This page has only limited features, please log in for full access.
Potentially Toxic Elements (PTE) are common soil contaminants and pose a significant risk to human health. In this study, ingestion (<150 μm) and inhalation (<10 μm) bioaccessibility and human health risk due to PTE were investigated in soils of the urban and peri-urban area of Torino. Lead, Cd, Cu, and Zn were observed to be the most soluble elements in simulated gastric and lung fluids. Higher bioaccessible concentrations of Pb, Ni, Co and Sb were observed in the inhalable size fraction ( 1) was found through ingestion exposure for children in some urban sites and Pb was the most hazardous elements. Carcinogenic risks were under the threshold levels for every soil (CR < 10−4), with Cr and As being the dominant contributors to risk. Therefore, necessary soil remediation activities are needed to reduce the risks of human, especially for children, exposure to Pb.
Li Yan; Ajmone-Marsan Franco; Padoan Elio. Health risk assessment via ingestion and inhalation of soil PTE of an urban area. Chemosphere 2021, 281, 130964 .
AMA StyleLi Yan, Ajmone-Marsan Franco, Padoan Elio. Health risk assessment via ingestion and inhalation of soil PTE of an urban area. Chemosphere. 2021; 281 ():130964.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLi Yan; Ajmone-Marsan Franco; Padoan Elio. 2021. "Health risk assessment via ingestion and inhalation of soil PTE of an urban area." Chemosphere 281, no. : 130964.
Soil is a non-renewable natural resource. However, the current rates of soil usage and degradation have led to a loss of soil for agriculture, habitats, biodiversity, and to ecosystems problems. Urban and former industrial areas suffer particularly of these problems, and compensation measures to restore environmental quality include the renaturation of dismissed areas, de-sealing of surfaces, or the building of green infrastructures. In this framework, the development of methodologies for the creation of soils designed to mimic natural soil and suitable for vegetation growth, known as constructed soils or technosols, are here reviewed. The possible design choices and the starting materials have been described, using a circular economy approach, i.e., preferring non-contaminated wastes to non-renewable resources. Technosols appear to be a good solution to the problems of land degradation and urban green if using recycled wastes or by-products, as they can be an alternative to the remediation of contaminated sites and to importing fertile agricultural soil. Nevertheless, waste use requires analysis to ensure the salubrity of the starting materials. Moreover, materials produced on site or nearby minimize the cost and the environmental impact of transport, thus the involvement of local stakeholders in the urban land management must be encouraged.
Debora Fabbri; Romeo Pizzol; Paola Calza; Mery Malandrino; Elisa Gaggero; Elio Padoan; Franco Ajmone-Marsan. Constructed Technosols: A Strategy toward a Circular Economy. Applied Sciences 2021, 11, 3432 .
AMA StyleDebora Fabbri, Romeo Pizzol, Paola Calza, Mery Malandrino, Elisa Gaggero, Elio Padoan, Franco Ajmone-Marsan. Constructed Technosols: A Strategy toward a Circular Economy. Applied Sciences. 2021; 11 (8):3432.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDebora Fabbri; Romeo Pizzol; Paola Calza; Mery Malandrino; Elisa Gaggero; Elio Padoan; Franco Ajmone-Marsan. 2021. "Constructed Technosols: A Strategy toward a Circular Economy." Applied Sciences 11, no. 8: 3432.
In the last decade, extensive studies have been conducted to quantify the influence of different factors on potentially toxic elements (PTE) bioaccessibility in soil; one of the most important is soil size fraction. However, there is no agreement about the size fraction and the methods to investigate bioaccessibility, as very few review articles are available on soil PTE bioaccessibility and none addressed the influence of particle size on PTE bioaccessibility. This study provides a review of the relations between PTE bioaccessibility and soil particle size fractions. The available research indicates that PTE bioaccessibility distribution across different size fractions varies widely in soil, but a general trend of higher bioaccessibility in finer size fraction was found. The different elements may exhibit different relationships between bioaccessibility and soil size fraction and, in some cases, their bioaccessibility seems to be more related to the source and to the chemico-physical form of PTE in soil. Often, soil pollution and related health risk are assessed based on PTE total concentration rather than their bioaccessible fraction, but from the available studies it appears that consensus must be pursued on the methods to determine PTE bioaccessibility in the fine soil size fractions to achieve a more accurate human health risk assessment.
Yan Li; Elio Padoan; Franco Ajmone-Marsan. Soil particle size fraction and potentially toxic elements bioaccessibility: A review. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 2020, 209, 111806 .
AMA StyleYan Li, Elio Padoan, Franco Ajmone-Marsan. Soil particle size fraction and potentially toxic elements bioaccessibility: A review. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. 2020; 209 ():111806.
Chicago/Turabian StyleYan Li; Elio Padoan; Franco Ajmone-Marsan. 2020. "Soil particle size fraction and potentially toxic elements bioaccessibility: A review." Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 209, no. : 111806.
Supply of resources, a growing population, and environmental pollution are some of the main challenges facing the contemporary world. The rapid development of mining activities has produced huge amounts of waste. This waste, found in abandoned mine sites, provides the potential opportunity of extracting raw material. The current study, therefore, focuses on testing the validation of a shared methodology to recover extractive waste from abandoned mines, and applies this methodology to a case study in Gorno, northwest Italy. The methods focused on: (1) analyzing the impact of tailings and fine fraction of waste rock (Lepidium Sativum) to assess usability of both as soil additive, and (2) recovering raw materials from tailings and coarse fraction (>2 mm) of waste rock, by means of dressing methods like wet shaking table and froth flotation. The results indicated that the fine fraction of waste rock and tailings did not have detrimental effects on seed germination; however, there was marked decrease in plant growth. As for the recovery of raw materials, the coarse waste rock samples, crushed to <0.5 mm, produced a recovery of Cd, Ga, and Zn—as much as 66%, 56%, and 64%, respectively—using the wet shaking table. The same samples when crushed to 0.063–0.16 mm and used for froth flotation produced a recovery of Cd, Ga, and Zn of up to 61%, 72%, and 47%, respectively. The flotation experiment on tailings showed a recovery of Cd, Ga and Zn at pH 7 of 33%, 6% and 29% respectively. The present investigation highlights the methodologies used for extracting raw materials from extractive waste.
Neha Mehta; Giovanna Dino; Iride Passarella; Franco Ajmone-Marsan; Piergiorgio Rossetti; Domenico De Luca. Assessment of the Possible Reuse of Extractive Waste Coming from Abandoned Mine Sites: Case Study in Gorno, Italy. Sustainability 2020, 12, 2471 .
AMA StyleNeha Mehta, Giovanna Dino, Iride Passarella, Franco Ajmone-Marsan, Piergiorgio Rossetti, Domenico De Luca. Assessment of the Possible Reuse of Extractive Waste Coming from Abandoned Mine Sites: Case Study in Gorno, Italy. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (6):2471.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNeha Mehta; Giovanna Dino; Iride Passarella; Franco Ajmone-Marsan; Piergiorgio Rossetti; Domenico De Luca. 2020. "Assessment of the Possible Reuse of Extractive Waste Coming from Abandoned Mine Sites: Case Study in Gorno, Italy." Sustainability 12, no. 6: 2471.
This experiment was aimed at verifying the usefulness of phytoremediation using Short Rotation Coppice (SRC) in an urban Zn-contaminated site. Besides elemental uptake and reclamation, the SRC method was applied to evaluate the additional benefits of a green infrastructure. Nine different plants with rapid growth and large biomass production were selected: three Populus clones, three Salix hybrids, and three Robinia genotypes. Annual and biennial coppicing were evaluated. Poplar clones were more productive using annual coppicing, while Salix and Robinia produced higher biomass in blocks not coppiced. Poplar had the highest phytoextraction rate during the second year, with 1077 g/ha. Salix clones S1 and S3 extracted similar quantities using biennial coppicing. After two years, the bioavailable fraction of Zn decreased significantly using all species, from the 26% decrease of Robinia to the 36% decrease of Salix. The short rotation coppice method proved to be useful in an urban context, for both landscape and limiting the access to the contaminated area. Improving the biomass yield through the phytomanagement options (fertilization, irrigation, coppicing, etc.) could make SRC phytoremediation an economic and effective solution to manage urban contaminated areas, coupling the added values of biomass production to the landscape benefits.
Elio Padoan; Iride Passarella; Marco Prati; Sara Bergante; Gianni Facciotto; Franco Ajmone-Marsan. The Suitability of Short Rotation Coppice Crops for Phytoremediation of Urban Soils. Applied Sciences 2019, 10, 307 .
AMA StyleElio Padoan, Iride Passarella, Marco Prati, Sara Bergante, Gianni Facciotto, Franco Ajmone-Marsan. The Suitability of Short Rotation Coppice Crops for Phytoremediation of Urban Soils. Applied Sciences. 2019; 10 (1):307.
Chicago/Turabian StyleElio Padoan; Iride Passarella; Marco Prati; Sara Bergante; Gianni Facciotto; Franco Ajmone-Marsan. 2019. "The Suitability of Short Rotation Coppice Crops for Phytoremediation of Urban Soils." Applied Sciences 10, no. 1: 307.
Europe is confronted with an increasing risk of supply of critical raw materials (CRM) and secondary raw materials (SRM). Major parts of the economy depend on the supply of raw materials, a fact acknowledged by policymakers and scientists in Europe. Recent economic and geopolitical developments led to the focus on reuse and recycling of waste products to secure supply of raw materials. Consequently, to tackle the supply-risk challenge extractive waste (EW) present in mining dumps should be approached as opportunities as source of raw materials. Interdisciplinary studies are required with respect to correct estimation of raw materials present in extractive waste dumps, identify their reusability, and to measure the threats posed by EW dumps to local population. In present study, site investigation and geochemical analysis was performed to identify the metals present in waste dumps from two abandoned mine sites in Italy. These two sites are 1) Campello Monti, Piedmont used for Ni extraction 2) Gorno, Lombardy used for Zn and Pb exploitation in past. The study also focused on risk analysis to measure effects on human health due to dispersion and transfer of contaminants from waste dumps. In Campello Monti, it was observed that EW was rich in Ni, Co and Cu concentration. It was also observed that there was presence of carcinogenic risk due to As in the area. In Gorno, Zn ,Cd and Ga were found to be present in abundance. It was also noticed that, there was presence of carcinogenic risk (RI > 1 x 10-6) due to arsenic in Gorno, which had an RI equal to 72.2 × 10−6. The present research highlights the need to measure potential value of EW dumps for reusing and measuring environmental impacts. Thus, leading to the sustainable management of waste including both economic and environmental benefits.
Giovanna Antonella Dino; Neha Mehta; Piergiorgio Rossetti; Franco Ajmone-Marsan; Domenico Antonio De Luca. Sustainable approach towards extractive waste management: Two case studies from Italy. Resources Policy 2018, 59, 33 -43.
AMA StyleGiovanna Antonella Dino, Neha Mehta, Piergiorgio Rossetti, Franco Ajmone-Marsan, Domenico Antonio De Luca. Sustainable approach towards extractive waste management: Two case studies from Italy. Resources Policy. 2018; 59 ():33-43.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGiovanna Antonella Dino; Neha Mehta; Piergiorgio Rossetti; Franco Ajmone-Marsan; Domenico Antonio De Luca. 2018. "Sustainable approach towards extractive waste management: Two case studies from Italy." Resources Policy 59, no. : 33-43.
Abandoned mine sites continue to present serious environmental hazards because the heavy metals associated with extractive waste are continuously released into the environment, where they threaten human life and the environment. Remediating and securing extractive waste are complex, lengthy and costly processes. Thus, in most European countries, a site is considered for intervention when it poses a risk to human health and the surrounding environment. As a consequence, risk analysis presents a viable decisional approach towards the management of extractive waste. To evaluate the effects posed by extractive waste to human health and groundwater, a risk analysis approach was used for an abandoned nickel extraction site in Campello Monti in North Italy. This site is located in the Southern Italian Alps. The area consists of large and voluminous mafic rocks intruded by mantle peridotite. The mining activities in this area have generated extractive waste. A risk analysis of the site was performed using Risk Based Corrective Action (RBCA) guidelines, considering the properties of extractive waste and water for the properties of environmental matrices. The results showed the presence of carcinogenic risk due to arsenic and risks to groundwater due to nickel. The results of the risk analysis form a basic understanding of the current situation at the site, which is affected by extractive waste.
Neha Mehta; Giovanna Antonella Dino; Franco Ajmone-Marsan; Manuela Lasagna; Chiara Romè; Domenico Antonio De Luca. Extractive waste management: A risk analysis approach. Science of The Total Environment 2018, 622-623, 900 -912.
AMA StyleNeha Mehta, Giovanna Antonella Dino, Franco Ajmone-Marsan, Manuela Lasagna, Chiara Romè, Domenico Antonio De Luca. Extractive waste management: A risk analysis approach. Science of The Total Environment. 2018; 622-623 ():900-912.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNeha Mehta; Giovanna Antonella Dino; Franco Ajmone-Marsan; Manuela Lasagna; Chiara Romè; Domenico Antonio De Luca. 2018. "Extractive waste management: A risk analysis approach." Science of The Total Environment 622-623, no. : 900-912.
The economically important activity of metal processing can tend to contribute to the degradation of the environment. Smelting is an important source of contaminants, dispersing large quantities of potentially toxic elements (PTE) and coproducts into the environment. Soils in the vicinity of smelters frequently contain high concentrations of PTE. In terms of the quantities processed, the major PTE are iron (Fe), aluminium (Al), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn); of these Cu, Pb and Zn are, potentially, highly hazardous elements. The general problem addressed by this study is to determine if the PTE concentration in the soils of an area downwind from a decommissioned iron smelter (46°04′16″N, 8°15′47″E) still shows signs of past contamination, and to discuss the options for intervention. The history of pollution of Villadossola soils due to the steel business comprises the last 150 years. We measured pseudo-total (aqua regia) and available (EDTA) PTE in soils over an area of 15 km2 near to the pollution source. Here we show that four decades after the end of the polluting event, when the total emissions originating from the smelter followed the order of magnitude Zn ≫ Cr ≫ Fe ≈ Pb ≈ Ca > Mn ≫ Cu > Ni ≈ Cd, the soil feedback, presented in terms of enrichment ratios, follows the order Cd > Bi ≫ Pb > Cu > Zn > Sb ≈ As > Cr. The total concentrations of PTE in the topsoil are: 101 mg Cr, 8 mg Co, 41 mg Ni, 70 mg Cu, 143 mg Zn, 6 mg As, 1.3 mg Cd, 0.5 mg Sb, 92 mg Pb, and 1.3 mg Bi kg− 1 soil, with standard errors exceeding 50%. Our results show that it is unlikely that soils in the vicinity of the former smelter are a source of disproportionate human intake of PTE, and that the cost of reclamation would reach one quarter of the total annual budget of the municipality. Options for reducing the risks rely on the optimisation of the risk assessment factors, by adopting soil conservation practices.
Luigi Gallini; Franco Ajmone-Marsan; Riccardo Scalenghe. The contamination legacy of a decommissioned iron smelter in the Italian Alps. Journal of Geochemical Exploration 2018, 186, 121 -128.
AMA StyleLuigi Gallini, Franco Ajmone-Marsan, Riccardo Scalenghe. The contamination legacy of a decommissioned iron smelter in the Italian Alps. Journal of Geochemical Exploration. 2018; 186 ():121-128.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuigi Gallini; Franco Ajmone-Marsan; Riccardo Scalenghe. 2018. "The contamination legacy of a decommissioned iron smelter in the Italian Alps." Journal of Geochemical Exploration 186, no. : 121-128.
Road dust (RD), together with surface soils, is recognized as one of the main sinks of pollutants in urban environments. Over the last years, many studies have focused on total and bioaccessible concentrations while few have assessed the bioaccessibility of size-fractionated elements in RD. Therefore, the distribution and bioaccessibility of Fe, Mn, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sb and Zn in size fractions of RD and roadside soils (90% of Pb, Zn and Cu is bioaccessible in the <2.5μm fraction, while for Mn, Ni, Sb, Fe and Cr, values vary from 76% to 5%. In the 2.5-10μm fraction, the values were 89% for Pb, 67% for Zn and 60% for Cu. These results make the evaluation of the bioaccessibility of size-fractionated particles appear to be a necessity for correct estimation of risk in urban areas.
Elio Padoan; Chiara Romè; Franco Ajmone-Marsan. Bioaccessibility and size distribution of metals in road dust and roadside soils along a peri-urban transect. Science of The Total Environment 2017, 601-602, 89 -98.
AMA StyleElio Padoan, Chiara Romè, Franco Ajmone-Marsan. Bioaccessibility and size distribution of metals in road dust and roadside soils along a peri-urban transect. Science of The Total Environment. 2017; 601-602 ():89-98.
Chicago/Turabian StyleElio Padoan; Chiara Romè; Franco Ajmone-Marsan. 2017. "Bioaccessibility and size distribution of metals in road dust and roadside soils along a peri-urban transect." Science of The Total Environment 601-602, no. : 89-98.
The relative impact of non-exhaust sources (i.e. road dust, tire wear, road wear and brake wear particles) on urban air quality is increasing. Among them, road dust resuspension has generally the highest impact on PM concentrations but its spatio-temporal variability has been rarely studied and modeled. Some recent studies attempted to observe and describe the time-variability but, as it is driven by traffic and meteorology, uncertainty remains on the seasonality of emissions. The knowledge gap on spatial variability is much wider, as several factors have been pointed out as responsible for road dust build-up: pavement characteristics, traffic intensity and speed, fleet composition, proximity to traffic lights, but also the presence of external sources. However, no parameterization is available as a function of these variables. We investigated mobile road dust smaller than 10 μm (MF10) in two cities with different climatic and traffic conditions (Barcelona and Turin), to explore MF10 seasonal variability and the relationship between MF10 and site characteristics (pavement macrotexture, traffic intensity and proximity to braking zone). Moreover, we provide the first estimates of emission factors in the Po Valley both in summer and winter conditions. Our results showed a good inverse relationship between MF10 and macro-texture, traffic intensity and distance from the nearest braking zone. We also found a clear seasonal effect of road dust emissions, with higher emission in summer, likely due to the lower pavement moisture. These results allowed building a simple empirical mode, predicting maximal dust loadings and, consequently, emission potential, based on the aforementioned data. This model will need to be scaled for meteorological effect, using methods accounting for weather and pavement moisture. This can significantly improve bottom-up emission inventory for spatial allocation of emissions and air quality management, to select those roads with higher emissions for mitigation measures.
Elio Padoan; Franco Ajmone-Marsan; Xavier Querol; Fulvio Amato. An empirical model to predict road dust emissions based on pavement and traffic characteristics. Environmental Pollution 2017, 237, 713 -720.
AMA StyleElio Padoan, Franco Ajmone-Marsan, Xavier Querol, Fulvio Amato. An empirical model to predict road dust emissions based on pavement and traffic characteristics. Environmental Pollution. 2017; 237 ():713-720.
Chicago/Turabian StyleElio Padoan; Franco Ajmone-Marsan; Xavier Querol; Fulvio Amato. 2017. "An empirical model to predict road dust emissions based on pavement and traffic characteristics." Environmental Pollution 237, no. : 713-720.
Waste from stone and aggregate quarrying industry represents a serious environmental and economic problem in view of the difficulties related to its disposal, especially of the finest fraction. Although some attempts have been made to investigate possible reuse of these materials, little is known about their potential as components of a cultivation substrate. Their low physical and chemical fertility require the mixing with other materials to improve the general properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate if such a prospect product can be employed within the quarry for its environmental rehabilitation. Samples from gangue saw with abrasive shot (GSS), from diamond frame saw (DSS), and mixed sludge (MS)—from gangue and DSS—were collected and mixed with compost, green manure, and soil material. The resulting mixtures were further composted, distributed on parcels within the quarry area and sowed. The original materials and the mixtures were analyzed for metals and hydrocarbons (TPH) and for their phytotoxicity. The parcels were sampled and analyzed after 8 years. The results show that mixing with foreign materials can improve the overall quality and fertility of the sludge and that the mixture is not phytotoxic. Most metals concentrations decreased on mixing and further diminished after 8 years. TPH content was drastically reduced and fertility parameters tend toward equilibrium. This indicates that the residual sludge can be employed for quarrying rehabilitation after improvement of its fertility and of its environmental quality.
Giovanna Antonella Dino; Iride Passarella; Franco Ajmone-Marsan. Quarry rehabilitation employing treated residual sludge from dimension stone working plant. Environmental Earth Sciences 2014, 73, 7157 -7164.
AMA StyleGiovanna Antonella Dino, Iride Passarella, Franco Ajmone-Marsan. Quarry rehabilitation employing treated residual sludge from dimension stone working plant. Environmental Earth Sciences. 2014; 73 (11):7157-7164.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGiovanna Antonella Dino; Iride Passarella; Franco Ajmone-Marsan. 2014. "Quarry rehabilitation employing treated residual sludge from dimension stone working plant." Environmental Earth Sciences 73, no. 11: 7157-7164.
Does removal of cations from soil solution during soil reduction stimulate phosphorus (P) release? An ion-exchange resin system was employed to provide a sink during the incubation of twelve soils under fully reducing conditions. This experimental design was considered to better simulate the loss of ions likely to occur under field conditions than more routine batch type closed extraction systems where solutes build-up in the extract solution. The small solute concentrations that remain in the equilibrating solution suggest the mixed resin system acted as an effective sink over the whole experimental period. By maintaining a small P concentration the resin system mimics soil drainage conditions and encourages P release from soil. Measurement of soil P forms by sequential extraction after the incubation period indicated an increase in the amorphous forms present. Here we show that even if the P-containing solution is retained by the soil, the potential for a subsequent P loss is increased under aerobic conditions. The management of drainage systems should try and avoid the onset of anaerobic conditions. Eventually, magnesium- and calcium-based precipitation products could recapture P from drains recycling it in topsoils as fertilizer.
Riccardo Scalenghe; Anthony C. Edwards; Elisabetta Barberis; Franco Ajmone-Marsan. Release of phosphorus under reducing and simulated open drainage conditions from overfertilised soils. Chemosphere 2014, 95, 289 -294.
AMA StyleRiccardo Scalenghe, Anthony C. Edwards, Elisabetta Barberis, Franco Ajmone-Marsan. Release of phosphorus under reducing and simulated open drainage conditions from overfertilised soils. Chemosphere. 2014; 95 ():289-294.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRiccardo Scalenghe; Anthony C. Edwards; Elisabetta Barberis; Franco Ajmone-Marsan. 2014. "Release of phosphorus under reducing and simulated open drainage conditions from overfertilised soils." Chemosphere 95, no. : 289-294.
Data about the background concentration of potentially toxic elements in soils are indispensable for establishing legislative limits, risk thresholds and, in general, assess the intensity of the pollution. Crude earth buildings are diffuse in the Mediterranean area and may be used as archives for original concentration of various metals. The building technique uses local soil which is mixed with water, let dry in formworks and covered with plaster. This has protected the soil material from external additions. The aim of this work was to evaluate the crude earth walls as repositories of the original concentration of some metals. Six crude earth walls were investigated in a location in northwestern Italy. Their concentration in Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn were measured and compared with those of surrounding soil profiles. Also, the results were compared with those of the Province. Organic carbon and pH seem to confirm the different evolution of the soils in the field with respect to that in the wall while iron oxides were not useful in discriminating the samples. Cadmium and Pb appeared to be the most reliable for the evaluation of the accumulated contamination evaluated while Cr and Ni are influenced by the lithogenic substratum.
Valter Boero; Gabriele Fabietti; Franco Ajmone-Marsan. Earth walls as repositories of background levels of soil metal contaminants. Environmental Earth Sciences 2013, 72, 491 -498.
AMA StyleValter Boero, Gabriele Fabietti, Franco Ajmone-Marsan. Earth walls as repositories of background levels of soil metal contaminants. Environmental Earth Sciences. 2013; 72 (2):491-498.
Chicago/Turabian StyleValter Boero; Gabriele Fabietti; Franco Ajmone-Marsan. 2013. "Earth walls as repositories of background levels of soil metal contaminants." Environmental Earth Sciences 72, no. 2: 491-498.
A fast and accurate measurement of soil carbon is needed in current scientific issues. Today there are many sensors suitable for these purposes, but choosing the appropriate sensor depends on the spatial scale at which the studies are conducted. There are few detailed studies that validate these types of measures allowing their immediate use. Here it is validated the quick use of a sensor in execution at Pantelleria, chosen for size, use and variability of the parameter measured, to give an operational tool for carbon stocks studies. The DRIFT sensor used here has been validated in the first 60 cm of the soil of the whole island, and it has shown predictivity higher than 90%.
Filippo Saiano; Giacomo Oddo; Riccardo Scalenghe; Tommaso La Mantia; Franco Ajmone-Marsan. DRIFTS Sensor: Soil Carbon Validation at Large Scale (Pantelleria, Italy). Sensors 2013, 13, 5603 -5613.
AMA StyleFilippo Saiano, Giacomo Oddo, Riccardo Scalenghe, Tommaso La Mantia, Franco Ajmone-Marsan. DRIFTS Sensor: Soil Carbon Validation at Large Scale (Pantelleria, Italy). Sensors. 2013; 13 (5):5603-5613.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFilippo Saiano; Giacomo Oddo; Riccardo Scalenghe; Tommaso La Mantia; Franco Ajmone-Marsan. 2013. "DRIFTS Sensor: Soil Carbon Validation at Large Scale (Pantelleria, Italy)." Sensors 13, no. 5: 5603-5613.
R. Balint Nimirciag; E. Buratto; F. Ajmone-Marsan. Leaching of Trace Metals from Soil under Alternating Oxic-anoxic Conditions: a Column Study. E3S Web of Conferences 2013, 1, 19005 .
AMA StyleR. Balint Nimirciag, E. Buratto, F. Ajmone-Marsan. Leaching of Trace Metals from Soil under Alternating Oxic-anoxic Conditions: a Column Study. E3S Web of Conferences. 2013; 1 ():19005.
Chicago/Turabian StyleR. Balint Nimirciag; E. Buratto; F. Ajmone-Marsan. 2013. "Leaching of Trace Metals from Soil under Alternating Oxic-anoxic Conditions: a Column Study." E3S Web of Conferences 1, no. : 19005.
Urban soils appear as very complex ecosystems in which the anthropic pressures give them unique features that render them different from natural or agricultural soils. Although the soil classification systems provide for the description of anthropogenic or technogenic soils, a number of drawbacks has hindered a systematic taxonomic studies. In Italy, the interest has been directed mainly on the contamination of urban soils. The studies have started in the 1970s, and data are now available for a number of cities. The soils of large cities like Rome, Naples and Turin have been studied in view of their size and the intensity of the polluting sources therein, but also mid-sized cities such as Ancona or Palermo have been investigated. A common trait of all cities is the high spatial variability of their soils together with a high level of contamination. Numerical classification appears then to be preferable to the classic systems for application in urban areas.
Franco Ajmone Marsan; Ermanno Zanini. Soils in Urban Areas. World Soils Book Series 2013, 295 -302.
AMA StyleFranco Ajmone Marsan, Ermanno Zanini. Soils in Urban Areas. World Soils Book Series. 2013; ():295-302.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFranco Ajmone Marsan; Ermanno Zanini. 2013. "Soils in Urban Areas." World Soils Book Series , no. : 295-302.
International audienceSoil science research has probably underestimated the significance that short-term, episodic cycles of reduction and oxidation has had on phosphorus (P) reactivity. Here, the effects of eleven pulsed reduction-oxidation (including wet-dry) cycles on soil P dynamics are compared for 12 soils having contrasting properties and all overfertilised with respect to P. The laboratory based incubation conditions attempted to simulate transient waterlogging of the soil profile and involved repeated sampling and analysis of both the solution and solid phase P forms. An initial increase in P concentration in solution that occurred up to and including the fourth full cycle was followed by a sharp decline in concentration for all but one soil. Accompanying changes in the main extractable forms of P, which appeared to be cumulative, could be summarised as a general decline in the organic P fraction and an overall increase in amorphous associated inorganic forms of P. The fact that up to 60% of the total soil P was demonstrated to change its sensitivity for a particular extractant suggests that these operationally defined P forms are susceptible to transformation as a consequence of changing environmental conditions. There was also a suggestion that certain of the changes in P forms were irreversible. While the laboratory conditions imposed do represent extreme conditions the soils only experienced cyclic changes in their moisture regime. If timing and frequency of intense precipitation events are likely to increase, as predicted in many climate change scenarios, then these results suggest that the effects of episodic redox pulses may have implications for P cycling in agricultural soils
Riccardo Scalenghe; Anthony C. Edwards; Elisabetta Barberis; Franco Ajmone-Marsan. Are agricultural soils under a continental temperate climate susceptible to episodic reducing conditions and increased leaching of phosphorus? Journal of Environmental Management 2012, 97, 141 -147.
AMA StyleRiccardo Scalenghe, Anthony C. Edwards, Elisabetta Barberis, Franco Ajmone-Marsan. Are agricultural soils under a continental temperate climate susceptible to episodic reducing conditions and increased leaching of phosphorus? Journal of Environmental Management. 2012; 97 ():141-147.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRiccardo Scalenghe; Anthony C. Edwards; Elisabetta Barberis; Franco Ajmone-Marsan. 2012. "Are agricultural soils under a continental temperate climate susceptible to episodic reducing conditions and increased leaching of phosphorus?" Journal of Environmental Management 97, no. : 141-147.
Reducing conditions of submerged soils were simulated in laboratory experiments by keeping various soil samples from urban areas under an aqueous solution in sealed flasks for several lengths of time. A polluted soil from a different origin was also included for comparison. Metals dissolved at various times were determined, and availability and bio-accessibility of metals present in the solid phase were estimated. Although significant amounts of Fe and Mn were dissolved, other metals were released to the solution to a much lesser extent. This effect is attributed to the greater solubility of reduced forms of Fe and Mn, and the small amounts of other metals dissolved during water-logging were related with metals retained by, or occluded in, the reduced Fe or Mn compounds. The amounts of available and bio-accessible metals remaining in the solid phase were significantly increased by water-logging, particularly the latter form. Such increase of metal mobility is likely to favour metal leaching to the water table as well as the transfer of potentially toxic elements to humans during recreational activities.
María C. Florido; Fernando Madrid; Franco Ajmone-Marsan; María Del Carmen Florido Fernández. Variations of Metal Availability and Bio-accessibility in Water-Logged Soils with Various Metal Contents: In Vitro Experiments. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 2010, 217, 149 -156.
AMA StyleMaría C. Florido, Fernando Madrid, Franco Ajmone-Marsan, María Del Carmen Florido Fernández. Variations of Metal Availability and Bio-accessibility in Water-Logged Soils with Various Metal Contents: In Vitro Experiments. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution. 2010; 217 (1):149-156.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaría C. Florido; Fernando Madrid; Franco Ajmone-Marsan; María Del Carmen Florido Fernández. 2010. "Variations of Metal Availability and Bio-accessibility in Water-Logged Soils with Various Metal Contents: In Vitro Experiments." Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 217, no. 1: 149-156.
Urban soils are an essential element of the city environment. However, studies on urban soils are scattered in terms of geographical distribution, sampling pattern, analytical dataset, etc. One of the major issues arising from the studies on this ecosystem is the diffusion of its contamination. In cities, in fact, the proximity to humans may cause a serious danger for citizens. In the present study, results from the literature about trace elements in urban soils are presented to compare methodologies and results and to offer a basis for the harmonization of investigation approaches and establishment of remediation thresholds. A total of 153 studies on the urban ecosystem published in the last 10 years were collected and data on trace elements in soils of 94 world cities were compared and discussed. Data highlights the discrepancies among different studies (sampling strategies, analytical procedures) and the extreme variability of urban soils. Most cities are contaminated by one or more trace elements, revealing the environmental relevance of the urban soil system. While Pb is still one of the major concerns in many locations, new contaminants are on the rise and would deserve more attention from the researchers. While in fact some contaminants are almost ubiquitous in world cities and could be used as tracers for urban contamination, some traffic-related elements such as platinum, rhodium, and palladium, whose reactivity and toxicity is still unknown, are becoming of concern. Collation of literature data highlights the need for the harmonization of sampling, analytical, and rendering procedures for regulatory purposes and provides a useful dataset for environmental scientists dealing with the urban ecosystem and for city planners. A sampling design adapted to local urban patterns, a prescribed sampling depth, and a minimum set of elements that deserve to be measured could be the core of a common methodology.
Franco Ajmone Marsan; Mattia Biasioli. Trace Elements in Soils of Urban Areas. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 2010, 213, 121 -143.
AMA StyleFranco Ajmone Marsan, Mattia Biasioli. Trace Elements in Soils of Urban Areas. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution. 2010; 213 (1-4):121-143.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFranco Ajmone Marsan; Mattia Biasioli. 2010. "Trace Elements in Soils of Urban Areas." Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 213, no. 1-4: 121-143.
Several physiologically based extraction procedures have been proposed to estimate the fraction of the potentially toxic element content that would be bioaccessible in the human gastro-intestinal tract following accidental ingestion of soil. Many of these procedures are complex, they have been applied to a very limited range ofsoils, and most work has focussed on arsenic and lead. In the present study, a simplified, two-stage extraction, simulating the human stomach and intestine, was developed and applied to urban soil samples from ten public-accessareas in the City of Torino, Italy. The human oral bioaccessibility of chromium, copper, nickel, lead and zinc was estimated. Lead and zinc bioaccessibilities were found to be higher in the stomach, but chromium was more bioaccessible in the intestine. Analyte concentrations were higher in roadside soils than in soils from parks. A higher proportion of the soil metal content was found in bioaccessible forms at roadsides than in parks. Comparison of the current findings with results of earlier work involving sequential extraction of the same soils indicated that the sequential procedure gave a relative, but not an absolute, indication of bioaccessibility. Calculations based on the bioaccessible analyte concentrations suggest that ingestion of only 2–3 g of some of the roadside soil samples from Torino could deliver the tolerable daily oral intake of chromium, nickel and lead to a 20-kg child. The developed procedure is useful for preliminary screening of soils and prediction of whether their bioaccessible metal contents are likely to pose a risk to human health
Julien Sialelli; Christine M. Davidson; Andrew S. Hursthouse; Franco Ajmone-Marsan. Human bioaccessibility of Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in urban soils from the city of Torino, Italy. Environmental Chemistry Letters 2009, 9, 197 -202.
AMA StyleJulien Sialelli, Christine M. Davidson, Andrew S. Hursthouse, Franco Ajmone-Marsan. Human bioaccessibility of Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in urban soils from the city of Torino, Italy. Environmental Chemistry Letters. 2009; 9 (2):197-202.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJulien Sialelli; Christine M. Davidson; Andrew S. Hursthouse; Franco Ajmone-Marsan. 2009. "Human bioaccessibility of Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in urban soils from the city of Torino, Italy." Environmental Chemistry Letters 9, no. 2: 197-202.