3D geophysical imaging for site-specific characterization plan of an old landfill.

As it is well-known, the characterization plan of an old landfill site is the first stage of the project for the treatment and reclamation of contaminated lands. It is a preliminary in-situ study, with collection of data related to pollution phenomena, and is aimed at defining the physical properties and the geometry of fill materials as well as the possible migration paths of pollutants to the surrounding environmental targets (subsoil and groundwater). To properly evaluate the extent and potential for subsoil contamination, waste volume and possible leachate emissions from the landfill have to be assessed. In such perspective, the integrated use of geophysical methods is an important tool as it allows a detailed 3D representation of the whole system, i.e. waste body and hosting environment (surrounding rocks). This paper presents a very accurate physical and structural characterization of an old landfill and encasing rocks obtained by an integrated analysis of data coming from a multi-methodological geophysical exploration. Moreover, drillings were carried out for waste sampling and characterization of the landfill body, as well as for calibration of the geophysical modeling.

[Malignant tumors of the oral cavity. Epidemiologic study of 294 cases observed during the decade 1984-1994]. / Neoplasie maligne del cavo orale. Studio epidemiologico su 294 casi osservati nel decennio 1984-1994.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The research has been carried out with the cooperation of Department of Otorhinolaryngology of the "Ospedale S.S. Trinita" in Cagliari, on 294 patients suffering from oral malignant tumours between 1984 and 1994. This kind of disease was studied in relation to age, sex, histological type, and afterwards the examination results were compared to other researchers' studies. All the 294 patients were recorded in the operating theatre's registers. Oral malignant tumours amount to about 45% of the neoplastic systemic pathology. Use and misuse of alcohol, smoking, repeated blows resulting in pre-cancerous lesions including leukoplakia, might be considered the main causes of the origin of oral tumours. RESULTS: Male patients (237) amount to 80.7% of the examined sample, while female ones (57) reach only 19.3%. The part most frequently involved is the tongue (97 cases, 33%), then the area of the lower lip (69 cases, 23.5%), and finally the lower part of the oral space (47 cases, 15.58%). CONCLUSIONS: From the histological point of view, the squamous carcinoma is found more often in the tongue, in the lower oral space and in the lips, while the basal carcinoma in the lower lip rather then in the upper one. A remarkable increase in the squamous carcinoma and a grow in the areas of the tongue has been observed.