[Contamination by disinfection byproducts (DPBs) and microbiological quality of dialysis water: a study in an Italian hospital dialysis service]. / Contaminazione da by-products della disinfezione (DPB) e qualità microbiologica dell'acqua di dialisi: indagine su di un centro dialitico ospedaliero aretino.

Maintaining a high standard of quality of dialysis fluid has been shown to be difficult. For this reason, an evaluation of the microbiological quality (total bacterial count at 22 degrees C and 37 degrees C, pyrogenic Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, Acinetobacter and Enterobacteriaceae) and contamination by disinfection byproducts, of dialysis fluids was carried out in a hospital dialysis service in Arezzo (Italy). The analysis was carried out in different points of the water treatment system used for the preparation of dialysis fluids. Results show diffuse microbiological contamination especially at the point of entry of the dialyzer monitor; Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas were found to be the most frequent contaminants due to the presence of biofilms in the water system, while pyrogenic bacteria were found to be within regulatory limits. Trichloroethane and trichloroethylene were absent but traces of carbon tetrachloride, percloroethylene and bromoform were found; these were outnumbered by trialomethanes (chloroform at point of entry decalcifier: mean 90.14 microg/L). Contamination by trialomethanes decreased at the end of the distribution system (mean chloroform 8.55 microg/L). The yearly level of exposure of a dialysis patient to low molecular weight volatile halogenated organics (VHOs) that are able to pass the dialyser membrane, was therefore estimated to be approximately 100 mg.

Occurrence of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in foodstuffs in Italy and implications for human exposure.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were determined in various foodstuffs in Italy and the dietary intake was estimated. PBDEs were detected in all analysed samples at concentrations that spanned over five orders of magnitude. The most abundant congeners were the BDE-209, followed by BDE-47 and BDE-99. Fish oil and milk samples showed the highest PBDE concentrations among all samples. The daily dietary intake values were found to be in good agreement or higher to literature values, impacted mainly from the contribution of the analysed dairy products. The cancer risk values estimated for BDE-209 indicated that this specific risk associated with the studied foodstuffs is limited. Italy is one of the world-leading countries in the production of furniture and clothes and has extremely developed medium enterprise industrial sector, where PBDEs were historically used suggesting that their occurrence may be linked to these activities.

Surface and ground waters characterization in Tuscany (Italy) by using algal bioassay and pesticide determinations: comparative evaluation of the results and hazard assessment of the pesticides impact on primary productivity.

Algal bioassays and pesticide analysis were joined in Tuscany regional monitoring of surface and ground waters. Results were compared. Waters affected algal growth in any of the following ways: stimulation, inhibition, stimulation at low concentrations and inhibition at higher concentrations. Most of ground waters inhibited algal growth whereas only a little percentage were contaminated with pesticide. Most of surface waters stimulated algal growth and a higher percentage were contaminated with pesticides. In waters with inhibitory effect toxicological parameters (EC50, EC25, EC10 and NOEC) were measured and compared; EC25 values were very close to NOEC values. Hazard to aquatic primary productivity for each pesticide found during chemical monitoring was evaluated; for this aim the margin of safety (MOS) was calculated by using algal toxicity and the pesticide concentration measured.

PBDEs in Italian sewage sludge and environmental risk of using sewage sludge for land application.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were determined in sewage sludge samples collected from eight Italian wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) between June 2009 and March 2010. Total PBDE concentrations ranged from 158.3 to 9427 ng g(-1) dw, while deca-BDE (BDE-209) (concentrations ranging from 130.6 to 9411 ng g(-1) dw) dominated the congener profile in all the samples, contributing between 77% and 99.8% of total PBDE. The suitability of using a magnetic particle enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) to analyse PBDEs in sewage sludge was also tested. The ELISA results, expressed as BDE-47 equivalents, were well correlated with those obtained by GC-NCI-MS, with correlation coefficients (r(2)) of 0.899 and 0.959, depending on the extraction procedure adopted. The risk assessment of PBDEs in sewage sludge addressed to land application was calculated. PEC(soil) values compared to the relative PNEC(soil) for penta and deca-BDE suggests that there is a low risk to the soil environment.