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The worldwide increase in fire events has attracted global attention, as potentially toxic elements (PTEs) have been widely recognised within the produced ash. Ash is transported, dispersed by wind, and deposited into the soil and surficial waters even far from fires. Considering that their composition can be enriched in PTEs, they represent a potential hazard for humans and other animals exposed to airborne particles and, afterwards, to resuspended matter, even at a considerable distance from the source. This study aimed to assess the environmental impact of fire events that occurred during the 2017 summer season at two different sites in the Campania region (Southern Italy). One of the fires affected a waste disposal site west of Caserta, and one involved a forest on the slopes of Mt. Somma-Vesuvius, a few kilometres southeast of Naples, the regional capital. Changes to the PTE concentration in the topsoil in the surroundings of both sites, after the fire events, were investigated. Enrichment factors (EFs) of a selection of PTEs were determined by comparing geochemical data from two sampling campaigns, one completed before and one after the fire events. A combined application of multivariate statistics (based on robust principal component analysis; RPCA) and geospatial analysis was used to determine the materials affected by the fire on the slopes of Mt. Somma-Vesuvius, and roughly locate their place. Specifically, a statistically significant enrichment of Hg was identified in the topsoil of both study areas. In addition, in soil samples collected at Mt. Somma-Vesuvius, more PTEs showed significant changes in their concentration. For both areas, Hg enrichments were related to the deposition of ash proceeding from waste burning; furthermore, as regards the soil of the Vesuvian area, Cr and Cd enrichments were associated with the fallout of ash generated during biomass combustion, and the increase in Cu and Zn concentrations was linked to the burning of crops on cultivated lands. Apart from the specific results obtained, concerning the examined case studies, the methods applied can be seen as a reliable option to determine the compositional characteristics of materials burned during a fire event, even with the prospect of improving the eventual assessment process of the related environmental hazards.

Mainly known as a transcription factor patterning the rostral brain and governing its histogenesis, Foxg1 has been also detected outside the nucleus, however biological meaning of that has been only partially clarified. Here, moving from Foxg1 expression in cytoplasm of neocortical neurons, we investigated its implication in translational control. We documented an impact of Foxg1 on ribosomal recruitment ofGrin1-mRNA, encoding for the main subunit of NMDA receptor. Next, we showed that Foxg1 increases Grin1 protein level by enhancing translation of its mRNA, while not increasing its stability. Such enhancement was associated to augmented translational initiation and, possibly, polypeptide elongation. Molecular mechanisms at the basis of this activity included Foxg1 interaction with Eif4e and Eef1d as well as withGrin1-mRNA. Besides, we found that, within murine neocortical cultures, Grin1de novosynthesis undergoes a prominent and reversible, homeostatic regulation and Foxg1 is instrumental to that. Finally, through TRAP-seq, we discovered that Foxg1 is implicated in the translation of hundreds of neuronal genes at the level of ribosome engagement and progression. All that points to Foxg1 as a key effector, crucial to multi-scale temporal tuning of neocortical pyramid activity, an issue with profound physiological and neuropathological implications.

The levels of six non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs 28, 52, 101, 138, 153, and 180) were determined in the liver of 84 loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) stranded along the coasts of the Tyrrhenian Sea in Campania Region (Southern Italy), from 2017 to 2021. The average value of the sum (∑

In 2015, the "Campania Trasparente" project (http://www.campaniatrasparente.it), a monitoring plan focused on assessing the environmental conditions of the territory of the Campania region, started thanks to the financial support of the regional government. The project's general management was in charge of the Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Southern Italy (IZSM).In the project framework, the collection and analysis of many environmental and biological samples (including soil and air and human blood specimen) were completed. The primary aim of the whole project was to explore the existence of a link between the presence of some illnesses in the local population and the status of the environment and generate a reliable database to assess local foodstuff healthiness.Six research units were active in the framework of the project. As for soil and air, the Environmental Geochemistry Working Group (EGWG) at the Department of Earth, Environment and Resources Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, was in charge of most of the research activities. Specifically, the EGWG completed the elaboration of the data on potentially toxic metals/metalloids (PTMs) and organic contaminants (PAHs, OCPs, Dioxins) in the regional soils and air.The monitoring of air contaminants lasted more than one year, and it was completed employing passive air samplers (PAS) and deposimeters spread across the whole region.Three volumes were published, including statistical elaborations and geochemical maps of all the contaminants analysed to provide both the regional government and local scientific and professional community with a reliable tool to approach local environmental problems starting from a sound base of knowledge.Geochemical distribution patterns of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), for example, were used to establish local geochemical background/baseline intervals for those metals (naturally enriched in regional soils) found to systematically overcome the national environmental guidelines (set by the Legislative Decree 152/2006).Data from the air, analysed in terms of concentration and time variation, were, instead, fundamental to discriminate the areas of the regional territory characterised by heavy contamination associated with the emission of organic compounds from anthropic sources.The integration of all the data generated within the "Campania Trasparente" framework, including the data proceeding from the Susceptible Population Exposure Study (SPES), focusing on human biomonitoring (based on blood), allowed the development of a regional-wide conceptual model to be used as a base to generate highly specialised risk assessments for regional population and local communities affected by specific environmental problems.

Campania Region, Southern Italy, in the last 10 years was facing potential environmental issues which needed to be addressed, with the proper scientific approach, to alleviate pressure from public opinion, based more on emotions than on scientific data. Such pressure indicated an increase of oncological incidence, not supported by scientific data on the presence of anomalous pollutants in different natural media (soil, water, air, agricultural products). To face environmental/health alarm, the Campania Regional Government in 2015 funded a large, multidisciplinary, environmental project known as Campania Trasparente, to Istituto Zooprofilattico del Mezzogiorno (IZSM), to get a deeper and scientific knowledge of the Campania territory carrying out geochemical investigations, to: 1) characterize the geochemical composition of agricultural soil, air and groundwater at regional and local scale; 2) define the level of bio-availability of the toxic elements; 3) try to demonstrate a direct relationship between the presence of contaminants in the environmental matrices, in agricultural products and finally in the human matrices (hair, urine, blood). Within this project we got data on the presence of the potentially toxic metals (PTMs) and hazardous persistent organic pollutants (POPs: OCPs, PCBs, PAHs, PAEs, PBDEs) in different media of the entire Region. The new large dataset complemented our research and monitoring activities, which before 2015, were focused mostly on PTMs in soils, both at regional and local scale. In Campania Trasparente project, samples (9,000) of top and bottom soils, air and bulk deposition (150 passive air samplers, over 7 seasons), waters (1,200), vegetation (2,500) and biological (4,200) media, were collected to characterize the status of PTMs and POPs. The results obtained showed that: a) most of these elements and compounds, in higher concentrations, occur predominantly in critical areas of Napoli Urban and Metropolitan Area (NMA) and in the Sarno river basin; b) the infamous area, in the Caserta and Napoli provincial territory, known as Terra dei Fuochi (Land of Fires), is only marginally interested by anomalous occurrence of PTMs and POPs in some spot areas, not justifying the emotional alarms calling for an increase of oncological cases due to diffuse illegal practice of wastes disposal in the area; c) the agricultural crops of the Terra dei Fuochi are not affected by anomalous PTM. Specifically, the ecological risk conditions for PAHs and some OCPs (Endosulfan) occur, mostly in NMA; PCBs are sourced mostly in urban areas, being dissipated in rural areas, whereas PAEs and PBDEs occur, in general, in concentrations similar to those in other Italian regions, with some higher hot spot values in NMA and south of Salerno town. The interactional complexity between metropolitan and the surrounding rural areas is also confirmed, as it is the role that urban areas play in the migration and transformation process of POPs. High urban-rural gradients for atmospheric PAHs, PCBs and OCPs are observed mostly in the NMA and the urban areas, identified as the main emission source of POPs. Only OCPs, originating from the nearby agricultural areas, experienced long-term soil re-emission, continuously influencing conterminous urban environment via atmospheric transport processes.

Il volume illustra i risultati del monitoraggio geochimico-ambientale finalizzato alla valutazione dell’inquinamento da Contaminanti Organici Persistenti (noti nella letteratura come POP - Persistent Organic Pollutants) e Elementi Potenzialmente Tossici (EPT) della matrice aria della Regione Campania. Tale lavoro è stato svolto nell’ambito del “Programma Campania Trasparente - Attività di Monitoraggio Integrato per la Regione Campania”. Progetto finanziato dalla Regione Campania, attraverso l’IZSM, nell’ambito del Del.G.R. n. 497/2013: Fondo per le Misure Anticicliche e la Salvaguardia dell’Occupazione - Azione B4 “Mappatura del Territorio” approvato con il Decreto Esecutivo DG “Sviluppo Economico” n. 585, 14/09/2015. Le mappe prodotte rivestono particolare importanza in quanto mostrano la distribuzione nell’aria delle concentrazioni dei vari composti ed elementi analizzati (IPA, PCB, OCP, PBDE e EPT). Negli ultimi anni, la Campania è stata oggetto di attenzione mediatica per il presunto degrado dei territori agricoli di un’area tristemente nota come “Terra dei Fuochi”. La mancanza di una copertura di dati geochimici ad alta densità spaziale attestanti la presenza effettiva di contaminanti nelle diverse matrici ambientali dell’area ha favorito l’insorgere e la diffusione di allarmi relativi ad emergenze ambientali non meglio definite in termini di estensione territoriale ed impatto sanitario. Le indagini effettuate, con il Progetto Campania Trasparente, sono servite ad implementare la conoscenza geochimica esaustiva dell’intero territorio regionale- che rende la Campania la Regione meglio monitorata in Italia dal punto di vista ambientale. L’auspicio è che il monitoraggio (e la relativa cartografia) prodotto in Campania venga preso a modello dalle altre Regioni italiane, in modo da coprire l’intero territorio nazionale.

I dati illustrati in questo volume sono il frutto del lavoro svolto nell’ambito del Programma Campania Trasparente e della decennale attività di ricerca nell’ambito del monitoraggio ambientale della Regione Campania del gruppo di ricerca del Prof. Benedetto De Vivo. In questo libro, sono sinteticamente illustrati, cercando di semplificare gli aspetti tecnici rendendoli di facile comprensione al pubblico non addetto ai lavori, i principali risultati sulla distribuzione delle concentrazioni dei Contaminanti Organici Persistenti (noti nella letteratura come POP - Persistent Organic Pollutants) e Elementi Potenzialmente Tossici (EPT). Per una consultazione esaustiva delle mappe prodotte, si rimanda alle 1679 pagine dei 3 Volumi De Vivo et al. (2021a, 2021b, 2021c). Tale lavoro è stato svolto nell’ambito del “Programma Campania Trasparente - Attività di Monitoraggio Integrato per la Regione Campania”. Progetto finanziato dalla Regione Campania, attraverso l’IZSM, nell’ambito del Del.G.R. n. 497/2013: Fondo per le Misure Anticicliche e la Salvaguardia dell’Occupazione - Azione B4 “Mappatura del Territorio” approvato con il Decreto Esecutivo DG “Sviluppo Economico” n. 585, 14/09/2015. Le mappe prodotte rivestono particolare importanza in quanto mostrano la distribuzione nell’aria e nei suoli delle concentrazioni dei vari composti ed elementi analizzati (IPA, PCB, OCP, PBDE e EPT). Negli ultimi anni, la Campania è stata oggetto di attenzione mediatica per il presunto degrado dei territori agricoli di un’area tristemente nota come “Terra dei Fuochi”. La mancanza di una copertura di dati geochimici ad alta densità spaziale attestanti la presenza effettiva di contaminanti nelle diverse matrici ambientali dell’area ha favorito l’insorgere e la diffusione di allarmi relativi ad emergenze ambientali non meglio definite in termini di estensione territoriale ed impatto sanitario. Le indagini effettuate, con il Progetto Campania Trasparente, sono servite ad implementare la conoscenza geochimica esaustiva dell’intero territorio regionale- che rende la Campania la Regione meglio monitorata in Italia dal punto di vista ambientale. L’auspicio è che il monitoraggio (e la relativa cartografia) prodotto in Campania venga preso a modello dalle altre Regioni italiane, in modo da coprire l’intero territorio nazionale.

The Gulf of Pozzuoli (GoP) is a marginal sub-basin of Tyrrhenian Sea, characterized by a strong anthropogenic impact, due to high population density and intense commercial and tourist traffic. Historically, the GoP is dedicated to the farming of bivalve mollusks which are constantly subject to chemical and microbiological monitoring to protect the health of consumers. In the winter season, high levels of PAHs were found in mussels from the Lucrino area. This study reports the environmental analyses and the activities carried out in order to investigate the levels and sources of contamination by PAHs.

In recent years, the air transport sector has played a significant role in the economy of the areas served. The demand for air travel has doubled every fifteen years and has grown faster with respect to other industries. This is also due to the introduction of low-cost airlines (LCA). In the coming decades, more efficient management of airports will become an essential aspect to address. A clear understanding of the current airport structure based on the analysis of the operational efficiency will therefore be necessary. All air carriers seek to expand their operations at airports, which tend to operate efficiently in order to reduce costs. However, in carrying out their activities and maximizing operational efficiency, airports should simultaneously manage to increase their passengers’ satisfaction. All over the world, passengers are demanding higher levels of service and regulators are paying increasing attention to the provision of airport services and the quality of the services supplied. Starting from these considerations, the aim of this paper is to study the efficiency of an airport through joint analysis of the operational efficiency (with the Data Envelopment Analysis -DEA-model) for the airport manager (by maximizing the exploitation of existing infrastructures), taking into consideration the quality of airport services as perceived by the user. The original and added value of this work lies in the quantitative analysis of the main characteristics that determine the efficiency of main European airports, also taking into account the quality perceived by the users during their trips with the air mode. Thus, the efficiency of 103 European airports in 37 different countries, for the year 2018, were compared, highlighting the effect of low-cost airlines. This aspect, as far as the authors know, has not been treated in the literature. Indeed, this study represents a decision support system (DSS) tool for operational managers in the air sector for the identification of the characteristics that improve airport efficiency. This paper refers to the pre-COVID-19 period because it would not be useful to make an efficiency analysis influenced by the pandemic, since the latter represents a specific event. Therefore, this analysis provides interesting inputs for both researchers and practitioners to manage the issue of efficiency in ordinary contexts. Moreover, the airline industry is characterized by cut-throat competition, and it may be very useful in the close future to examine this issue to improve firms’ management in the industry.

The bioaccumulation of lipophilic environmental contaminants in farm animals is an important issue to control and prevent human exposure to toxic pollutants. Free-range hens were used as a model to assess the transfer and the bioaccumulation of PCDD/Fs, DL-PCBs and NDL-PCBs from the soil to eggs in an area in the Campania region particularly affected by pollution, the "Land of Fires". We determined the following ranges of concentrations in eggs: 0.90-5.51 pg WHO-TEQ g

To establish a relationship between viruses and chemicals, they were analysed in oyster Crassostrea gigas from an Italian experimental station. The chemicals concentrations were: Σ6 NDL-PCBs 0.82–7.12 ng g−1; BaP LOQ ( The study indicated as C. gigas is a model for correlating pollutants and foodborne viruses, whose co-presence may represent an additional food safety risk.

Il volume illustra, anche attraverso immagini, grafici e tabelle, i risultati del monitoraggio geochimico–ambientale finalizzato alla valutazione dell’inquinamento da Contaminanti Organici Persistenti (noti nella letteratura come POP – Persistent Organic Pollutants), nei suoli superficiali della Regione Campania. Tale lavoro è stato svolto nell’ambito del “Programma Campania Trasparente – Attività di Monitoraggio Integrato per la Regione Campania”. Progetto finanziato dalla Regione Campania, attraverso l’IZSM, nell’ambito del Del.G.R. n. 497/2013: Fondo per le Misure Anticicliche e la Salvaguardia dell’Occupazione – Azione B4 “Mappatura del Territorio” approvato con il Decreto Esecutivo DG “Sviluppo Economico” n. 585, 14/09/2015. Le mappe prodotte rivestono particolare importanza in quanto mostrano la distribuzione spaziale delle concentrazioni dei vari composti analizzati (IPA, PCB e OCP) e individuano le aree in cui la concentrazione di tali sostanze supera la soglia di riferimento imposta dal d.l. 152/2006 e dal d.m. 46/2019. Negli ultimi anni, la Campania è stata oggetto di attenzione mediatica per il presunto degrado dei territori agricoli di un’area tristemente nota come “Terra dei Fuochi”. La mancanza di una copertura di dati geochimici ad alta densità spaziale attestanti la presenza effettiva di contaminanti nelle diverse matrici ambientali dell’area ha favorito l’insorgere e la diffusione di allarmi relativi a emergenze ambientali non meglio definite in termini di estensione territoriale ed impatto sanitario. Le indagini effettuate sui suoli superficiali e profondi, con il Progetto Campania Trasparente, sono servite ad implementare la conoscenza geochimica esaustiva dell’intero territorio regionale, con una copertura di campioni ad alta densità, che rende la Campania la Regione meglio monitorata in Italia dal punto di vista ambientale. L’auspicio è che il monitoraggio (e la relativa cartografia) prodotto in Campania venga preso a modello dalle altre Regioni italiane, in modo da coprire l’intero territorio nazionale con una maglia di campioni di pari densità.

Il volume illustra, anche attraverso immagini, grafici e tabelle, i risultati del monitoraggio geochimico–ambientale finalizzato alla valutazione dell’inquinamento da elementi potenzialmente tossici dei suoli superficiali e profondi della Regione Campania nell’ambito del “Programma Campania Trasparente – Attività di Monitoraggio Integrato per la Regione Campania”. Progetto finanziato dalla Regione Campania, attraverso l’IZSM, nell’ambito del Del.G.R. n. 497/2013: Fondo per le Misure Anticicliche e la Salvaguardia dell’Occupazione – Azione B4 “Mappatura del Territorio” approvato con il Decreto Esecutivo DG “Sviluppo Economico” n. 585, 14/09/2015. Le mappe prodotte rivestono particolare importanza in quanto, oltre a mostrare la distribuzione spaziale delle concentrazioni dei vari elementi inorganici (metalli e metalloidi potenzialmente tossici – MPT), servono a definire la biodisponibilità dei MPT, e i valori background (tenori di fondo naturale) di riferimento in ottemperanza al d.l. 152/2006 e al d.m. 46/2019, laddove viene stabilito che i limiti di tolleranza possono essere elevati in funzione appunto delle concentrazioni naturali esistenti nei suoli. Negli ultimi anni, la Campania è stata oggetto di attenzione mediatica per il presunto degrado dei territori agricoli di un’area tristemente nota come “Terra dei Fuochi”. La mancanza di una copertura di dati geochimici ad alta densità spaziale attestanti la presenza effettiva di contaminanti nelle diverse matrici ambientali dell’area ha favorito l’insorgere e la diffusione di allarmi relativi a emergenze ambientali non meglio definite in termini di estensione territoriale ed impatto sanitario. Le indagini effettuate sui suoli superficiali e profondi, con il Progetto Campania Trasparente, sono servite ad implementare la conoscenza geochimica esaustiva dell’intero territorio regionale, con una copertura di campioni ad alta densità, che rende la Campania la Regione meglio monitorata in Italia dal punto di vista ambientale. L’auspicio è che il monitoraggio (e la relativa cartografia) prodotto in Campania venga preso a modello dalle altre Regioni italiane, in modo da coprire l’intero territorio nazionale con una maglia di campioni di pari.

This study assesses the PAH and heavy metal levels in muscle of warty crabs (Eriphia verrucosa), from the northern coast of the Campania region improving the data on toxic contaminants in this crustacean. The results showed a minimal PAH contamination; the mean concentrations were as follows: 0.2, 1.6 and 1.7 μg kg-1 wet weight (ww) for BaP, PAH4 and PAH6, respectively. Regarding the levels of the two PAHs not included in the European regulations, the BkF mean concentration was 0.1 μg kg-1 ww, while DahA was detected only in 10.7% of samples. Pb and Cr were also detected at low levels with mean values of 0.068 and 0.468 mg kg-1 ww, respectively; instead, high As levels, with a mean value of 5.021 mg kg-1 ww, were found. Considering the EWIs and the ILCRs calculated in this study, the PAH, Pb and Cr contamination levels found in the edible part of the crabs resulted safe for human consumption. Contrariwise, the ILCR calculated for the As exceeded the acceptable level of cancer risk, although the calculation did not refer to the inorganic form which is the only one recognized as carcinogenic. Hence, this study shows that warty crabs can accumulate environmental contaminants in their muscle tissue representing an important route of exposure to these toxics for the local population that regularly consumes them. This finding highlights the importance of monitoring the presence of these pollutants in crabs and in general in all fish and seafood in order to ensure food safety for consumers.

This study assesses for the first time the levels of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs in sea turtles coming from Tyrrhenian Sea. The concentrations measured in liver of the 24 specimens analysed were 6.90 vs 5.65 pg g−1 wet weight (ww) for PCDD/Fs and 10.95 vs 0.79 ng g−1 ww for DL-PCBs in Caretta caretta and Chelonia mydas, respectively. The DL-PCB levels resulted very higher in Caretta caretta than Chelonia mydas probably due to the different eating habits between the two species investigated. Furthermore, the highest levels of DL-PCBs were determined in livers of the adult Caretta caretta turtles of male sex. Positive correlations were found out between PCB-81 and the body mass (BM) of turtles (r2 = 0.6561; p = 0.001) and between PCB-81 and the curved carapace length (CCL) (r2 = 0.6250; p = 0.006) suggesting that the body burden of contaminants is related to the body size. The mean TEQ values, as a matter of risk assessment for turtles, were 3.64 vs 1.62 pg TEQ g−1 ww for PCDD/Fs and 8.72 vs 2.16 pg TEQ g−1 ww for DL-PCBs in Caretta caretta and Chelonia mydas, respectively. The results reported in this study increase the data available about the consequences of the Mediterranean Sea contamination by organochlorine pollutants and highlight an evident PCDD/F and PCB bioaccumulation in sea turtle tissues that threatens the survival of these marine organisms.

In 2016, the European Commission recommended the Member States to monitor the content of Δ

Mussels can be affected by environmental contaminants, as non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (NDL-PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and cadmium (Cd). Moreover, mussels may concentrate human enteric viruses, like noroviruses (NoVGI/GII), astrovirus (AsV) and rotavirus (RV). Herein, to establish a relationship between environmental and viral contamination, with the aim to ensure human food safety, both chemical and microbiological analysis were carried out in mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis, farmed in Campania region (Italy). Chemical analysis revealed ranges below the European maximum limits, and were: ∑6 NDL-PCBs (28, 52, 101, 138, 153, 180) 0.579–16.857 ng g−1 wet weight (ww); BaP LOQ (

A method to determine T-2 and HT-2 toxins, both in feed and food, is described. The method is based on sample clean-up by immunoaffinity columns, followed by triple quadrupole LC-MS/MS determination. It was in-house validated in compliance with the European Union legislation, in the concentration range 5.0-750 µg kg-1 and accredited according to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard, for the scope of official control of feed and food. The method was applied to monitor the contamination levels of T-2 and HT-2 toxins in 105 feed samples, both raw materials and compound feed and 17 cereals and derived products for human consumption, collected in Southern Italy between 2015 and 2019. T-2 toxin was quantified in 32 feed (30.5%) and in 2 food samples (11.8%). HT-2 toxin was quantified in 65 feed (61.9%) and in 3 food (17.6%) samples.

The aim of the present study was to assess the concentrations of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in the liver and kidney from stray dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) and cats (Felis catus) found dead between 2014 and 2017 in the city of Naples and its surrounding areas. These organs from 290 dogs and 88 cats were collected after ordinary necropsy of stray animals. Heavy metal concentrations were determined by using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). Concentrations of Pb (up to 5.93 mg/kg) and Cd (ranging from 0.005 to 6.13 mg/kg) were detected in both livers and kidneys analyzed. Differences in concentration were found based on age class, gender, and kind of tissue for both elements, with a trend similar to those already reported in the literature for comparable studies from different countries. Cadmium levels in the kidney were significantly higher (p

Cases of intentional animal poisonings are still widespread in Italy, even if the improper or malicious use of poisoned baits is banned. This represents a serious threat to pets as well as wildlife species, but also an environmental and human health concern. A retrospective study was performed based on baits sent for toxicological analysis to the laboratories of Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno (IZSM) in Southern Italy over a five year period. Analyses were carried out by using different analytical techniques in relation to the toxicants. Results show a trend different from other countries, as well as from that reported for Northern Italy. The molluscicide metaldehyde proved to be the most common substance detected in our laboratory (63.9%) followed by organochlorine insecticides (29.2%), organophosphine insecticides (11.1%) and anticoagulant rodenticides (9.7%). Other rodenticides, such as strychnine and zinc phosphide were detected only one time in baits. Among the organochlorine insecticide, endosulfan (both alpha and beta isomers) occurred as the main poisoning agent. The incidence of poisoning cases detected in the present survey is extremely alarming and pointed out that actions have to be made to reduce this illegal practice and its environmental impact.

Mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant that affect human and ecosystem health. It is transferred through trophic level and bio magnification in the food chain. In this study, total Hg was measured in the muscular tissue of samples of swordfish (Xiphias gladius) from different FAO fishing areas and imported in Italy between 2014 and 2017. Total mercury concentrations of muscular tissues were determined using cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry. In order to assess the health risk associated with human consumption of this fish, the Hg intake values were calculated and compared with those of provisional tolerable daily intake (PTDI) (0.57 μg/kg b.w.) as fixed by the Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization (FAO/WHO). The estimated PTDI (provisional tolerable daily intake) were lower for adults (0.40 μg/kg b.w./day) but not for children (0.97 μg/kg b.w./day), and therefore is considered to pose an alert for children with the present fish consumption volume.

The domestic cat (Felis catus) was used as a sentinel of exposure to polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) in indoor urban environments y. Sera from 120 cats were pooled to form 30 different groups selected by age ( 2 ≤ 8 years; > 8 years), sex, municipality (Bologna and Turin) and environment (indoor vs. outdoor). Test portions of 1 mL were analyzed by means of gas chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS) for six selected indicators non-dioxin-like PCBs (∑6 PCBs: congeners #28, #52, #101, #132, #153 and #180) and the results were computed in the upper-bound mode. The internal dose of PCBs attributable to the cats' alimentary lipid intake ranged from 32.4 to 1,446 ng/g (P50 165; mean 258). The Wilcoxon test revealed significantly lower PCB burden in “outdoor” groups than in “indoor” groups. Age correlated well with the heptachlorinated and most bio-accumulative congener, PCB #180, and slightly with hexachlorinated PCBs #138 and #153. Contamination attributable to house dust collected in 15 living-rooms ranged from 10.0 to 279 ng/g dry weight (P50 97.4; mean 94.4). Exposure estimates indicated a 0.6–16 ng/kg bw range of daily ∑6 PCB intake from a default value of 200 mg/cat of dust ingestion. The intake of PCBs due to dust ingestion fell within the same order of magnitude as that computed from a 60 g daily intake of commercial dry pet foods, while inhalation accounted for 0.21–8.2 ng/kg bw/day, on setting the nominal ∑6 PCB contamination in outdoor and indoor air at 0.37 and 15 ng/m3, respectively. Italian indoor cats could be exposed to higher levels of ∑6 PCBs than the Reference Dose (RfD) of 10 ng/kg/bw/day; this supports the World Health Organization's statement that the quality of the indoor environment is a major determinant of health.

Polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorodibenzo-furans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorobiphenyls (DL-PCBs) enter the food chain from the environment. In this study, we report the 2008-2018 time-trends in the PCDD/F and DL-PCB contamination of milk from buffaloes fed on local forage in rural areas of the Campania region. Validated according to QA/QC criteria, the dataset (N = 808 on a total of 2068 samples, after excluding follow-up results and outliers) was computed on the upper-bound value pg WHO-TEQ2005 g-1fat. We assessed time-trends and assayed baseline contamination levels, which displayed log-normal distribution. A significant decreasing trend (p < 0.01) was observed from 2008 to 2009 and 2010; the P50-P95 range fell from 2.37-8.48 pg WHO-TEQ2005 g-1fat (N = 393) in 2008 to 1.73-4.61 in 2009 (N = 86) and to 0.67-1.46 in 2010 (N = 42). From 2010 to 2018 (N = 329), no significant variation was found among years and the related dataset fitted a log-normal distribution (p < 0.05). Occurrence descriptors indicated that the baseline contamination of dairy products (mean = 0.54; P50-P95 = 0.47-1.24) in the Campania Region was well below the EU regulatory limit in force (5.5 pg WHO-TEQ2005 g-1fat). Given the Tolerable Weekly Intake of 2 pg WHO-TEQ kg-1 body weight (bw) proposed by the EFSA for PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs, this level of baseline contamination is discussed with regard to the orientation of food safety and food security risk connected with buffalo mozzarella cheese production.

This study evaluates the aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) contamination in 804 samples of raw milk from cow and buffalo, collected randomly in Campania and Calabria regions of Southern Italy over a two years period. The competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method was used to analyze AFM1 in the samples. AFM1 levels result above the CCβ value of 0.004 μg/kg in 51 (12.3%) cow milk samples and in 28 (7.2%) buffalo milk samples. Positive results from screening analysis were confirmed by high performance liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection (HPLC-FLD) after a procedure of centrifugation, extraction and immunoaffinity column clean-up of milk. Only one cow milk sample exceeded the maximum limit (0.05 μg/kg) set by the European Regulation. The occurrence of AFM1 contamination was significantly (p Our results indicate that feedstuff used in the buffalo and cow farms were not highly contaminated with aflatoxins, determining a good quality of the analyzed milk. Therefore, the AFM1 contamination of the milk does not represent a serious public health problem in both regions in Southern Italy.

Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Lead (Pb) and Mercury (Hg) were analyzed in different prepared meals. Baby food composite and school canteen lunches collected on a five-days basis were selected as potential surrogates of the diet of 9–12 months toddlers and of 4–9 years children, respectively. Five-days servings from an office canteen, three fast food meals, seven-days lunches from a hotel-school and duplicate 1-day portions including a vegetarian meal were surrogates of the diet of 18–64 year adults. Occurrence data of pooled servings were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometer including a Dynamic Reaction Cell (ICP-MS-DRC). From such surrogated diets, estimated intakes felt in the range for As (0.28–6.91 μg kg −1 body weight (b.w.) day −1 ), Cd (0.09–0.96 μg kg −1 b.w. day −1 ), Pb (0.14–1.50 μg kg −1 b.w. day −1 ) and Hg (0.03–0.40 μg kg −1 b.w. day −1 ). For Cd, the intake from almost all surrogate diets considered resulted close to the Total Daily Intake (TDI) suggested by EFSA (0.36 μg kg −1 b.w. day −1 ).

Introduction: Intentional and accidental poisoning of animals is often caused by readily available commercial pesticides, such as the molluscicide metaldehyde. A retrospective analysis of suspected metaldehyde poisonings between 2014 and 2016 in Italy was conducted. Material and Methods: Biological matrices were collected for toxicological analyses in the course of routine Institute activity. A total of 183 organs from dogs and cats and 49 pieces of bait, here specificall y poisoned food used to lure animals, were analysed and the presence of metaldehyde was confirmed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Results: A high content of metaldehyde was demonstrated in the analysed samples from dogs and cats: 50 (27.3%) animals were found positive for metaldehyde intoxication together with 17 pieces of bait. Conclusion: The study emphasised the need for the control of metaldehyde use by the veterinary service.

This paper reports on the results about the chemical pollution pressure in the Gulf of Naples and nearby coastal areas. Farmed mussels were analysed for the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The results documented a decreasing trend in the PAHs levels respect to the past years. The Bay of Pozzuoli remains as the most contaminated site within the Lucrino area with the highest reported number of samples exceeding the benzo(a)pyrene and PAHs sum limits. All the samples with concentrations above the European regulatory limit were collected in the winter period illustrating a seasonal trend of PAHs distribution in mussels during the 4 years investigated.

Non-essential toxic metals are environmental pollutants that contaminate the marine ecosystem due to their extensive use and long-range transport (by rivers and air). Their presence into the environment is often linked to the human activity, with an expected bioaccumulation in the food chain. Within the marine animals, sea turtles may be considered as potential sentinel species for environmental assessment because of their long lifetime, habitat use and migratory nature. In this study, non-essential toxic metals in the coastal of Tyrrhenian Sea were monitored, during the 2017–2018 period, using the Mediterranean loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) as indicator species. The levels of Cadmium (Cd), Arsenic (As), Mercury (Hg) and Lead, (Pb) were determined in 30 turtles stranded in different locations along the coasts of Campania region of Southern Italy. After morphometric analysis, the non- essential toxic metal accumulation in loggerhead sea turtle muscle and organs have been measured analysing the total concentrations of metals in samples of liver, kidney, and muscle by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) after microwave assisted digestion with nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide. The pattern of contaminants revealed a similar distribution for Pb and total mercury, that were not significantly high in all the analysed matrices. On the contrary, elevated concentrations of total As were found out in all matrices, mainly in muscle (25.7 mg/kg w.w.), and of Cd in liver (1.23 mg/kg w.w.) and kidney (6.82 mg/kg w.w.). These studies allow us to estimate the exposure degree to which these species are subjected.

In 2016, the European Commission recommended the Member States to monitor the content of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and other cannabinoids in food and feed derived from hemp and in food of animal origin for possible transfer from feed. Thus, the Italian Ministry of Health implemented a monitoring plan. To this aim, nine cannabinoids in beverages and food for human consumption and in feed were determined. The method applied, based on rapid clean-up and LC–MS/MS determination, was previously developed and in-house validated, evaluating the analytical performance in the concentration ranges 2–50 µg/L for beverages, 0.020–0.500 mg/kg for food and 0.100–10.0 mg/kg for feed. Then, it was applied to determine the cannabinoids in 78 food, 16 beverage and 6 feed samples, collected from the Italian market since 2017. The results are herein reported, for evaluation of both product characteristics and compliance to national maximum limits. Some study cases are also described.