Vermiremediation applied to PCB and PCDD/F contaminated soils and its implications for percolating water.

PCDD/Fs (polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans) and PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) are ubiquitous persistent pollutants with reduced bioavailability, which bioremediation using soil fauna is still managed to treat. This research set out to: (i) study the suitability of earthworms (Eisenia fetida), alone and associated with plants (Lepidium sativum), for the decontamination of PCDD/F and PCB polluted soils in Brescia-Caffaro (Italy), at total and congener concentration levels; (ii) simulate the action of earthworms in groundwater contamination process and nutrient mobility. Five treatments were set up: (i) uncontaminated soil with E. fetida (NC); (ii) contaminated soil (C); (iii) contaminated soil with E. fetida (CEf); (iv) contaminated soil with L. sativum (CLs); (v) contaminated soil with E. fetida and L. sativum (CEfLs). PCBs and PCDD/Fs in the soil prior to testing were measured. Analysis was repeated in soil treatments and percolating water at the end of the test period (4 months). Dissolved nutrient concentrations were measured in percolated water. PCB and PCDD/F concentrations, initially 259333.33 ± 10867.89 ng/kg and 176 ± 10.69 ngTE/kg, were significantly reduced after 4 months in all treatments. Treatments did not differ in total PCBs concentration (from 160,000 ng/kg to 194,000 ng/kg), but CEfLs congeners concentrations were less environmentally threatening; CEf and CLs resulted in lower PCDD/Fs concentration (79.43 ± 3.34 ngTE/kg and 73.03 ± 4.09 ngTE/kg, respectively). The action of earthworms could enhance contaminants and soluble reactive phosphorous content in percolating water.

Magnetic particle monitoring on leaves in winter: a pilot study on a highly polluted location in the Po plain (Northern Italy).

Environmental monitoring in Northern Italy, one of the most polluted areas in Europe, is of paramount importance. Leaf monitoring throughout magnetic and scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS) analysis could be considered a good complementary analysis to sampling stations, but the lack of evergreen plants in the northern Italy towns may hinder magnetic leaf analysis in the winter season. Therefore, we tested three species of urban vegetation, which are evergreen and commonly found in urban environment, namely Hedera helix L., Parietaria officinalis L. and Rubus caesius L. Magnetic susceptibility, chosen as a simple parameter suitable for monitoring, was measured in seven stations, during the period 25 January 2019 to 8 March 2019 at a weekly step, in the cities of Torino and Parma in the same days. P. officinalis and R. caesius showed the best response, but also H. helix was suitable to detect highly polluted areas. In Torino, the magnetic susceptibility decreased in the last sampling, together with PM10, whereas in Parma it increased, likely for the beginning of the academic period in the University Campus. SEM-EDS analysis was done comparing leaves from the same plant sampled in February 2019, in highly polluted conditions, and in May 2020, after 2 months of very limited traffic, due to national lockdown. Silicate grains of natural minerals, sized between 10 and 20 µm, are present in both samples, whereas Fe oxides, about one micron size, possibly coming from car brake consumption, are prominent in the February 2019 sample. Magnetic susceptibility of leaves form the examined species looks promising to spot urban sites with high metal pollution.

Geochemical and magnetic data on anthropogenic ashes from municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI).

This paper reports supplementary information to "Understanding room-temperature magnetic properties of anthropogenic ashes from municipal solid waste incineration to assess potential impacts and resources" [1]. The sample-set is composed of 47 samples of bottom (BA) and fly (FA) ashes from Municipal Solid Waste Incineration (MSWI), including eight magnetic extracts of selected BA and FA materials. The sampling relies on a simple random sampling strategy at four different MSWI sites in Northern Italy [2]. X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analysis on pressed powder pellets, microscopic observations on thin sections and stubs, and magnetic analysis were carried out. Various magnetic measurements are presented: the magnetic susceptibility measured at two different frequencies (0.47 and 4.7 kHz); the mass-specific susceptibility of ARM (χARM), expressed in m3/kg, calculated after mass-normalization and bias DC field correction; experiments for isothermal remanent magnetization (IRM) experimented were also conducted. The latter measurement allowed the calculation of additional parameters, such as the coercivity of remanence (B0cr) and the S-ratio [3]. The IRM acquired in a field of 1.0 T was regarded as the saturation IRM (SIRM). Mass-specific magnetic susceptibility (χ) was calculated by dividing the volume susceptibility by the sample mass. Finally, hysteresis loops and backfield curves at room temperature were measured on selected samples and are available. Data can be reused as groundwork information in future studies on MSWI residues. It would be essential to produce new data on geochemical and magnetic characteristics of MSWI residues to assure good coverage of data for enhanced sustainability of these heterogeneous streams of anthropogenic materials. This combination of methods will contribute to paving the way for quick and reliable resource assessment as well as to promote environmental sustainability.

A comprehensive study of the magnetic properties of the pyroxenes series CaMgSi2O6-Co2Si2O6 as a function of Co content.

We report a detailed study on the magnetic properties of the pyroxene series M2M1Si2O6, with M2 = Ca and M1 = Mg, where magnesium and then calcium are progressively substituted by cobalt. For cobalt site occupancy larger than 0.7 at the M1 site, a collinear antiferromagnetic phase is detected for T < T N1 = 12 K with a monodimensional character (i.e. M1 site intra-chain order parallel to c axis). Moreover the magnetization easy axis has been estimated to lie roughly along the [1 0 1] direction. Cobalt content ⩾0.5 at the M2 site (overall content 1.5) determines the formation of a new independent antiferromagnetic order with higher Néel temperature, involving only the M2 site intra-chain interactions. The incoming M2 site order is accompanied by a lowering of the space symmetry which yields to a weakly ferromagnetic resultant due to spin canted distribution of the magnetic moments either along the M1 or M2 chains. Furthermore, metamagnetic transitions are observed for both M1 and M2 site intra-chain orders at relatively low critical magnetic fields, around 2 T, suggesting that this series of pyroxenes can be used as a model system for investigating the fundamental aspects of magnetism in the matter.

Magnetic and SEM-EDS analyses of Tilia cordata leaves and PM10 filters as a complementary source of information on polluted air: Results from the city of Parma (Northern Italy).

In this work, both PM10 filters and leaves have been collected, on a daily basis, over a period of five months and compared systematically. Filters were taken from an air-quality monitoring station and leaves from two Tilia cordata trees, both located near the railway station of Parma. SEM-EDS analysis on the surface and across the leaves shows that magnetic particles are almost entirely made of magnetite, and that they are found invariably on the leaves surface. The saturation isothermal magnetic remanence (SIRM) shows that for both filters and leaves the magnetic fraction mainly consists of a low coercivity, magnetite-like phase. The magnetic signals of filter and leaves and atmospheric PM concentrations are compared. The correlation is better for filters, mostly with parameters related to vehicular pollution, and improved for both filters and leaves once data were averaged on a 10 days basis. Filters and leaves equally show an increase in magnetic signal during the fall-winter period together with PM10 content. The comparison between leaves and filters shows that: 1) leaves give a qualitative picture, and in our case they could be used as environmental proxies after averaging the results over multiple days; 2) the correlation with PM10 is weaker, indicating that there is a PM10 contribution from non-magnetic particles, like calcite and clay minerals, pollen and spores; 3) multidomain particles contribution from filters indicates a strong relation with vehicular polluters, suggesting the important role of larger particles; 4) magnetization from leaves and filters are weakly related, due to the different sampling lapse.

Cholecystocutaneous fistula containing multiple gallstones in a dog.

A 7-year-old dog was presented with a history of an open lesion on the right thoracic wall, discharging honey-like fluid and small stones. Ultrasonography and computed tomographic fistulography identified a cholecystocutaneous fistula; cholecystectomy was curative. Veterinarians should consider this disease in patients with long-term discharging lesions on the right thoracic or abdominal wall.

Fistule cholécystocutanée contenant des cholélithes multiples chez un chien. Un chien âgé de 7 ans a été présenté avec une anamnèse de lésion ouverte sur la paroi thoracique droite, d'où s'écoulait un liquide ressemblant à du miel et de petits calculs. Une échographie et une fistulographie tomographique ont identifié une fistule cholécystocutanée et une cholécystectomie a guéri l'affection. Les vétérinaires devraient considérer cette maladie chez les patients ayant des lésions suppurantes de longue date sur la paroi thoracique ou abdominale droite.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).