; Annamaria Lima; Chengkai Qu; Shihua Qi; Benedetto De Vivo. Status, sources and contamination levels of organochlorine pesticide residues in urban and agricultural areas: a preliminary review in central–southern Italian soils. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 2018, 25, 26361 -26382.

AMA Style

Matar Thiombane, Attila Petrik, Marcello Di Bonito, Stefano Albanese, Daniela Zuzolo, Domenico Cicchella, Annamaria Lima, Chengkai Qu, Shihua Qi, Benedetto De Vivo. Status, sources and contamination levels of organochlorine pesticide residues in urban and agricultural areas: a preliminary review in central–southern Italian soils. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 2018; 25 (26):26361-26382.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Matar Thiombane; Attila Petrik; Marcello Di Bonito; Stefano Albanese; Daniela Zuzolo; Domenico Cicchella; Annamaria Lima; Chengkai Qu; Shihua Qi; Benedetto De Vivo. 2018. "Status, sources and contamination levels of organochlorine pesticide residues in urban and agricultural areas: a preliminary review in central–southern Italian soils." Environmental Science and Pollution Research 25, no. 26: 26361-26382.

Original paper
Published: 06 July 2018 in Environmental Geochemistry and Health
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of persistent organic pollutants. They have been identified as a type of carcinogenic substance and are relatively widespread in environment media such as air, water and soils, constituting a significant hazard for human health. In many parts of the world, PAHs are still found in high concentrations despite improved legislation and monitoring, and it is therefore vital defining their profiles, and assessing their potential sources. This study focused on a large region of the south of Italy, where concentration levels, profiles, possible sources and toxicity equivalent quantity (TEQ) level of sixteen PAHs were investigated. The survey included soils from five large regions of the south of Italy: 80 soil samples (0–20 cm top layer) from urban and rural locations were collected and analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Total PAHs and individual molecular compounds from the US Environmental Protection Agency priority pollutants list were identified and measured. Results showed that 16 PAHs varied significantly in urban and rural areas, and different regions presented discordant characteristics. Urban areas presented concentrations ranging from 7.62 to 755 ng g−1 (mean = 84.85 ng g−1), whilst rural areas presented ranges from 1.87 to 11,353 ng g−1 (mean = 333 ng g−1). Large urban areas, such as Rome, Naples and Palermo, exhibited high PAHs total concentration, but high values were also found in rural areas of Campania region. Different PAHs molecular ratios were used as diagnostic fingerprinting for source identification: LWMPAHs/HWMPAHs, Fluo/(Fluo + Pyr), BaA/(BaA + Chr), Ant/(Ant + Phe) and IcdP/(IcdP + BghiP). These ratios indicated that PAHs sources in the study area were mainly of pyrogenic origin, i.e. mostly related to biomass combustion and vehicular emission. On the other hand, values in Sicilian soils seemed to indicate a petrogenic origin, possibly linked to emissions from crude oil combustion and refineries present in the region. Finally, results allowed to calculate the toxicity equivalent quantity (TEQBAP) levels for the various locations sampled, highlighting that the highest values were found in the Campania region, with 661 and 54.20 ng g−1, in rural and urban areas, respectively. These findings, which could be linked to the presence of a large solid waste incinerator plant, but also to well-documented illegal waste disposal and burning, suggest that exposure to PAH may be posing an increased risk to human health in some of the studied areas.

ACS Style

Matar Thiombane; Stefano Albanese; Marcello Di Bonito; Annamaria Lima; Daniela Zuzolo; Roberto Rolandi; Shihua Qi; Benedetto De Vivo. Source patterns and contamination level of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in urban and rural areas of Southern Italian soils. Environmental Geochemistry and Health 2018, 41, 507 -528.

AMA Style

Matar Thiombane, Stefano Albanese, Marcello Di Bonito, Annamaria Lima, Daniela Zuzolo, Roberto Rolandi, Shihua Qi, Benedetto De Vivo. Source patterns and contamination level of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in urban and rural areas of Southern Italian soils. Environmental Geochemistry and Health. 2018; 41 (2):507-528.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Matar Thiombane; Stefano Albanese; Marcello Di Bonito; Annamaria Lima; Daniela Zuzolo; Roberto Rolandi; Shihua Qi; Benedetto De Vivo. 2018. "Source patterns and contamination level of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in urban and rural areas of Southern Italian soils." Environmental Geochemistry and Health 41, no. 2: 507-528.

Book chapter
Published: 01 January 2018 in Environmental Geochemistry: Site Characterization, Data Analysis and Case Histories
Reads 0
Downloads 0
ACS Style

Paola Adamo; Diana Agrelli; Stefano Albanese; E. Louise Ander; Robert A. Ayuso; Piero Bareschino; Harvey E. Belkin; Neil Breward; Domenico Cicchella; Neil Crout; Benedetto De Vivo; Ningombam Linthoingambi Devi; Marcello Di Bonito; Angela L. Doherty; Robert B. Finkelman; Dee M.A. Flight; Nora K. Foley; Fiona M. Fordyce; Pradip K. Govil; Jan E. Groenenberg; Liuqin Huang; Monica Iadarola; Hongchen Jiang; Christopher C. Johnson; Kate V. Knights; Aradhi K. Krishna; Robert Lessard; Annamaria Lima; Thomas R. Lister; Hong-Xia Liu; Sthephen Lofts; Mark B. Lyles; Sarah E. Nice; William H. Orem; Francesco Pepe; Nadine M. Piatak; Geoffrey S. Plumlee; Shihua Qi; Chengkai Qu; Shaun Reeder; Reijo Salminen; Cynde Sears; Olle Selinus; Barry Smith; Marianne Stuart; Wen Sun; Chris Swyngedouw; Julian K. Trick; Geng Wu; Xinli Xing; Dan Yang; Jian Yang; Scott D. Young; Mariavittoria Zampella; Fa-Ming Zeng; Hao Zhang; Yuan Zhang; Jia-Quan Zhang. Contributors. Environmental Geochemistry: Site Characterization, Data Analysis and Case Histories 2018, 1 .

AMA Style

Paola Adamo, Diana Agrelli, Stefano Albanese, E. Louise Ander, Robert A. Ayuso, Piero Bareschino, Harvey E. Belkin, Neil Breward, Domenico Cicchella, Neil Crout, Benedetto De Vivo, Ningombam Linthoingambi Devi, Marcello Di Bonito, Angela L. Doherty, Robert B. Finkelman, Dee M.A. Flight, Nora K. Foley, Fiona M. Fordyce, Pradip K. Govil, Jan E. Groenenberg, Liuqin Huang, Monica Iadarola, Hongchen Jiang, Christopher C. Johnson, Kate V. Knights, Aradhi K. Krishna, Robert Lessard, Annamaria Lima, Thomas R. Lister, Hong-Xia Liu, Sthephen Lofts, Mark B. Lyles, Sarah E. Nice, William H. Orem, Francesco Pepe, Nadine M. Piatak, Geoffrey S. Plumlee, Shihua Qi, Chengkai Qu, Shaun Reeder, Reijo Salminen, Cynde Sears, Olle Selinus, Barry Smith, Marianne Stuart, Wen Sun, Chris Swyngedouw, Julian K. Trick, Geng Wu, Xinli Xing, Dan Yang, Jian Yang, Scott D. Young, Mariavittoria Zampella, Fa-Ming Zeng, Hao Zhang, Yuan Zhang, Jia-Quan Zhang. Contributors. Environmental Geochemistry: Site Characterization, Data Analysis and Case Histories. 2018; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Paola Adamo; Diana Agrelli; Stefano Albanese; E. Louise Ander; Robert A. Ayuso; Piero Bareschino; Harvey E. Belkin; Neil Breward; Domenico Cicchella; Neil Crout; Benedetto De Vivo; Ningombam Linthoingambi Devi; Marcello Di Bonito; Angela L. Doherty; Robert B. Finkelman; Dee M.A. Flight; Nora K. Foley; Fiona M. Fordyce; Pradip K. Govil; Jan E. Groenenberg; Liuqin Huang; Monica Iadarola; Hongchen Jiang; Christopher C. Johnson; Kate V. Knights; Aradhi K. Krishna; Robert Lessard; Annamaria Lima; Thomas R. Lister; Hong-Xia Liu; Sthephen Lofts; Mark B. Lyles; Sarah E. Nice; William H. Orem; Francesco Pepe; Nadine M. Piatak; Geoffrey S. Plumlee; Shihua Qi; Chengkai Qu; Shaun Reeder; Reijo Salminen; Cynde Sears; Olle Selinus; Barry Smith; Marianne Stuart; Wen Sun; Chris Swyngedouw; Julian K. Trick; Geng Wu; Xinli Xing; Dan Yang; Jian Yang; Scott D. Young; Mariavittoria Zampella; Fa-Ming Zeng; Hao Zhang; Yuan Zhang; Jia-Quan Zhang. 2018. "Contributors." Environmental Geochemistry: Site Characterization, Data Analysis and Case Histories , no. : 1.

Book chapter
Published: 01 January 2018 in Environmental Geochemistry: Site Characterization, Data Analysis and Case Histories
Reads 0
Downloads 0
ACS Style

Marcello Di Bonito; Neil Breward; Neil Crout; Barry Smith; Scott D. Young; Hao Zhang. Extraction and Characterization of Pore Water in Contaminated Soils. Environmental Geochemistry: Site Characterization, Data Analysis and Case Histories 2018, 195 -235.

AMA Style

Marcello Di Bonito, Neil Breward, Neil Crout, Barry Smith, Scott D. Young, Hao Zhang. Extraction and Characterization of Pore Water in Contaminated Soils. Environmental Geochemistry: Site Characterization, Data Analysis and Case Histories. 2018; ():195-235.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marcello Di Bonito; Neil Breward; Neil Crout; Barry Smith; Scott D. Young; Hao Zhang. 2018. "Extraction and Characterization of Pore Water in Contaminated Soils." Environmental Geochemistry: Site Characterization, Data Analysis and Case Histories , no. : 195-235.

Book chapter
Published: 01 January 2018 in Environmental Geochemistry: Site Characterization, Data Analysis and Case Histories
Reads 0
Downloads 0
ACS Style

Marcello Di Bonito; Sthephen Lofts; Jan E. Groenenberg. Models of Geochemical Speciation: Structure and Applications. Environmental Geochemistry: Site Characterization, Data Analysis and Case Histories 2018, 237 -305.

AMA Style

Marcello Di Bonito, Sthephen Lofts, Jan E. Groenenberg. Models of Geochemical Speciation: Structure and Applications. Environmental Geochemistry: Site Characterization, Data Analysis and Case Histories. 2018; ():237-305.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marcello Di Bonito; Sthephen Lofts; Jan E. Groenenberg. 2018. "Models of Geochemical Speciation: Structure and Applications." Environmental Geochemistry: Site Characterization, Data Analysis and Case Histories , no. : 237-305.

Journal article
Published: 01 December 2016 in Environmental Pollution
Reads 0
Downloads 0

The cycling of sulfur (S), iron (Fe) and phosphorus (P) in sediments and pore water can impact the water quality of overlying water. In a heavily polluted river estuary (Yantai, China), vertical profiles of fluxes of dissolved sulfide, Fe and dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) in sediment pore water were investigated by the Diffusive Gradients in Thin films technique (DGT). Vertical fluxes of S, Fe, P in intertidal sediment showed the availability of DRP increased while the sulfide decreased with depth in surface sediment, indicating that sulfide accumulation could enhance P release in anoxic sediment. In sites with contrasting salinity, the relative dominance of iron and sulfate reduction was different, with iron reduction dominant over sulfate reduction in the upper sediment at an intertidal site but the reverse true in a freshwater site, with the other process dominating at depth in each case. Phosphate release was largely controlled by iron reduction.

ACS Style

Qiyao Sun; Yanqing Sheng; Jian Yang; Marcello Di Bonito; Robert J.G. Mortimer. Dynamic characteristics of sulfur, iron and phosphorus in coastal polluted sediments, north China. Environmental Pollution 2016, 219, 588 -595.

AMA Style

Qiyao Sun, Yanqing Sheng, Jian Yang, Marcello Di Bonito, Robert J.G. Mortimer. Dynamic characteristics of sulfur, iron and phosphorus in coastal polluted sediments, north China. Environmental Pollution. 2016; 219 ():588-595.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Qiyao Sun; Yanqing Sheng; Jian Yang; Marcello Di Bonito; Robert J.G. Mortimer. 2016. "Dynamic characteristics of sulfur, iron and phosphorus in coastal polluted sediments, north China." Environmental Pollution 219, no. : 588-595.

Journal article
Published: 01 November 2015 in Journal of Geochemical Exploration
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Field soil pore water monitoring was applied in a highly heavy-metal contaminated area in SWSardinia, Italy, as a direct, realistic measure of heavy metal mobility. The main chemistry of pore waters well reflects the local characteristics of soils, ranging from Ca–SO4 to (Ca)Mg–HCO3\ud to Ca(Na)–SO(Cl), with a wide range of conductivity. The mobility of Zn and Pb is apparently controlled by equilibrium with minerals such as hydrozincite or smithsonite, and cerussite, respectively. These results allow a correct estimate of the actual environmental risk associated\ud with the presence of heavy metals in soils, and may serve as a supporting tool for phytoremediation\ud planning

ACS Style

Sara Concas; Carla Ardau; Marcello Di Bonito; Pierfranco Lattanzi; Andrea Vacca. Field sampling of soil pore water to evaluate the mobile fraction of trace elements in the Iglesiente area (SW Sardinia, Italy). Journal of Geochemical Exploration 2015, 158, 82 -94.

AMA Style

Sara Concas, Carla Ardau, Marcello Di Bonito, Pierfranco Lattanzi, Andrea Vacca. Field sampling of soil pore water to evaluate the mobile fraction of trace elements in the Iglesiente area (SW Sardinia, Italy). Journal of Geochemical Exploration. 2015; 158 ():82-94.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sara Concas; Carla Ardau; Marcello Di Bonito; Pierfranco Lattanzi; Andrea Vacca. 2015. "Field sampling of soil pore water to evaluate the mobile fraction of trace elements in the Iglesiente area (SW Sardinia, Italy)." Journal of Geochemical Exploration 158, no. : 82-94.

Book chapter
Published: 01 January 2008 in Environmental Geochemistry
Reads 0
Downloads 0
ACS Style

Marcello Di Bonito; Neil Breward; Neil Crout; Barry Smith; Scott Young. OVERVIEW OF SELECTED SOIL PORE WATER EXTRACTION METHODS FOR THE DETERMINATION OF POTENTIALLY TOXIC ELEMENTS IN CONTAMINATED SOILS: OPERATIONAL AND TECHNICAL ASPECTS. Environmental Geochemistry 2008, 213 -249.

AMA Style

Marcello Di Bonito, Neil Breward, Neil Crout, Barry Smith, Scott Young. OVERVIEW OF SELECTED SOIL PORE WATER EXTRACTION METHODS FOR THE DETERMINATION OF POTENTIALLY TOXIC ELEMENTS IN CONTAMINATED SOILS: OPERATIONAL AND TECHNICAL ASPECTS. Environmental Geochemistry. 2008; ():213-249.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marcello Di Bonito; Neil Breward; Neil Crout; Barry Smith; Scott Young. 2008. "OVERVIEW OF SELECTED SOIL PORE WATER EXTRACTION METHODS FOR THE DETERMINATION OF POTENTIALLY TOXIC ELEMENTS IN CONTAMINATED SOILS: OPERATIONAL AND TECHNICAL ASPECTS." Environmental Geochemistry , no. : 213-249.