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Li Vigni L, Daskalopoulou K, Calabrese S, Brusca L, Bellomo S, Cardellini C, Kyriakopoulos K, Brugnone F, Parello F, D'Alessandro W. Hellenic karst waters: geogenic and anthropogenic processes affecting their geochemistry and quality. Sci Rep 2023; 13:11191. [PMID: 37433833 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-38349-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Karst hydrosystems represent one of the largest global drinking water resources, but they are extremely vulnerable to pollution. Climate change, high population density, intensive industrial, and agricultural activities are the principal causes of deterioration, both in terms of quality and quantity, of these resources. Samples from 172 natural karst springs were collected in the whole territory of Greece. To identify any geogenic contamination and/or anthropogenic pollution, analyses of their chemical compositions, in terms of major ions and trace elements, were performed and compared to the EU limits for drinking water. Based on chloride content, the collected karst springs were divided into two groups: low-chloride (< 100 mg L-1) and high-chloride content (> 100 mg L-1). An additional group of springs with calcium-sulfate composition was recognised. Nitrate concentrations were always below the EU limit (50 mg L-1), although some springs presented elevated concentrations. High contents in terms of trace elements, such as B, Sr, As, and Pb, sometimes exceeding the limits, were rarely found. The Greek karst waters can still be considered a good quality resource both for human consumption and for agriculture. The main issues derive from seawater intrusion in the aquifers along the coasts. Moreover, the main anthropogenic pollutant is nitrate, found in higher concentrations mostly in the same coastal areas where human activities are concentrated. Finally, high levels of potentially harmful trace elements (e.g. As, Se) are very limited and of natural origin (geothermal activity, ore deposits, etc.).
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Affiliation(s)
- L Li Vigni
- University of Palermo, DiSTeM, via Archirafi 36, Palermo, Italy
| | - K Daskalopoulou
- Institute of Geosciences, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
- German Research Centre for Geosciences, Wissenschaftpark "Albert Einstein", Telegrafenberg, Potsdam, Germany
| | - S Calabrese
- University of Palermo, DiSTeM, via Archirafi 36, Palermo, Italy
- Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione di Palermo, via Ugo La Malfa 153, Palermo, Italy
| | - L Brusca
- Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione di Palermo, via Ugo La Malfa 153, Palermo, Italy
| | - S Bellomo
- Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione di Palermo, via Ugo La Malfa 153, Palermo, Italy
| | - C Cardellini
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Geologia, University of Perugia, Via Pascoli Snc, 06123, Perugia, Italy
- Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, sezione di Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, 40127, Bologna, Italy
| | - K Kyriakopoulos
- Faculty of Geology and Geoenvironment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, Ano Ilissia, Athens, Greece
| | - F Brugnone
- University of Palermo, DiSTeM, via Archirafi 36, Palermo, Italy
| | - F Parello
- University of Palermo, DiSTeM, via Archirafi 36, Palermo, Italy
| | - W D'Alessandro
- Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione di Palermo, via Ugo La Malfa 153, Palermo, Italy.
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Gagliano AL, Tagliavia M, D'Alessandro W, Franzetti A, Parello F, Quatrini P. So close, so different: geothermal flux shapes divergent soil microbial communities at neighbouring sites. Geobiology 2016; 14:150-162. [PMID: 26560641 DOI: 10.1111/gbi.12167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2015] [Accepted: 10/01/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
This study is focused on the (micro)biogeochemical features of two close geothermal sites (FAV1 and FAV2), both selected at the main exhalative area of Pantelleria Island, Italy. A previous biogeochemical survey revealed high CH4 consumption and the presence of a diverse community of methanotrophs at FAV2 site, whereas the close site FAV1 was apparently devoid of methanotrophs and recorded no CH4 consumption. Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) techniques were applied to describe the bacterial and archaeal communities which have been linked to the physicochemical conditions and the geothermal sources of energy available at the two sites. Both sites are dominated by Bacteria and host a negligible component of ammonia-oxidizing Archaea (phylum Thaumarchaeota). The FAV2 bacterial community is characterized by an extraordinary diversity of methanotrophs, with 40% of the sequences assigned to Methylocaldum, Methylobacter (Gammaproteobacteria) and Bejerickia (Alphaproteobacteria); conversely, a community of thermo-acidophilic chemolithotrophs (Acidithiobacillus, Nitrosococcus) or putative chemolithotrophs (Ktedonobacter) dominates the FAV1 community, in the absence of methanotrophs. Since physical andchemical factors of FAV1, such as temperature and pH, cannot be considered limiting for methanotrophy, it is hypothesized that the main limiting factor for methanotrophs could be high NH4(+) concentration. At the same time, abundant availability of NH4(+) and other high energy electron donors and acceptors determined by the hydrothermal flux in this site create more energetically favourable conditions for chemolithotrophs that outcompete methanotrophs in non-nitrogen-limited soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- A L Gagliano
- Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) - Sezione di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
- Department of Earth and Marine Sciences (DiSTeM), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - M Tagliavia
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
- Institute for Coastal Marine Environment (CNR-IAMC) U.O.S. of Capo Granitola, Campobello di Mazara, Italy
| | - W D'Alessandro
- Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) - Sezione di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - A Franzetti
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano- Bicocca, Milano, Italy
| | - F Parello
- Department of Earth and Marine Sciences (DiSTeM), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - P Quatrini
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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Calabrese S, D'Alessandro W, Bellomo S, Brusca L, Martin RS, Saiano F, Parello F. Characterization of the Etna volcanic emissions through an active biomonitoring technique (moss-bags): part 1--major and trace element composition. Chemosphere 2015; 119:1447-1455. [PMID: 25262949 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.08.086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2013] [Revised: 08/22/2014] [Accepted: 08/31/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Active biomonitoring using moss-bags was applied to an active volcanic environment for the first time. Bioaccumulation originating from atmospheric deposition was evaluated by exposing mixtures of washed and air-dried mosses (Sphagnum species) at 24 sites on Mt. Etna volcano (Italy). Concentrations of major and a large suite of trace elements were analysed by inductively coupled mass and optical spectrometry (ICP-MS and ICP-OES) after total acid digestion. Of the 49 elements analysed those which closely reflect summit volcanic emissions were S, Tl, Bi, Se, Cd, As, Cu, B, Na, Fe, Al. Enrichment factors and cluster analysis allowed clear distinction between volcanogenic, geogenic and anthropogenic inputs that affect the local atmospheric deposition. This study demonstrates that active biomonitoring with moss-bags is a suitable and robust technique for implementing inexpensive monitoring in scarcely accessible and harsh volcanic environments, giving time-averaged quantitative results of the local exposure to volcanic emissions. This task is especially important in the study area because the summit area of Mt. Etna is visited by nearly one hundred thousand tourists each year who are exposed to potentially harmful volcanic emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Calabrese
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e del Mare (DiSTeM), Università degli Studi di Palermo, via Archirafi 36, 90123 Palermo, Italy.
| | - W D'Alessandro
- Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), Sezione di Palermo, via La Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy
| | - S Bellomo
- Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), Sezione di Palermo, via La Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy
| | - L Brusca
- Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), Sezione di Palermo, via La Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy
| | - R S Martin
- Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, CB2 3EN Cambridge, UK
| | - F Saiano
- Dipartimento Scienze Agrarie e Forestali (SAF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, viale delle scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - F Parello
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e del Mare (DiSTeM), Università degli Studi di Palermo, via Archirafi 36, 90123 Palermo, Italy
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Bagnato E, Sproveri M, Barra M, Bitetto M, Bonsignore M, Calabrese S, Di Stefano V, Oliveri E, Parello F, Mazzola S. The sea-air exchange of mercury (Hg) in the marine boundary layer of the Augusta basin (southern Italy): concentrations and evasion flux. Chemosphere 2013; 93:2024-2032. [PMID: 23932146 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2013.07.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2013] [Revised: 07/03/2013] [Accepted: 07/08/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The first attempt to systematically investigate the atmospheric mercury (Hg) in the MBL of the Augusta basin (SE Sicily, Italy) has been undertaken. In the past the basin was the receptor for Hg from an intense industrial activity which contaminated the bottom sediments of the Bay, making this area a potential source of pollution for the surrounding Mediterranean. Three oceanographic cruises have been thus performed in the basin during the winter and summer 2011/2012, where we estimated averaged Hgatm concentrations of about 1.5±0.4 (range 0.9-3.1) and 2.1±0.98 (range 1.1-3.1) ng m(-3) for the two seasons, respectively. These data are somewhat higher than the background Hg atm value measured over the land (range 1.1±0.3 ng m(-3)) at downtown Augusta, while are similar to those detected in other polluted regions elsewhere. Hg evasion fluxes estimated at the sea/air interface over the Bay range from 3.6±0.3 (unpolluted site) to 72±0.1 (polluted site of the basin) ng m(-2) h(-1). By extending these measurements to the entire area of the Augusta basin (~23.5 km(2)), we calculated a total sea-air Hg evasion flux of about 9.7±0.1 g d(-1) (~0.004 tyr(-1)), accounting for ~0.0002% of the global Hg oceanic evasion (2000 tyr(-1)). The new proposed data set offers a unique and original study on the potential outflow of Hg from the sea-air interface at the basin, and it represents an important step for a better comprehension of the processes occurring in the marine biogeochemical cycle of this element.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Bagnato
- DiSTeM, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 36, 90123 Palermo, Italy.
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Boatta F, D'Alessandro W, Gagliano AL, Liotta M, Milazzo M, Rodolfo-Metalpa R, Hall-Spencer JM, Parello F. Geochemical survey of Levante Bay, Vulcano Island (Italy), a natural laboratory for the study of ocean acidification. Mar Pollut Bull 2013; 73:485-494. [PMID: 23465567 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.01.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2012] [Revised: 12/14/2012] [Accepted: 01/29/2013] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Shallow submarine gas vents in Levante Bay, Vulcano Island (Italy), emit around 3.6t CO2 per day providing a natural laboratory for the study of biogeochemical processes related to seabed CO2 leaks and ocean acidification. The main physico-chemical parameters (T, pH and Eh) were measured at more than 70 stations with 40 seawater samples were collected for chemical analyses. The main gas vent area had high concentrations of dissolved hydrothermal gases, low pH and negative redox values all of which returned to normal seawater values at distances of about 400m from the main vents. Much of the bay around the vents is corrosive to calcium carbonate; the north shore has a gradient in seawater carbonate chemistry that is well suited to studies of the effects of long-term increases in CO2 levels. This shoreline lacks toxic compounds (such as H2S) and has a gradient in carbonate saturation states.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Boatta
- DiSTeM University of Palermo, CoNISMa, via Archirafi, 36, 90123 Palermo, Italy
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Chiodini G, Frondini F, Cardellini C, Parello F, Peruzzi L. Rate of diffuse carbon dioxide Earth degassing estimated from carbon balance of regional aquifers: The case of central Apennine, Italy. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2000. [DOI: 10.1029/1999jb900355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 186] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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