Papers by Santino Orecchio
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Every year 230.000 t of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PHAs) enter the marine environment, res... more Every year 230.000 t of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PHAs) enter the marine environment, resulting ubiquitously distributed world\u2010wide. These compounds are aromatic molecules of special concern because of their toxic and carcinogenic properties. The two main sources of PHAs in the environment are fossil fuels, mainly crude oil, and the incomplete combustion of organic materials such as wood, coal and oil. They enter the sea by both atmospheric and aquatic routes. As a consequence of their hydrophobic nature, in aquatic environments PHAs rapidly tend to associate with particulate matter and sediments represent the most important reservoir. Animal and aquatic plants can accumulate PHAs from the environment even when these pollutants are present at very low concentrations; thus marine organisms are important bioindicators of organic pollution in marine ecosystems. In the present study the level of PHAs in the sessile filter\u2010feeder polychaete Sabella spallanzanii was assessed. In particular, the concentration of PHAs was determined in sediments and in polychaetes (body and tube) collected from three Sicilian ports, subject to different anthropic pressure. A transplanting experiment was also performed. Organisms were transplanted from less contaminated to more contaminated sites and viceversa. In addition, organisms were transplanted into their original site as control for the possible effects of transplantation. At the start and the conclusion of the 1 month\u2010transplanting experiment all organisms were analysed for PAH concentrations using a gas\u2010cromatograph. The accumulation in the bodies and tubes of polychaetes was related to the concentration of pollutant present in the sediments. Differences were observed between sites and within each site between transplanted and control organisms. These results have implications for the role and possible use of this polychaete as a bioindicator
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Microchemical Journal, 2016
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ChemistrySelect, May 22, 2023
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... Tipologia: Proceedings. Citazione: GIANGUZZA A., DONGARRA' G., ORECCHIO S., PIAZZESE D.,... more ... Tipologia: Proceedings. Citazione: GIANGUZZA A., DONGARRA' G., ORECCHIO S., PIAZZESE D., SCIARRINO S., VARRICA D., et al. (2005). ... Autori: GIANGUZZA A; DONGARRA' G; ORECCHIO S; PIAZZESE D; SCIARRINO S; VARRICA D. ...
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Every year 230.000 tons of PAHs enter the marine environment, resulting ubiquitously distributed ... more Every year 230.000 tons of PAHs enter the marine environment, resulting ubiquitously distributed worldwide. These compounds are aromatic molecules of special concern because of their toxic and carcinogenic properties. As a consequence of their hydrophobic nature, in aquatic environments, PAHs rapidly tend to associate with particulate matter and sediments represent the most important reservoir. In the present study the level of PAHs in the sessile filter-feeder polychaete Sabella spallanzanii was assessed. In particular, the concentration of PAHs was determined in polychaetes (body and tube) collected from three Sicilian areas, subject to different anthropic pressure. A transplanting experiment was also performed. Organisms were transplanted from less contaminated to more contaminated site and viceversa. The sample of body and tubes worms was extracted in Automatic Soxhlet with dichloromethane:pentane 1:1 (v/v) following Soxhlet warm mode. At the start and at the conclusion of the experiment all organisms were analysed for PAHs concentrations using a GC-MS. The total concentration of compounds investigated in the tubes of S. spallanzanii expressed as the sum of concentrations varies from 501 to 20304 \u3bcg/Kg of dry matrix, while in the bodies, PAHs concentrations ranged from 428 to 3661 \u3bcg/Kg of dry matrix.The results showed differences in concentration of PAHs between transplanted and control organisms. Different enzyme response was observed in the organisms transplanted in the most contaminated site, probably as a consequence of different contamination exposures. We conclude that AChE and GST can be used in this species as an early warning system for pollution. These results have implications for the role and possible use of this polychaete as a bioindicator
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Microchemical Journal, Nov 1, 2016
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Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, Oct 25, 2012
This paper describes a work aimed at improving the conditions of an extraction method, coupling G... more This paper describes a work aimed at improving the conditions of an extraction method, coupling GC-MS determination, for the analysis without cleanup phase, of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from sediment samples. The automatic Soxhlet extraction in warm mode (using Extraction System B-811 Standard, Büchi) has demonstrated advantages for automation, reduced extraction time, and lower solvent use than for conventional Soxhlet extraction. Under these conditions, the recoveries are very good as they resulted greater than 85% and, in most of the cases, near 100%. The repeatability is also satisfactory (relative standard deviation less than 15%). The detection limits are also acceptable and ranged from 0.001 to0.01 μg/kg dry weight. Fifty-four sediment samples were collected. The total concentration of the 17 compounds investigated, in samples of sediments collected from three Sicilian coastal areas, expressed as the sum of concentrations, varies from 99 to 11,557 μg/kg of dry matrix; concentrations of total PAHs in the sediments of Cala are two to three times higher than the other stations.
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Journal of Hazardous Materials, Jan 15, 2010
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Atmospheric Environment, Mar 1, 2008
Abstract Studies on indoor pollution are important since people spend more than 80% of their time... more Abstract Studies on indoor pollution are important since people spend more than 80% of their time indoor environments. In this work the method for PAHs analysis in indoor dust (used as passive sampler) and the results relative to samples collected in the area of Palermo are reported. Dust samples for analysis were collected from 45 indoor environments. Total PAHs concentrations in indoor dusts ranged from 36 to 34 453 μg kg −1 d.w. To correlate indoor and outdoor pollution we analyze, also, the particulate matter and PAHs levels samples collected in four stations. The percentage measured in indoor dusts results more low than that found outside. The values of isomeric ratios for the different samples were used to individuate the predominant PAHs sources.
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II Convegno Nazionale Giovani Geologi Italiani - Napoli, 18-20 Marzo 2010 (84-86 pp.) ... II Conv... more II Convegno Nazionale Giovani Geologi Italiani - Napoli, 18-20 Marzo 2010 (84-86 pp.) ... II Convegno Nazionale Giovani Geologi Italiani - Napoli, 18-20 Marzo 2010 (84-86 pp.) ... ANTONIO CIMINO 1 & ROSARIO ABBATE 2 ... 1 Dipartimento di Fisica e Tecnologie Relative, Università di ...
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Separations, May 15, 2023
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Annali di igiene : medicina preventiva e di comunità, 2000
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... 20322. Tipologia: Proceedings. Citazione: S. ORECCHIO, A. GIANGUZZA, D. PIAZZESE, & M. GO... more ... 20322. Tipologia: Proceedings. Citazione: S. ORECCHIO, A. GIANGUZZA, D. PIAZZESE, & M. GOVERNANTI (2004). Idrocarburi policiclici ... sanitari. Autori: S ORECCHIO; A GIANGUZZA; D PIAZZESE; M GOVERNANTI. Titolo: Idrocarburi ...
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The great part of municipal solid wastes is worldwide stored in sanitary landfills. The interacti... more The great part of municipal solid wastes is worldwide stored in sanitary landfills. The interaction of organic and inorganic wastes with rainwater produces in the landfill a leachate of extremely variable composition. It depends on several variables such as the type of wastes, the age of landfill, the pH, the redox potential, etc [1-2]. Four are the recognized categories of pollutants in landfill leachate: inorganic macrocomponents, dissolved organic matter (DOM), heavy metals and xenobiotic organic compounds [3]. In particular, heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, etc.) are usually present at concentration of few ppb and up to some ppm. A variable but consistent fraction of DOM is constituted by humic and fulvic-like compounds, formed through a series of biological and chemical processes that involve DOM, especially during the methanogenic phase of wastes decomposition [3]. The great number of binding sites in humic like substances, mainly carboxylic and phenolic groups, are responsible of the high sequestering ability of leachate towards metal ions. As consequence, the speciation scheme of all the toxic metal ions contained in the landfill is strictly influenced by the amount and composition of DOM fraction in leachate. Due to the imperfections or the possible damages of landfill liners, the leachate can contaminate superficial and ground waters in proximity of the landfill causing serious environmental pollution and human health risks. In a previous study the presence and the amount of landfill leachate, also in trace, on some groundwater samples collected in proximity of Bellolampo landfill was evaluated [4]. The obtained results showed a leachate concentration of ~ 130 \u3bcg L-1. Landfill of Bellolampo is a solid waste sanitary landfill near Palermo (Sicily). The landfill has been created in 1960s and become a controlled dump site in 1980s. Previous ICP-OES measurements on Bellolampo leachate have been shown a Pb, Cd and Cu concentrations in the ranges 0.05 - 2.3, 0.02 - 0.12 and 0.02 - 0.6 mg L-1 respectively. The environmental and health risks related to the presence of toxic heavy metal ions in leachate depends on the species that metals form with the other components and at the conditions of the contaminated groundwater, with particular attention to the amount of free metal ions, the most dangerous among their possible species in aqueous solution. For this reason, the study of the sequestering ability of landfill leachate towards toxic metal ions is of fundamental importance to establish the environmental impact of leachate contamination. Here we present a potentiometric and voltammetric (Differential Pulse Anodic Stripping Voltammetry, DP-ASV) study on the acid-base properties and on the sequestering ability of leachate samples collected in Bellolampo landfill towards Cd(II), Pb(II) and Cu(II) ions. The voltammetric and potentiometric titrations were carried out in NaCl aqueous solution, at I = 0.1 mol L-1 in order to simulate the mean experimental conditions typical of groundwaters. The acid \u2013 base properties of the filtered leachate were compared to those of the soluble fraction of humic substances, with carboxylic and phenolic groups as main binding sites of the macromolecules. Two units namely leach1 and leach2 containing COOH and phenol OH groups, respectively were considered and the Diprotic Like model has been used to process the ISE-H+ potentiometric data [5]. The voltammetric titrations of toxic metal ions solutions with leachate (diluted or as it is) were carried out adjusting the pH of titrand solutions at 5. The results shown an appreciable sequestering ability of leachate towards the heavy metal ions considered and an estimation of the metal complexes stability has been done by calculating rough metal \u2013 leachate formation constants
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The present study was aimed to develop a procedure for the analysis of trace concentration of pht... more The present study was aimed to develop a procedure for the analysis of trace concentration of phthalate esters (PEA) in coffee brew stored in plastic cups. Phthalates are esters of phthalic acid, generally have high boiling points, lowvolatility are insoluble in water andpredominantly fat-soluble. Phthalates with higher molecular weights, such as bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) are largely used as additives and plasticizers in plastic material (PVC), while those with lower molecular weights are components of solvents, adhesive, wax, ink, pharmaceutical products, insecticide materials and cosmetic. Dimethyl phthalate and diethyl phthalate are present in plastics based on cellulose esters such as cellulose acetate and butyrate. The widespread use of these products resulted in their presence in various environmental matrices such as water, soil and food. Phthalate esters have endocrine disrupting properties. Several studies have shown that phthalate esters are estrogenic and have reproductive effects in mammals. Considering that the potential health impact on humans, the European Commission, for example, is proposing a ban on the use of phthalate esters in soft PVC materials for making baby toys. In the present work, considering the large daily consumption of coffee, we optimized a reliable analytical methodand investigated the levels, distribution of 17analyte incoffee brew samples. This method is based on liquid\u2013liquid extraction of brew; the determination is carried out by GC\u2013 MS using SIM acquisition data. The method is more selective, rapid and economical than those described in the literature for similar matrices, which are based on SPE. The method detection limits for the 17 phthalate esters were between 10 \ub5g l 121 and 90\ub5g l 121 and recovery rates between 65% and 104%. The versatility of method as analytical tool makes it an ideal technique for analytical quality control and research and development laboratories in the food and industry
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Papers by Santino Orecchio