Investigations on historical monuments’ deterioration through chemical and isotopic analyses: an Italian case study

Pinto

et al. 2022

Toxics

Self Cite

In the last decade or so, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) garnered renewed attention in the scientific community due to new evidence pointing at their continued presence in the environment and workplaces and the potential human risks related to their presence. PCBs move from the environment to humans through different routes; the dominant pathway is the ingestion of contaminated foods (fish, seafood and dairy products), followed by inhalation (both indoor and outdoor air), and, to a lesser extent, dust ingestion and dermal contact. Numerous studies reported the environmental and occupational exposure to these pollutants, deriving from building materials (flame-retardants, plasticizers, paints, caulking compounds, sealants, fluorescent light ballasts, etc.) and electrical equipment. The highest PCBs contaminations were detected in e-waste recycling sites, suggesting the need for the implementation of remediation strategies of such polluted areas to safeguard the health of workers and local populations. Furthermore, a significant correlation between PCB exposure and increased blood PCB concentrations was observed in people working in PCB-contaminated workplaces. Several epidemiological studies suggest that environmental and occupational exposure to high concentrations of PCBs is associated with different health outcomes, such as neuropsychological and neurobehavioral deficits, dementia, immune system dysfunctions, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. In addition, recent studies indicate that PCBs bioaccumulation can reduce fertility, with harmful effects on the reproductive system that can be passed to offspring. In the near future, further studies are needed to assess the real effects of PCBs exposure at low concentrations for prolonged exposure in workplaces and specific indoor environments.

Section: Human Exposure and Bioaccumulation Of Pcbmentioning

confidence: 99%

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in the Environment: Occupational and Exposure Events, Effects on Human Health and Fertility

Montano

Pinto

et al. 2022

Toxics

Self Cite

“…11 28199, Bremen, Germany) with a Flash EA 1112 Elemental Analyzer (Thermo Fischer Scientific, Hanna-Kunath-Str. 11 28199, Bremen, Germany) [40]. To calculate the δ 13 C value, 2 homogenized in-house protein standards were used.…”

Section: Carbon Stable Isotopic Analysis Of Vanillamentioning

confidence: 99%

Application of 13C Quantitative NMR Spectroscopy to Isotopic Analyses for Vanillin Authentication Source

Ricciardi

Motta

et al. 2021

Foods

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The carbon stable isotope ratio (δ13C) is a valuable chemical parameter in the investigation of the geographic origin, quality, and authenticity of foods. The aim of this study is the evaluation of the feasibility of 13C-NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) spectroscopy to determine the carbon stable isotope ratio, at natural abundance, of small organic molecules, such as vanillin, without the use of IRMS (Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry). The determination of vanillin origin is an active task of research, and differentiating between its natural and artificial forms is important to guarantee the quality of food products. To reach our goal, nine vanillin samples were analyzed using both 13C quantitative NMR spectroscopy (under optimized experimental conditions) and IRMS, and the obtained δ13C values were compared using statistical analysis (linear regression, Bland–Altman plot, and ANOVA (analysis of variance)). The results of our study show that 13C-NMR spectroscopy can be used as a valuable alternative methodology to determine the bulk carbon isotope ratio and to identify the origin of vanillin. This makes it attractive for the analysis in the same experiment of site-specific and total isotope effects for testing authenticity, quality, and typicality of food samples. Moreover, the improvement of NMR spectroscopy makes it possible to avoid the influence of additives on carbon stable isotope ratio analysis and to clearly identify fraud and falsification in commercial samples.

“…Knowing the nature and sources of degradation products is of paramount interest because they cause physical-chemical decay and act as accumulators of pollutants. Stable isotope ratio is a useful tool that helps to assess the origin of a sample [21], recently employed in several fields of environmental science [22][23][24][25][26][27]. For example, carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis has allowed to better understand the nature and origin of the black deposit covering the ceiling and walls of Little Lost River Cave, Idaho [28].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and other main components in black crusts collected from the Monumental Cemetery of Milan (Italy)

Ricciardi

Faggiano

et al. 2022

J. Phys.: Conf. Ser.

The present work focuses on the chemical characterization of some chemical components present in black crusts collected from the Monumental Cemetery of Milan located in the homonymous city (Northern Italy). Samples of black crusts, recovered over two sampling campaigns, were analysed by using X-ray Diffraction and Fourier Transform-Infrared spectroscopy. Moreover, Ionic chromatography analyses were performed on water extracts of the black crust samples, while High Performance Liquid Chromatography measurements were carried out on dichloromethane/pentane extracts. This approach was used with the aim to identify the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in these black crusts and the pollution sources responsible for their formation. The knowledge of the pollution sources responsible for the degradation phenomena occurring on cultural heritages, such as black crust formation, is fundamental for the identification of proper preservation strategies, as well as for the development of emission reduction policies on a local scale.