Metal and non-metal micro-pollutants in cultivated soils of Lecce and Brindisi districts (Apulia, southern Italy).

To estimate the presence of metal and non-metal micro-pollutants in the soils of the Lecce and Brindisi districts, an analytical study has been carried out on samples of surface soils taken from agricultural areas. The research has concerned the determination of the following micro-pollutants: Cu, Ni, Cr, Zn, Pb, Be, Cd, As, Hg, Sb e Tl. Statistical techniques, such as Principal Component Analysis and Clustering Analysis, have been utilised to examine the correlations among the different parameters and to define contamination areas. The results show that the amount of micro-pollutants in the superficial stratum of the examined soils is in the range permitted by the regulations in force, with the exception of arsenic and thallium. Arsenic concentrations are near to the maximum admissible value, while thallium concentrations are in 56% of the samples higher than the admissible value both in the soil and underground. The most significant parameter from a toxicological point of view is thallium, which has its maximum concentration in the soils located near the industrial area of Brindisi.

Accurate quantitative measurements of asbestos in XRPD analysis.

X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRPD) quantitative analysis of fibrous substances like asbestos, is strongly influenced by systematic errors due to preferred orientation, as a consequence of their morphology. In the present work we have compared the accuracy of quantitative measurements performed by using the Internal Standard (IS) method and the Reference Intensity Ratio (RIR) method in the analysis of the same diffractographs. Both these analytical methods are based on the same principle but the data analysis procedures are different. We have particularly studied how, in the RIR case, the evaluation of several diffraction lines of both phases, standard and unknown, increases the accuracy of a quantitative determination, balancing the different effect due to systematic errors on the measurements of distinct peaks.

Sea water contamination in underground waters of salento (Southern Italy).

In the present work, a study of a physico-chemical characterisation of underground waters, utilised for agriculture and human use in the Lecce district (Southern Italy) has been reported. The aim of the work has been to define the quality of underground waters in the different areas and to value salt contamination due to seawater intrusion. Statistical techniques, such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Cluster Analysis (CA), have been utilised to examine the correlations among the different parameters and to define contamination areas. The results have shown a high salt contamination in artesian wells of the Ionian Sea coast.