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Lanave G, Catella C, Catalano A, Lucente MS, Pellegrini F, Fracchiolla G, Diakoudi G, Palmisani J, Trombetta CM, Martella V, Camero M. Assessing the virucidal activity of essential oils against feline calicivirus, a non-enveloped virus used as surrogate of norovirus. Heliyon 2024; 10:e30492. [PMID: 38711631 PMCID: PMC11070907 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Norovirus (NoV) causes serious gastrointestinal disease worldwide and is regarded as an important foodborne pathogen. Due the difficulties of in vitro cultivation for human NoV, alternative caliciviruses (i.e., feline calicivirus, FCV, or murine NoV) have long been used as surrogates for in vitro assessment of the efficacy of antivirals. Essential oils (EOs) are natural compounds that have displayed antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. We report in vitro the virucidal efficacy of four EOs, Melissa officinalis L. EO (MEO), Thymus vulgaris L. EO (TEO), Rosmarinus officinalis L. EO (REO), and Salvia officinalis L. EO (SEO) against FCV at different time contacts (10, 30 min, 1, 4 and 8 h). At the maximum non-cytotoxic concentration and at 10- and 100- fold concentrations over the cytotoxic threshold, the EOs did not decrease significantly FCV viral titers. However, MEO at 12,302.70 μg/mL exhibited a significant efficacy decreasing the viral titer by 0.75 log10 Tissue Culture Infectious Dose (TCID50)/50 μl after 10 min as compared to virus control. In this study, virucidal activity of four EOs against FCV, was investigated. A lack of virucidal efficacy of TEO, REO and SEO at different compound concentrations and time contacts against FCV was observed whilst MEO was able to significantly decrease FCV titer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianvito Lanave
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70010, Valenzano, Bari, Italy
| | - Cristiana Catella
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70010, Valenzano, Bari, Italy
| | - Alessia Catalano
- Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Maria Stella Lucente
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70010, Valenzano, Bari, Italy
| | - Francesco Pellegrini
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70010, Valenzano, Bari, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Fracchiolla
- Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Georgia Diakoudi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70010, Valenzano, Bari, Italy
| | - Jolanda Palmisani
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70126, Bari, Italy
| | - Claudia Maria Trombetta
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Vito Martella
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70010, Valenzano, Bari, Italy
| | - Michele Camero
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70010, Valenzano, Bari, Italy
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Catella C, Pellegrini F, Carbonari A, Burgio M, Patruno G, Rizzo A, Trombetta CM, Palmisani J, Martella V, Camero M, Lanave G. In Vitro Antiviral and Virucidal Activity of Ozone against Feline Calicivirus. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:682. [PMID: 38473067 DOI: 10.3390/ani14050682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The Caliciviridae family includes several viral pathogens of humans and animals, including norovirus (NoV), genus Norovirus, and feline calicivirus (FCV), genus Vesivirus. Due to their resistance in the environment, NoV and FCV may give rise to nosocomial infections, and indirect transmission plays a major role in their diffusion in susceptible populations. A pillar of the control of viruses resistant to an environment is the adoption of prophylaR1.6ctic measures, including disinfection. Since NoVs are not cultivatable in common cell cultures, FCV has been largely used as a surrogate of NoV for the assessment of effective disinfectants. Ozone (O3), a molecule with strong oxidizing properties, has shown strong microbicidal activity on bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses. In this study, the virucidal and antiviral activities of an O3/O2 gas mixture containing O3 were tested at different concentrations (20, 35, and 50 μg/mL) for distinct contact times against FCV. The O3/O2 gas mixture showed virucidal and antiviral activities against FCV in a dose- and contact time-dependent fashion. Ozonation could be considered as a valid strategy for the disinfection of environments at risk of contamination by FCV and NoV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristiana Catella
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70010 Valenzano, Italy
| | - Francesco Pellegrini
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70010 Valenzano, Italy
| | - Alice Carbonari
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70010 Valenzano, Italy
| | - Matteo Burgio
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70010 Valenzano, Italy
| | - Giovanni Patruno
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70010 Valenzano, Italy
| | - Annalisa Rizzo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70010 Valenzano, Italy
| | | | - Jolanda Palmisani
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - Vito Martella
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70010 Valenzano, Italy
| | - Michele Camero
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70010 Valenzano, Italy
| | - Gianvito Lanave
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70010 Valenzano, Italy
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Tangaro S, Lopalco G, Sabella D, Venerito V, Novielli P, Romano D, Di Gilio A, Palmisani J, de Gennaro G, Filannino P, Latronico R, Bellotti R, De Angelis M, Iannone F. Unraveling the microbiome-metabolome nexus: a comprehensive study protocol for personalized management of Behçet's disease using explainable artificial intelligence. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1341152. [PMID: 38410386 PMCID: PMC10895059 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1341152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The presented study protocol outlines a comprehensive investigation into the interplay among the human microbiota, volatilome, and disease biomarkers, with a specific focus on Behçet's disease (BD) using methods based on explainable artificial intelligence. The protocol is structured in three phases. During the initial three-month clinical study, participants will be divided into control and experimental groups. The experimental groups will receive a soluble fiber-based dietary supplement alongside standard therapy. Data collection will encompass oral and fecal microbiota, breath samples, clinical characteristics, laboratory parameters, and dietary habits. The subsequent biological data analysis will involve gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, and metagenetic analysis to examine the volatilome and microbiota composition of salivary and fecal samples. Additionally, chemical characterization of breath samples will be performed. The third phase introduces Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) for the analysis of the collected data. This novel approach aims to evaluate eubiosis and dysbiosis conditions, identify markers associated with BD, dietary habits, and the supplement. Primary objectives include establishing correlations between microbiota, volatilome, phenotypic BD characteristics, and identifying patient groups with shared features. The study aims to identify taxonomic units and metabolic markers predicting clinical outcomes, assess the supplement's impact, and investigate the relationship between dietary habits and patient outcomes. This protocol contributes to understanding the microbiome's role in health and disease and pioneers an XAI-driven approach for personalized BD management. With 70 recruited BD patients, XAI algorithms will analyze multi-modal clinical data, potentially revolutionizing BD management and paving the way for improved patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabina Tangaro
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Suolo, della Pianta e degli Alimenti, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Lopalco
- Dipartimento di Medicina di Precisione e Rigenerativa e Area Jonica, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Daniele Sabella
- Dipartimento di Medicina di Precisione e Rigenerativa e Area Jonica, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Venerito
- Dipartimento di Medicina di Precisione e Rigenerativa e Area Jonica, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Pierfrancesco Novielli
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Suolo, della Pianta e degli Alimenti, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Donato Romano
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Suolo, della Pianta e degli Alimenti, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Alessia Di Gilio
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Biotecnologie e Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Jolanda Palmisani
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Biotecnologie e Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Gianluigi de Gennaro
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Biotecnologie e Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Pasquale Filannino
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Suolo, della Pianta e degli Alimenti, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Rosanna Latronico
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Suolo, della Pianta e degli Alimenti, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Roberto Bellotti
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Bari, Bari, Italy
- Dipartimento Interateneo di Fisica ‘M. Merlin’, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Maria De Angelis
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Suolo, della Pianta e degli Alimenti, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Florenzo Iannone
- Dipartimento di Medicina di Precisione e Rigenerativa e Area Jonica, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
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DI Gilio A, Palmisani J, Picciariello A, Zambonin C, Aresta A, De Vietro N, Franchini SA, Ventrella G, Nisi M, Licen S, Barbieri P, Altomare D, de Gennaro G. Identification of a characteristic VOCs pattern in the exhaled breath of post-COVID subjects: are metabolic alterations induced by the infection still detectable? J Breath Res 2023. [PMID: 37379826 DOI: 10.1088/1752-7163/ace27c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is expected to cause metabolic alterations due to viral replication and the host immune response resulting in increase of cytokine secretion and cytolytic activity. The present prospective observational study is addressed at exploring the potentialities of breath analysis in discrimination between patients with a documented previous history of symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection and, at the moment of the enrollment, exhibiting a negative nasopharyngeal swab and acquired immunity (post-COVID) and healthy subjects with no evidence of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection (no-COVID). The main purpose is to understand if traces of metabolic alterations induced during the acute phase of the infection are still detectable after negativization, in the form of a characteristic VOCs pattern. An overall number of 60 volunteers aged between 25 and 70 years were enrolled in the study (post-COVID: n.30; no-COVID: n. 30), according to well-determined criteria. Breath and ambient air samples were collected by means of an automated sampling system (Mistral) and analyzed by Thermal Desorption-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (TD-GC/MS). Statistical tests (Wilcoxon/Kruskal-Wallis test) and multivariate data analysis (Principal Component Analysis, Linear Discriminant Analysis) were performed on data sets. Among all compounds detected (76 VOCs in 90% of breath samples), 5 VOCs (1-propanol, isopropanol, 2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol, propanal and 4-(1,1-dimethylpropyl)phenol) showed abundances in breath samples collected from post-COVID subjects significantly different with respect to those collected from no-COVID group (Wilcoxon/Kruskal-Wallis test, p-values < 0.05). Although not completely satisfactory separation between the groups was obtained, variables showing significant differences between the two groups and higher loadings for PCA are recognized biomarkers of COVID-19, according to previous studies in literature. Therefore, based on the outcomes obtained, traces of metabolic alterations induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection are still detectable after negativization. This evidence raises questions about the eligibility of post-COVID subjects in observational studies addressed at the detection of COVID-19. (Ethical Committee Registration number: 120/AG/11).
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia DI Gilio
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari Aldo Moro, via Orabona 4, Bari, Puglia, 70125, ITALY
| | - Jolanda Palmisani
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari Aldo Moro, via Orabona 4, Bari, Puglia, 70125, ITALY
| | - Arcangelo Picciariello
- Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazzale Giulio Cesare 11, Bari, Puglia, 70124, ITALY
| | - Carlo Zambonin
- Department of Bioscience, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari Aldo Moro, via Orabona 4, Bari, Puglia, 70125, ITALY
| | - Antonella Aresta
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari Aldo Moro, via Orabona 4, Bari, Puglia, 70125, ITALY
| | - Nicoletta De Vietro
- Department of Chemistry , Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, via Orabona 4, Bari, Puglia, 70125, ITALY
| | - Silvana Angela Franchini
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnolgies and Environment, University of Bari Aldo Moro, via Orabona 4, Bari, Puglia, 70125, ITALY
| | - Gianrocco Ventrella
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari Aldo Moro, via Orabona 4, Bari, Puglia, 70125, ITALY
| | - Marirosa Nisi
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari Aldo Moro, via Orabona 4, Bari, Puglia, 70125, ITALY
| | - Sabina Licen
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of Trieste, Piazzale Europa 1, Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, 34127, ITALY
| | - Pierluigi Barbieri
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of Trieste, Piazzale Europa 1, Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, 34127, ITALY
| | - Donato Altomare
- Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Piazzale Giulio Cesare 11, Bari, Puglia, 70124, ITALY
| | - Gianluigi de Gennaro
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari Aldo Moro, via Orabona 4, Bari, Puglia, 70125, ITALY
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Chianese E, Tirimberio G, Appolloni L, Dinoi A, Contini D, Di Gilio A, Palmisani J, Cotugno P, Miniero DV, Dusek U, Cammino G, Riccio A. Chemical characterisation of PM 10 from ship emissions: a study on samples from hydrofoil exhaust stacks. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2022; 29:17723-17736. [PMID: 34676477 PMCID: PMC8530373 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-17035-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
A chemical characterization of PM10 collected at hydrofoil exhaust stacks was performed conducting two on-board measuring campaigns, with the aim of assessing the ship emission impact on PM10 collected in the coastal area of Naples (Southern Italy) and providing information about the characteristics of this important PM emission source.Samples were analysed determining the contribution of different chemical parameters to PM10's mass, which consisted of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (0.10 ± 0.12%), total carbon (61.9% ± 20.0%, with 40.4% of organic carbon, OC, and 21.5% of elemental carbon, EC) and elemental fraction (0.44% ± 1.00%). Differences in terms of composition and chemical parameter profiles were observed between samples collected during offshore navigation (Off) and samples collected during shunting operations (SO), the latter of higher concern on a local scale. For SO samples, lower contributions of OC and EC were observed (39.7% and 19.6% respectively) compared to Off samples (41.5% and 24.2%), and an increase in terms of elements (from 0.32 to 0.51%) and PAHs (from 0.06 to 0.12%) concentrations was observed. In addition, enrichment factors (EFs) for some elements such as V, Zn, Cd, Cu, Ag and Hg as well as PAHs profile varied significantly between SO and Off. Data presented here were compared with data on chemical composition of PM10 sampled in a tunnel, in a background site and in an urban site in the city of Naples. Results indicated that shipping activities contributed significantly to the emission of V and, in some extent, Zn and Cd; in addition, PAH profiles indicated a greater contribution to urban PM10 from vehicular traffic than shipping emissions. These results can significantly contribute to the correct evaluation of the influence of shipping emission on PM10 generation in urban coastal areas and can be a useful reference for similar studies. The coastal area of Naples is an important example of the coexistence of residential, touristic and natural areas with pollutants emission sources including, among the others, shipping emissions. In this and similar contexts, it is important to distinguish the contribution of each emission source to clearly define environmental control policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Chianese
- Department of Science and Technology, University of Naples 'Parthenope', Centro Direzionale Isola C4, 80143, Napoli, Italy.
| | - Giuseppina Tirimberio
- Department of Science and Technology, University of Naples 'Parthenope', Centro Direzionale Isola C4, 80143, Napoli, Italy
| | - Luca Appolloni
- Department of Science and Technology, University of Naples 'Parthenope', Centro Direzionale Isola C4, 80143, Napoli, Italy
| | - Adelaide Dinoi
- Istituto Di Scienze Dell'Atmosfera E del Clima, ISAC-CNR, 73100, Lecce, Italy
| | - Daniele Contini
- Istituto Di Scienze Dell'Atmosfera E del Clima, ISAC-CNR, 73100, Lecce, Italy
| | - Alessia Di Gilio
- Department of Biology, University of Bari, Via Orabona 4, 70126, Bari, Italy
| | - Jolanda Palmisani
- Department of Biology, University of Bari, Via Orabona 4, 70126, Bari, Italy
| | - Pietro Cotugno
- Department of Biology, University of Bari, Via Orabona 4, 70126, Bari, Italy
| | | | - Ulrike Dusek
- Centre for Isotope Research (CIO) Energy and Sustainability Research Institute Groningen (ESRIG), University of Groningen, 9747 AG, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Gennaro Cammino
- Autorità Di Sistema Portuale del Mar Tirreno Centrale, Piazzale Pisacane 80133, Napoli, Italy
| | - Angelo Riccio
- Department of Science and Technology, University of Naples 'Parthenope', Centro Direzionale Isola C4, 80143, Napoli, Italy
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Di Gilio A, Palmisani J, Pulimeno M, Cerino F, Cacace M, Miani A, de Gennaro G. CO 2 concentration monitoring inside educational buildings as a strategic tool to reduce the risk of Sars-CoV-2 airborne transmission. Environ Res 2021; 202:111560. [PMID: 34224708 PMCID: PMC8253691 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
In order to avoid SARS-CoV-2 transmission inside educational buildings and promote the safe reopening of schools, the Italian Government, in line with the other European countries and in accordance with the WHO recommendations, adopted a contingency plan including actions able to guarantee adequate air ventilation in classrooms. Therefore, in this pilot study, a surveillance activity based on the real-time monitoring of CO2 levels as a proxy of SARS-CoV-2 transmission risk, was conducted inside 9 schools (11 classrooms) located in Apulia Region (South of Italy) during the reopening of schools after the lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic. More specifically, monitoring activities and data treatment were conducted to evaluate the initial scenario inside the classrooms (first stage of evaluation) and the potential improvements obtained by applying a detailed operating protocol of air ventilation based on specific actions and the simultaneous real time visualization of CO2 levels by non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) sensors (second stage of evaluation). Although, during the first evaluation stage, air ventilation through the opening of windows and doors was guaranteed, 6 (54%) classrooms showed mean values of CO2 higher than 1000 ppm and all classrooms exceeded the recommended CO2 concentration limit value of 700 ppm. The development and implementation of tailored ventilation protocol including the real time visualization of CO2 levels allowed to depict better scenariosAn overall improvement of CO2 levels was indeed registered for all classrooms where teachers were compliant and helpful in the management of the air ventilation strategy. Therefore, this study reports the first evidence-based measures demonstrating that, with the exception of few environments affected by structural limits, the real-time visualization and monitoring of CO2 concentrations allowes effective air exchanges to be implemented and contributes to prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Moreover, on the basis of the monitoring outcomes and in order to ensure adequate air ventilation in educational buildings, a 4 level-risk classification including specific corrective actions for each level was provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Di Gilio
- Biology Department, University of Bari, via Orabona, 4, 70126, Bari, Italy.
| | - Jolanda Palmisani
- Biology Department, University of Bari, via Orabona, 4, 70126, Bari, Italy.
| | - Manuela Pulimeno
- UNESCO Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development, Naples, Italy
| | - Fabio Cerino
- Befreest srl, viale Virgilio 113, 74121, Taranto, Italy
| | - Mirko Cacace
- Befreest srl, viale Virgilio 113, 74121, Taranto, Italy
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Di Gilio A, Palmisani J, Petraccone S, de Gennaro G. A sensing network involving citizens for high spatio-temporal resolution monitoring of fugitive emissions from a petroleum pre-treatment plant. Sci Total Environ 2021; 791:148135. [PMID: 34118667 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
In this study an innovative sensing network consisting of eight photoionization detectors, meteorological sensors, a video camera and a telephonic system able to systematize the population complaints was developed for the monitoring of odor emissions. The development of monitoring approaches with high temporal and spatial resolution and actively involving citizens, is strategic in areas where relevant and also short-term emissive events frequently occur and the conventional approaches fail due to the high variability of fugitive emissions. Moreover, even if unpleasant odors are not necessarily direct triggers of health effects, they could be associated with the release of other harmful compounds. Monitoring approaches also involving citizens are thus strategic tools because odors annoyance perceived by population may be a potential health risk warning. Therefore, the developed sensing network was set up in Val d'Agri (Basilicata, Italy) where a petroleum pre-treatment plant (COVA) rises in a rural and inhabited area. The data collected during the monitoring campaign from the 16th February to the 30th July 2017, showed Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOCs) concentrations decreasing moving away from the plant and up to five times higher than levels registered in the closest municipality (Viggiano). Moreover, recurrent short-term critical events characterized by concentration values far above the average of the period and with maximum values ranging from 0.92 to 1.89 ppm, were registered in correspondence with high levels of benzene (up to 23.9 μg/m3) and anemometric conditions able to transport pollutants from COVA to each receptor site. The spatial and temporal distribution of TVOC concentrations proved to be affected by the distance from COVA, wind direction and industrial activities verified using video reportage and citizen claims. Therefore, the developed approach has proven to be a useful tool to credit people's perception of odors and also to quantify citizen exposure to VOCs during short-term events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Di Gilio
- Biology Department, University of Bari, via Orabona, 4, 70126 Bari, Italy.
| | - Jolanda Palmisani
- Biology Department, University of Bari, via Orabona, 4, 70126 Bari, Italy.
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Barbieri P, Zupin L, Licen S, Torboli V, Semeraro S, Cozzutto S, Palmisani J, Di Gilio A, de Gennaro G, Fontana F, Omiciuolo C, Pallavicini A, Ruscio M, Crovella S. Molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2 from indoor air samples in environmental monitoring needs adequate temporal coverage and infectivity assessment. Environ Res 2021; 198:111200. [PMID: 33901446 PMCID: PMC8065246 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 04/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The relevance of airborne exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in indoor environments is a matter of research and debate, with special importance for healthcare low-risk settings. Experimental approaches to the bioaerosol sampling are neither standardized nor optimized yet, leading in some cases to limited representativity of the temporal and spatial variability of viral presence in aerosols. Airborne viral viability moreover needs to be assessed. A study has been conducted collecting five 24-h PM10 samples in a COVID-19 geriatric ward in late June 2020, and detecting E and RdRp genes by RT-qPCR with a Ct between 36 and 39. The viral RNA detection at Ct = 36 was related to the maximal numerosity of infected patients hosted in the ward. Lacking a direct infectivity assessment for the collected samples an experimental model has been defined, by seeding twelve nasopharyngeal swab extracts from COVID-19 positive patients on Vero E6 cells; only the four extracts with a viral load above E+10 viral copies (approximately Ct<24) have been able to establish a persistent infection in vitro. Therefore, the cytopathic effect, a key feature of residual infectivity, could be considered unlikely for the environmental PM10 samples showing amplification of viral RNA at Ct = 36 or higher. A standardization of airborne SARS-CoV-2 long-term monitoring and of environmental infectivity assessment is urgently needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierluigi Barbieri
- Dept. of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri 1, 34127, Trieste, Italy; INSTM National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology, Via G. Giusti, 9 50121, Firenze, Italy.
| | - Luisa Zupin
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Via Dell'Istria 65/1, 34137, Trieste, Italy.
| | - Sabina Licen
- Dept. of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri 1, 34127, Trieste, Italy; INSTM National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology, Via G. Giusti, 9 50121, Firenze, Italy.
| | - Valentina Torboli
- Dept. of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri 8, 34127, Trieste, Italy.
| | - Sabrina Semeraro
- INSTM National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology, Via G. Giusti, 9 50121, Firenze, Italy.
| | - Sergio Cozzutto
- ARCO Solutions Srl, C/o BIC Incubatori FVG S.p.A. Via Flavia 23/1, 34148, Trieste, Italy.
| | - Jolanda Palmisani
- Dept. of Biology, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Via Via E. Orabona, 4 70124, Bari, Italy.
| | - Alessia Di Gilio
- Dept. of Biology, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Via Via E. Orabona, 4 70124, Bari, Italy.
| | - Gianluigi de Gennaro
- Dept. of Biology, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Via Via E. Orabona, 4 70124, Bari, Italy.
| | - Francesco Fontana
- Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina - Ospedale San Polo Via Luigi Galvani 1, 34074, Monfalcone (GO), Italy.
| | - Cinzia Omiciuolo
- Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina - Ospedale Maggiore Piazza Dell'Ospitale 1, 34129, Trieste (TS), Italy.
| | - Alberto Pallavicini
- Dept. of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri 8, 34127, Trieste, Italy.
| | - Maurizio Ruscio
- Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina - Ospedale Maggiore Piazza Dell'Ospitale 1, 34129, Trieste (TS), Italy.
| | - Sergio Crovella
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Qatar, Doha, 2713, Qatar.
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9
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Setti L, Passarini F, De Gennaro G, Barbieri P, Licen S, Perrone MG, Piazzalunga A, Borelli M, Palmisani J, Di Gilio A, Rizzo E, Colao A, Piscitelli P, Miani A. Potential role of particulate matter in the spreading of COVID-19 in Northern Italy: first observational study based on initial epidemic diffusion. BMJ Open 2020. [PMID: 32973066 DOI: 10.1101/2020.04.11.20061713v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES A number of studies have shown that the airborne transmission route could spread some viruses over a distance of 2 meters from an infected person. An epidemic model based only on respiratory droplets and close contact could not fully explain the regional differences in the spread of COVID-19 in Italy. On March 16th 2020, we presented a position paper proposing a research hypothesis concerning the association between higher mortality rates due to COVID-19 observed in Northern Italy and average concentrations of PM10 exceeding a daily limit of 50 µg/m3. METHODS To monitor the spreading of COVID-19 in Italy from February 24th to March 13th (the date of the Italian lockdown), official daily data for PM10 levels were collected from all Italian provinces between February 9th and February 29th, taking into account the maximum lag period (14 days) between the infection and diagnosis. In addition to the number of exceedances of the daily limit value of PM10, we also considered population data and daily travelling information for each province. RESULTS Exceedance of the daily limit value of PM10 appears to be a significant predictor of infection in univariate analyses (p<0.001). Less polluted provinces had a median of 0.03 infections over 1000 residents, while the most polluted provinces showed a median of 0.26 cases. Thirty-nine out of 41 Northern Italian provinces resulted in the category with the highest PM10 levels, while 62 out of 66 Southern provinces presented low PM10 concentrations (p<0.001). In Milan, the average growth rate before the lockdown was significantly higher than in Rome (0.34 vs 0.27 per day, with a doubling time of 2.0 days vs 2.6, respectively), thus suggesting a basic reproductive number R0>6.0, comparable with the highest values estimated for China. CONCLUSION A significant association has been found between the geographical distribution of daily PM10 exceedances and the initial spreading of COVID-19 in the 110 Italian provinces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Setti
- Industrial Chemistry "Toso Montanari", University of Bologna, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Passarini
- Industrial Chemistry "Toso Montanari", University of Bologna, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
| | | | - Pierluigi Barbieri
- Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
| | - Sabina Licen
- Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
| | | | | | - Massimo Borelli
- Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
| | | | | | - Emanuele Rizzo
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine, SIMA, Milan, Italy
| | - Annamaria Colao
- Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Campania, Italy
| | - Prisco Piscitelli
- Euro Mediterranean Scientific Biomedical Institute, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Alessandro Miani
- Scienze e Politiche Ambientali, University of Milan, Milano, Lombardia, Italy
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10
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Setti L, Passarini F, De Gennaro G, Barbieri P, Licen S, Perrone MG, Piazzalunga A, Borelli M, Palmisani J, Di Gilio A, Rizzo E, Colao A, Piscitelli P, Miani A. Potential role of particulate matter in the spreading of COVID-19 in Northern Italy: first observational study based on initial epidemic diffusion. BMJ Open 2020; 10:e039338. [PMID: 32973066 DOI: 10.1101/2020.04.11.20061713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES A number of studies have shown that the airborne transmission route could spread some viruses over a distance of 2 meters from an infected person. An epidemic model based only on respiratory droplets and close contact could not fully explain the regional differences in the spread of COVID-19 in Italy. On March 16th 2020, we presented a position paper proposing a research hypothesis concerning the association between higher mortality rates due to COVID-19 observed in Northern Italy and average concentrations of PM10 exceeding a daily limit of 50 µg/m3. METHODS To monitor the spreading of COVID-19 in Italy from February 24th to March 13th (the date of the Italian lockdown), official daily data for PM10 levels were collected from all Italian provinces between February 9th and February 29th, taking into account the maximum lag period (14 days) between the infection and diagnosis. In addition to the number of exceedances of the daily limit value of PM10, we also considered population data and daily travelling information for each province. RESULTS Exceedance of the daily limit value of PM10 appears to be a significant predictor of infection in univariate analyses (p<0.001). Less polluted provinces had a median of 0.03 infections over 1000 residents, while the most polluted provinces showed a median of 0.26 cases. Thirty-nine out of 41 Northern Italian provinces resulted in the category with the highest PM10 levels, while 62 out of 66 Southern provinces presented low PM10 concentrations (p<0.001). In Milan, the average growth rate before the lockdown was significantly higher than in Rome (0.34 vs 0.27 per day, with a doubling time of 2.0 days vs 2.6, respectively), thus suggesting a basic reproductive number R0>6.0, comparable with the highest values estimated for China. CONCLUSION A significant association has been found between the geographical distribution of daily PM10 exceedances and the initial spreading of COVID-19 in the 110 Italian provinces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Setti
- Industrial Chemistry "Toso Montanari", University of Bologna, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Passarini
- Industrial Chemistry "Toso Montanari", University of Bologna, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
| | | | - Pierluigi Barbieri
- Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
| | - Sabina Licen
- Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
| | | | | | - Massimo Borelli
- Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
| | | | | | - Emanuele Rizzo
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine, SIMA, Milan, Italy
| | - Annamaria Colao
- Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Campania, Italy
| | - Prisco Piscitelli
- Euro Mediterranean Scientific Biomedical Institute, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Alessandro Miani
- Scienze e Politiche Ambientali, University of Milan, Milano, Lombardia, Italy
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11
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Setti L, Passarini F, De Gennaro G, Barbieri P, Licen S, Perrone MG, Piazzalunga A, Borelli M, Palmisani J, Di Gilio A, Rizzo E, Colao A, Piscitelli P, Miani A. Potential role of particulate matter in the spreading of COVID-19 in Northern Italy: first observational study based on initial epidemic diffusion. BMJ Open 2020; 10:e039338. [PMID: 32973066 PMCID: PMC7517216 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-039338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES A number of studies have shown that the airborne transmission route could spread some viruses over a distance of 2 meters from an infected person. An epidemic model based only on respiratory droplets and close contact could not fully explain the regional differences in the spread of COVID-19 in Italy. On March 16th 2020, we presented a position paper proposing a research hypothesis concerning the association between higher mortality rates due to COVID-19 observed in Northern Italy and average concentrations of PM10 exceeding a daily limit of 50 µg/m3. METHODS To monitor the spreading of COVID-19 in Italy from February 24th to March 13th (the date of the Italian lockdown), official daily data for PM10 levels were collected from all Italian provinces between February 9th and February 29th, taking into account the maximum lag period (14 days) between the infection and diagnosis. In addition to the number of exceedances of the daily limit value of PM10, we also considered population data and daily travelling information for each province. RESULTS Exceedance of the daily limit value of PM10 appears to be a significant predictor of infection in univariate analyses (p<0.001). Less polluted provinces had a median of 0.03 infections over 1000 residents, while the most polluted provinces showed a median of 0.26 cases. Thirty-nine out of 41 Northern Italian provinces resulted in the category with the highest PM10 levels, while 62 out of 66 Southern provinces presented low PM10 concentrations (p<0.001). In Milan, the average growth rate before the lockdown was significantly higher than in Rome (0.34 vs 0.27 per day, with a doubling time of 2.0 days vs 2.6, respectively), thus suggesting a basic reproductive number R0>6.0, comparable with the highest values estimated for China. CONCLUSION A significant association has been found between the geographical distribution of daily PM10 exceedances and the initial spreading of COVID-19 in the 110 Italian provinces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Setti
- Industrial Chemistry "Toso Montanari", University of Bologna, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Passarini
- Industrial Chemistry "Toso Montanari", University of Bologna, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
| | | | - Pierluigi Barbieri
- Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
| | - Sabina Licen
- Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
| | | | | | - Massimo Borelli
- Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
| | | | | | - Emanuele Rizzo
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine, SIMA, Milan, Italy
| | - Annamaria Colao
- Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Campania, Italy
| | - Prisco Piscitelli
- Euro Mediterranean Scientific Biomedical Institute, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Alessandro Miani
- Scienze e Politiche Ambientali, University of Milan, Milano, Lombardia, Italy
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12
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Setti L, Passarini F, De Gennaro G, Barbieri P, Perrone MG, Borelli M, Palmisani J, Di Gilio A, Torboli V, Fontana F, Clemente L, Pallavicini A, Ruscio M, Piscitelli P, Miani A. SARS-Cov-2RNA found on particulate matter of Bergamo in Northern Italy: First evidence. Environ Res 2020; 188:109754. [PMID: 32526492 DOI: 10.1101/2020.04.15.20065995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The burden of COVID-19 was extremely severe in Northern Italy, an area characterized by high concentrations of particulate matter (PM), which is known to negatively affect human health. Consistently with evidence already available for other viruses, we initially hypothesized the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 presence on PM, and we performed a first experiment specifically aimed at confirming or excluding this research hyphotesys. METHODS We have collected 34 PM10 samples in Bergamo area (the epicenter of the Italian COVID-19 epidemic) by using two air samplers over a continuous 3-weeks period. Filters were properly stored and underwent RNA extraction and amplification according to WHO protocols in two parallel blind analyses performed by two different authorized laboratories. Up to three highly specific molecular marker genes (E, N, and RdRP) were used to test the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on particulate matter. RESULTS The first test showed positive results for gene E in 15 out of 16 samples, simultaneously displaying positivity also for RdRP gene in 4 samples. The second blind test got 5 additional positive results for at least one of the three marker genes. Overall, we tested 34 RNA extractions for the E, N and RdRP genes, reporting 20 positive results for at least one of the three marker genes, with positivity separately confirmed for all the three markers. Control tests to exclude false positivities were successfully accomplished. CONCLUSION This is the first evidence that SARS-CoV-2 RNA can be present on PM, thus suggesting a possible use as indicator of epidemic recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Setti
- Dept. Industrial Chemistry, University of Bologna, Viale Del Risorgimento - 4, I-40136, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Fabrizio Passarini
- Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research "Renewable Sources, Environment, Blue Growth, Energy", University of Bologna, Rimini, Italy.
| | | | - Pierluigi Barbieri
- Dept. of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
| | | | - Massimo Borelli
- Dept. of Life Sciences - University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
| | | | | | | | - Francesco Fontana
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Giuliano Isontina (ASU GI), Trieste, Italy.
| | - Libera Clemente
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Giuliano Isontina (ASU GI), Trieste, Italy.
| | | | - Maurizio Ruscio
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Giuliano Isontina (ASU GI), Trieste, Italy.
| | | | - Alessandro Miani
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), Milan, Italy; Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
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13
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Setti L, Passarini F, De Gennaro G, Barbieri P, Perrone MG, Borelli M, Palmisani J, Di Gilio A, Torboli V, Fontana F, Clemente L, Pallavicini A, Ruscio M, Piscitelli P, Miani A. SARS-Cov-2RNA found on particulate matter of Bergamo in Northern Italy: First evidence. Environ Res 2020; 188:109754. [PMID: 32526492 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109754.b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The burden of COVID-19 was extremely severe in Northern Italy, an area characterized by high concentrations of particulate matter (PM), which is known to negatively affect human health. Consistently with evidence already available for other viruses, we initially hypothesized the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 presence on PM, and we performed a first experiment specifically aimed at confirming or excluding this research hyphotesys. METHODS We have collected 34 PM10 samples in Bergamo area (the epicenter of the Italian COVID-19 epidemic) by using two air samplers over a continuous 3-weeks period. Filters were properly stored and underwent RNA extraction and amplification according to WHO protocols in two parallel blind analyses performed by two different authorized laboratories. Up to three highly specific molecular marker genes (E, N, and RdRP) were used to test the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on particulate matter. RESULTS The first test showed positive results for gene E in 15 out of 16 samples, simultaneously displaying positivity also for RdRP gene in 4 samples. The second blind test got 5 additional positive results for at least one of the three marker genes. Overall, we tested 34 RNA extractions for the E, N and RdRP genes, reporting 20 positive results for at least one of the three marker genes, with positivity separately confirmed for all the three markers. Control tests to exclude false positivities were successfully accomplished. CONCLUSION This is the first evidence that SARS-CoV-2 RNA can be present on PM, thus suggesting a possible use as indicator of epidemic recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Setti
- Dept. Industrial Chemistry, University of Bologna, Viale Del Risorgimento - 4, I-40136, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Fabrizio Passarini
- Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research "Renewable Sources, Environment, Blue Growth, Energy", University of Bologna, Rimini, Italy.
| | | | - Pierluigi Barbieri
- Dept. of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
| | | | - Massimo Borelli
- Dept. of Life Sciences - University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
| | | | | | | | - Francesco Fontana
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Giuliano Isontina (ASU GI), Trieste, Italy.
| | - Libera Clemente
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Giuliano Isontina (ASU GI), Trieste, Italy.
| | | | - Maurizio Ruscio
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Giuliano Isontina (ASU GI), Trieste, Italy.
| | | | - Alessandro Miani
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), Milan, Italy; Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
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14
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Setti L, Passarini F, De Gennaro G, Barbieri P, Perrone MG, Borelli M, Palmisani J, Di Gilio A, Torboli V, Fontana F, Clemente L, Pallavicini A, Ruscio M, Piscitelli P, Miani A. SARS-Cov-2RNA found on particulate matter of Bergamo in Northern Italy: First evidence. Environ Res 2020; 188:109754. [PMID: 32526492 PMCID: PMC7260575 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 281] [Impact Index Per Article: 70.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The burden of COVID-19 was extremely severe in Northern Italy, an area characterized by high concentrations of particulate matter (PM), which is known to negatively affect human health. Consistently with evidence already available for other viruses, we initially hypothesized the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 presence on PM, and we performed a first experiment specifically aimed at confirming or excluding this research hyphotesys. METHODS We have collected 34 PM10 samples in Bergamo area (the epicenter of the Italian COVID-19 epidemic) by using two air samplers over a continuous 3-weeks period. Filters were properly stored and underwent RNA extraction and amplification according to WHO protocols in two parallel blind analyses performed by two different authorized laboratories. Up to three highly specific molecular marker genes (E, N, and RdRP) were used to test the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on particulate matter. RESULTS The first test showed positive results for gene E in 15 out of 16 samples, simultaneously displaying positivity also for RdRP gene in 4 samples. The second blind test got 5 additional positive results for at least one of the three marker genes. Overall, we tested 34 RNA extractions for the E, N and RdRP genes, reporting 20 positive results for at least one of the three marker genes, with positivity separately confirmed for all the three markers. Control tests to exclude false positivities were successfully accomplished. CONCLUSION This is the first evidence that SARS-CoV-2 RNA can be present on PM, thus suggesting a possible use as indicator of epidemic recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Setti
- Dept. Industrial Chemistry, University of Bologna, Viale Del Risorgimento - 4, I-40136, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Fabrizio Passarini
- Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research "Renewable Sources, Environment, Blue Growth, Energy", University of Bologna, Rimini, Italy.
| | | | - Pierluigi Barbieri
- Dept. of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
| | | | - Massimo Borelli
- Dept. of Life Sciences - University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
| | | | | | | | - Francesco Fontana
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Giuliano Isontina (ASU GI), Trieste, Italy.
| | - Libera Clemente
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Giuliano Isontina (ASU GI), Trieste, Italy.
| | | | - Maurizio Ruscio
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Giuliano Isontina (ASU GI), Trieste, Italy.
| | | | - Alessandro Miani
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), Milan, Italy; Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
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15
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Palmisani J, Di Gilio A, Franchini SA, Cotugno P, Miniero DV, D’Ambruoso P, de Gennaro G. Particle-Bound PAHs and Elements in a Highly Industrialized City in Southern Italy: PM 2.5 Chemical Characterization and Source Apportionment after the Implementation of Governmental Measures for Air Pollution Mitigation and Control. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020; 17:ijerph17134843. [PMID: 32635676 PMCID: PMC7369798 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17134843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The present study was aimed at determining airborne concentrations of PAHs, Nitro-/Oxy-PAHs and elements in industrial and urban areas of Taranto, a site of environmental risk in Southern Italy, after the issue of strategic measures for air pollution mitigation and control by the Italian Environment Ministry in 2012. A PM2.5 sampling campaign was carried out from 9 to 28 December 2014 at eight receptor sites, two placed in the urban settlement and five included in the high spatial resolution fence monitoring network of the biggest European steel plant. The integration of collected data with meteorological parameters and source apportionment analysis by Positive Matrix Factorization and bivariate polar plots allowed to discriminate among emission sources and estimate their contributions. Evidence on the effect of distinct processes (homogenization, sintering) occurring inside the steel plant on airborne concentrations of PAHs and selected elements was provided. The impact of emissions from the steel plant “core” on the surrounding area was observed at receptor sites downwind to it. Moreover, the extent of the effectiveness of mitigation measures, partially applied at the moment of study’s beginning, was demonstrated by mean and peak pollutant concentrations at all receptor sites up to one order of magnitude lower than those documented prior to 2012.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolanda Palmisani
- Department of Biology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, via Orabona 4, 70126 Bari, Italy; (S.A.F.); (P.C.); (D.V.M.); (G.d.G.)
- Correspondence: (J.P.); (A.D.G.); Tel.: +39-805443343 (A.D.G.)
| | - Alessia Di Gilio
- Department of Biology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, via Orabona 4, 70126 Bari, Italy; (S.A.F.); (P.C.); (D.V.M.); (G.d.G.)
- Correspondence: (J.P.); (A.D.G.); Tel.: +39-805443343 (A.D.G.)
| | - Silvana Angela Franchini
- Department of Biology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, via Orabona 4, 70126 Bari, Italy; (S.A.F.); (P.C.); (D.V.M.); (G.d.G.)
| | - Pietro Cotugno
- Department of Biology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, via Orabona 4, 70126 Bari, Italy; (S.A.F.); (P.C.); (D.V.M.); (G.d.G.)
| | - Daniela Valeria Miniero
- Department of Biology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, via Orabona 4, 70126 Bari, Italy; (S.A.F.); (P.C.); (D.V.M.); (G.d.G.)
| | - Paolo D’Ambruoso
- Regional Agency for Environmental Prevention and Protection (ARPA Puglia), Corso Trieste 27, 70126 Bari, Italy;
| | - Gianluigi de Gennaro
- Department of Biology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, via Orabona 4, 70126 Bari, Italy; (S.A.F.); (P.C.); (D.V.M.); (G.d.G.)
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16
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Di Gilio A, Catino A, Lombardi A, Palmisani J, Facchini L, Mongelli T, Varesano N, Bellotti R, Galetta D, de Gennaro G, Tangaro S. Breath Analysis for Early Detection of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Determination and Possible Biochemical Pathways. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E1262. [PMID: 32429446 PMCID: PMC7280981 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12051262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare neoplasm, mainly caused by asbestos exposure, with a high mortality rate. The management of patients with MPM is controversial due to a long latency period between exposure and diagnosis and because of non-specific symptoms generally appearing at advanced stage of the disease. Breath analysis, aimed at the identification of diagnostic Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) pattern in exhaled breath, is believed to improve early detection of MPM. Therefore, in this study, breath samples from 14 MPM patients and 20 healthy controls (HC) were collected and analyzed by Thermal Desorption-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (TD-GC/MS). Nonparametric test allowed to identify the most weighting variables to discriminate between MPM and HC breath samples and multivariate statistics were applied. Considering that MPM is an aggressive neoplasm leading to a late diagnosis and thus the recruitment of patients is very difficult, a promising data mining approach was developed and validated in order to discriminate between MPM patients and healthy controls, even if no large population data are available. Three different machine learning algorithms were applied to perform the classification task with a leave-one-out cross-validation approach, leading to remarkable results (Area Under Curve AUC = 93%). Ten VOCs, such as ketones, alkanes and methylate derivates, as well as hydrocarbons, were able to discriminate between MPM patients and healthy controls and for each compound which resulted diagnostic for MPM, the metabolic pathway was studied in order to identify the link between VOC and the neoplasm. Moreover, five breath samples from asymptomatic asbestos-exposed persons (AEx) were exploratively analyzed, processed and tested by the validated statistical method as blinded samples in order to evaluate the performance for the early recognition of patients affected by MPM among asbestos-exposed persons. Good agreement was found between the information obtained by gold-standard diagnostic methods such as computed tomography CT and model output.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Di Gilio
- Department of Biology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70126 Bari, Italy; (L.F.); (T.M.); (G.d.G.)
- Apulian Breath Analysis Center (CeRBA), IRCCS Giovanni Paolo II, 70124 Bari, Italy; (A.C.); (N.V.); (D.G.)
| | - Annamaria Catino
- Apulian Breath Analysis Center (CeRBA), IRCCS Giovanni Paolo II, 70124 Bari, Italy; (A.C.); (N.V.); (D.G.)
- Thoracic Oncology Unit, IRCCS, Istituto Tumori Giovanni Paolo II, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Angela Lombardi
- Section of Bari, National Institute for Nuclear Physics, 70126 Bari, Italy; (A.L.); (S.T.)
| | - Jolanda Palmisani
- Department of Biology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70126 Bari, Italy; (L.F.); (T.M.); (G.d.G.)
- Apulian Breath Analysis Center (CeRBA), IRCCS Giovanni Paolo II, 70124 Bari, Italy; (A.C.); (N.V.); (D.G.)
| | - Laura Facchini
- Department of Biology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70126 Bari, Italy; (L.F.); (T.M.); (G.d.G.)
- Apulian Breath Analysis Center (CeRBA), IRCCS Giovanni Paolo II, 70124 Bari, Italy; (A.C.); (N.V.); (D.G.)
| | - Teresa Mongelli
- Department of Biology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70126 Bari, Italy; (L.F.); (T.M.); (G.d.G.)
- Apulian Breath Analysis Center (CeRBA), IRCCS Giovanni Paolo II, 70124 Bari, Italy; (A.C.); (N.V.); (D.G.)
| | - Niccolò Varesano
- Apulian Breath Analysis Center (CeRBA), IRCCS Giovanni Paolo II, 70124 Bari, Italy; (A.C.); (N.V.); (D.G.)
- Thoracic Oncology Unit, IRCCS, Istituto Tumori Giovanni Paolo II, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Roberto Bellotti
- Department of Physics, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70126 Bari, Italy;
| | - Domenico Galetta
- Apulian Breath Analysis Center (CeRBA), IRCCS Giovanni Paolo II, 70124 Bari, Italy; (A.C.); (N.V.); (D.G.)
- Thoracic Oncology Unit, IRCCS, Istituto Tumori Giovanni Paolo II, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Gianluigi de Gennaro
- Department of Biology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70126 Bari, Italy; (L.F.); (T.M.); (G.d.G.)
- Apulian Breath Analysis Center (CeRBA), IRCCS Giovanni Paolo II, 70124 Bari, Italy; (A.C.); (N.V.); (D.G.)
| | - Sabina Tangaro
- Section of Bari, National Institute for Nuclear Physics, 70126 Bari, Italy; (A.L.); (S.T.)
- Department of Soil, Plant and Food Science, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70126 Bari, Italy
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17
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Setti L, Passarini F, De Gennaro G, Barbieri P, Perrone MG, Borelli M, Palmisani J, Di Gilio A, Piscitelli P, Miani A. Airborne Transmission Route of COVID-19: Why 2 Meters/6 Feet of Inter-Personal Distance Could Not Be Enough. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020. [PMID: 32340347 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17082932.pmid:32340347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic caused the shutdown of entire nations all over the world. In addition to mobility restrictions of people, the World Health Organization and the Governments have prescribed maintaining an inter-personal distance of 1.5 or 2 m (about 6 feet) from each other in order to minimize the risk of contagion through the droplets that we usually disseminate around us from nose and mouth. However, recently published studies support the hypothesis of virus transmission over a distance of 2 m from an infected person. Researchers have proved the higher aerosol and surface stability of SARS-COV-2 as compared with SARS-COV-1 (with the virus remaining viable and infectious in aerosol for hours) and that airborne transmission of SARS-CoV can occur besides close-distance contacts. Indeed, there is reasonable evidence about the possibility of SARS-COV-2 airborne transmission due to its persistence into aerosol droplets in a viable and infectious form. Based on the available knowledge and epidemiological observations, it is plausible that small particles containing the virus may diffuse in indoor environments covering distances up to 10 m from the emission sources, thus representing a kind of aerosol transmission. On-field studies carried out inside Wuhan Hospitals showed the presence of SARS-COV-2 RNA in air samples collected in the hospitals and also in the surroundings, leading to the conclusion that the airborne route has to be considered an important pathway for viral diffusion. Similar findings are reported in analyses concerning air samples collected at the Nebraska University Hospital. On March 16th, we have released a Position Paper emphasizing the airborne route as a possible additional factor for interpreting the anomalous COVID-19 outbreaks in northern Italy, ranked as one of the most polluted areas in Europe and characterized by high particulate matter (PM) concentrations. The available information on the SARS-COV-2 spreading supports the hypothesis of airborne diffusion of infected droplets from person to person at a distance greater than two meters (6 feet). The inter-personal distance of 2 m can be reasonably considered as an effective protection only if everybody wears face masks in daily life activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Setti
- Department of Industrial Chemistry, University of Bologna, Viale del Risorgimento 4, 40136 Bologna, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Passarini
- Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research "Renewable Sources, Environment, Blue Growth, Energy", University of Bologna, 47921 Rimini, Italy
| | | | - Pierluigi Barbieri
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | | | - Massimo Borelli
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Jolanda Palmisani
- Department of Biology, University "Aldo Moro" of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy
| | - Alessia Di Gilio
- Department of Biology, University "Aldo Moro" of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy
| | - Prisco Piscitelli
- UNESCO Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), 20149 Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Miani
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), 20149 Milan, Italy
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
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18
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Setti L, Passarini F, De Gennaro G, Barbieri P, Perrone MG, Borelli M, Palmisani J, Di Gilio A, Piscitelli P, Miani A. Airborne Transmission Route of COVID-19: Why 2 Meters/6 Feet of Inter-Personal Distance Could Not Be Enough. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020; 17:ijerph17082932. [PMID: 32340347 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17082932.e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic caused the shutdown of entire nations all over the world. In addition to mobility restrictions of people, the World Health Organization and the Governments have prescribed maintaining an inter-personal distance of 1.5 or 2 m (about 6 feet) from each other in order to minimize the risk of contagion through the droplets that we usually disseminate around us from nose and mouth. However, recently published studies support the hypothesis of virus transmission over a distance of 2 m from an infected person. Researchers have proved the higher aerosol and surface stability of SARS-COV-2 as compared with SARS-COV-1 (with the virus remaining viable and infectious in aerosol for hours) and that airborne transmission of SARS-CoV can occur besides close-distance contacts. Indeed, there is reasonable evidence about the possibility of SARS-COV-2 airborne transmission due to its persistence into aerosol droplets in a viable and infectious form. Based on the available knowledge and epidemiological observations, it is plausible that small particles containing the virus may diffuse in indoor environments covering distances up to 10 m from the emission sources, thus representing a kind of aerosol transmission. On-field studies carried out inside Wuhan Hospitals showed the presence of SARS-COV-2 RNA in air samples collected in the hospitals and also in the surroundings, leading to the conclusion that the airborne route has to be considered an important pathway for viral diffusion. Similar findings are reported in analyses concerning air samples collected at the Nebraska University Hospital. On March 16th, we have released a Position Paper emphasizing the airborne route as a possible additional factor for interpreting the anomalous COVID-19 outbreaks in northern Italy, ranked as one of the most polluted areas in Europe and characterized by high particulate matter (PM) concentrations. The available information on the SARS-COV-2 spreading supports the hypothesis of airborne diffusion of infected droplets from person to person at a distance greater than two meters (6 feet). The inter-personal distance of 2 m can be reasonably considered as an effective protection only if everybody wears face masks in daily life activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Setti
- Department of Industrial Chemistry, University of Bologna, Viale del Risorgimento 4, 40136 Bologna, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Passarini
- Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research "Renewable Sources, Environment, Blue Growth, Energy", University of Bologna, 47921 Rimini, Italy
| | | | - Pierluigi Barbieri
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | | | - Massimo Borelli
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Jolanda Palmisani
- Department of Biology, University "Aldo Moro" of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy
| | - Alessia Di Gilio
- Department of Biology, University "Aldo Moro" of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy
| | - Prisco Piscitelli
- UNESCO Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), 20149 Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Miani
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), 20149 Milan, Italy
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
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19
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Licen S, Di Gilio A, Palmisani J, Petraccone S, de Gennaro G, Barbieri P. Pattern Recognition and Anomaly Detection by Self-Organizing Maps in a Multi Month E-nose Survey at an Industrial Site. Sensors (Basel) 2020; 20:s20071887. [PMID: 32235302 PMCID: PMC7180849 DOI: 10.3390/s20071887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Revised: 03/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Currently people are aware of the risk related to pollution exposure. Thus odor annoyances are considered a warning about the possible presence of toxic volatile compounds. Malodor often generates immediate alarm among citizens, and electronic noses are convenient instruments to detect mixture of odorant compounds with high monitoring frequency. In this paper we present a study on pattern recognition on ambient air composition in proximity of a gas and oil pretreatment plant by elaboration of data from an electronic nose implementing 10 metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) sensors and positioned outdoor continuously during three months. A total of 80,017 e-nose vectors have been elaborated applying the self-organizing map (SOM) algorithm and then k-means clustering on SOM outputs on the whole data set evidencing an anomalous data cluster. Retaining data characterized by dynamic responses of the multisensory system, a SOM with 264 recurrent sensor responses to air mixture sampled at the site and four main air type profiles (clusters) have been identified. One of this sensor profiles has been related to the odor fugitive emissions of the plant, by using ancillary data from a total volatile organic compound (VOC) detector and wind speed and direction data. The overall and daily cluster frequencies have been evaluated, allowing us to identify the daily duration of presence at the monitoring site of air related to industrial emissions. The refined model allowed us to confirm the anomaly detection of the sensor responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabina Licen
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy;
| | - Alessia Di Gilio
- Department of Biology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Via Orabona 4, 70126 Bari, Italy; (J.P.); (S.P.); (G.d.G.)
- Correspondence: (A.D.G.); (P.B.)
| | - Jolanda Palmisani
- Department of Biology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Via Orabona 4, 70126 Bari, Italy; (J.P.); (S.P.); (G.d.G.)
| | - Stefania Petraccone
- Department of Biology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Via Orabona 4, 70126 Bari, Italy; (J.P.); (S.P.); (G.d.G.)
| | - Gianluigi de Gennaro
- Department of Biology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Via Orabona 4, 70126 Bari, Italy; (J.P.); (S.P.); (G.d.G.)
| | - Pierluigi Barbieri
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy;
- Correspondence: (A.D.G.); (P.B.)
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20
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Palmisani J, Di Gilio A, Palmieri L, Abenavoli C, Famele M, Draisci R, de Gennaro G. Evaluation of Second-Hand Exposure to Electronic Cigarette Vaping under a Real Scenario: Measurements of Ultrafine Particle Number Concentration and Size Distribution and Comparison with Traditional Tobacco Smoke. Toxics 2019; 7:E59. [PMID: 31775282 PMCID: PMC6958336 DOI: 10.3390/toxics7040059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Revised: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The present study aims to evaluate the impact of e-cig second-hand aerosol on indoor air quality in terms of ultrafine particles (UFPs) and potential inhalation exposure levels of passive bystanders. E-cig second-hand aerosol characteristics in terms of UFPs number concentration and size distribution exhaled by two volunteers vaping 15 different e-liquids inside a 49 m3 room and comparison with tobacco smoke are discussed. High temporal resolution measurements were performed under natural ventilation conditions to simulate a realistic exposure scenario. Results showed a systematic increase in UFPs number concentration (part cm-3) related to a 20-min vaping session (from 6.56 × 103 to 4.01 × 104 part cm-3), although this was one up to two order of magnitude lower than that produced by one tobacco cigarette consumption (from 1.12 × 105 to 1.46 × 105 part cm-3). E-cig second-hand aerosol size distribution exhibits a bimodal behavior with modes at 10.8 and 29.4 nm in contrast with the unimodal typical size distribution of tobacco smoke with peak mode at 100 nm. In the size range 6-26 nm, particles concentration in e-cig second-hand aerosol were from 2- (Dp = 25.5 nm) to 3800-fold (Dp = 9.31 nm) higher than in tobacco smoke highlighting that particles exhaled by users and potentially inhaled by bystanders are nano-sized with high penetration capacity into human airways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolanda Palmisani
- Department of Biology, University of Bari, Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (A.D.G.); (L.P.); (G.d.G.)
| | - Alessia Di Gilio
- Department of Biology, University of Bari, Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (A.D.G.); (L.P.); (G.d.G.)
| | - Laura Palmieri
- Department of Biology, University of Bari, Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (A.D.G.); (L.P.); (G.d.G.)
| | - Carmelo Abenavoli
- National Institute of Health, National Centre for Chemicals, Cosmetic products and Consumer Health Protection, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Roma, Italy; (C.A.); (M.F.); (R.D.)
| | - Marco Famele
- National Institute of Health, National Centre for Chemicals, Cosmetic products and Consumer Health Protection, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Roma, Italy; (C.A.); (M.F.); (R.D.)
| | - Rosa Draisci
- National Institute of Health, National Centre for Chemicals, Cosmetic products and Consumer Health Protection, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Roma, Italy; (C.A.); (M.F.); (R.D.)
| | - Gianluigi de Gennaro
- Department of Biology, University of Bari, Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (A.D.G.); (L.P.); (G.d.G.)
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21
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Catino A, De Gennaro G, Di Gilio A, Facchini L, Galetta D, Mongelli T, Palmisani J, Porcelli F, Varesano N, Pizzutilo P, Montrone M, Longo V, Del Bene G, Mastrandrea A, Pesola F, Ricci D, Petrillo P, Zacheo A. MA10.05 Breath Analysis: New Key-Challenges for Early Detection of Lung and Pleural Neoplasms. J Thorac Oncol 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtho.2019.08.577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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22
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Catino A, de Gennaro G, Di Gilio A, Facchini L, Galetta D, Palmisani J, Porcelli F, Varesano N. Breath Analysis: A Systematic Review of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Diagnostic and Therapeutic Management of Pleural Mesothelioma. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:E831. [PMID: 31207975 PMCID: PMC6627570 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11060831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Revised: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare neoplasm related to asbestos exposure and with high mortality rate. The management of patients with MPM is complex and controversial, particularly with regard to early diagnosis. In the last few years, breath analysis has been greatly implemented with this aim. In this review the strengths of breath analysis and preliminary results in searching breath biomarkers of MPM are highlighted and discussed, respectively. Through a systematic electronic literature search, collecting papers published from 2000 until December 2018, fifteen relevant scientific papers were selected. All papers considered were prospective, comparative, observational case-control studies although every single one pilot and based on a relatively small number of samples. The identification of diagnostic VOCs pattern, through breath sample characterization and the statistical data treatment, allows to obtain a strategic information for clinical diagnostics. To date the collected data provide just preliminary information and, despite the promising results and diagnostic accuracy, conclusions cannot be generalized due to the limited number of individuals included in each cohort study. Furthermore none of studies was externally validated, although validation process is a necessary step towards clinical implementation. Breathomics-based biomarker approach should be further explored to confirm and validate preliminary findings and to evaluate its potential role in monitoring the therapeutic response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annamaria Catino
- Thoracic Oncology Unit, Clinical Cancer Centre "Giovanni Paolo II", 70124 Bari, Italy.
| | | | | | - Laura Facchini
- Department of Biology, University of Bari, 70125 Bari, Italy.
| | - Domenico Galetta
- Thoracic Oncology Unit, Clinical Cancer Centre "Giovanni Paolo II", 70124 Bari, Italy.
| | | | | | - Niccolò Varesano
- Thoracic Oncology Unit, Clinical Cancer Centre "Giovanni Paolo II", 70124 Bari, Italy.
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23
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Giungato P, Di Gilio A, Palmisani J, Marzocca A, Mazzone A, Brattoli M, Giua R, de Gennaro G. Synergistic approaches for odor active compounds monitoring and identification: State of the art, integration, limits and potentialities of analytical and sensorial techniques. Trends Analyt Chem 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2018.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
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24
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Famele M, Palmisani J, Ferranti C, Abenavoli C, Palleschi L, Mancinelli R, Fidente RM, de Gennaro G, Draisci R. Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of nicotine and minor tobacco alkaloids in electronic cigarette refill liquids and second-hand generated aerosol. J Sep Sci 2017; 40:1049-1056. [PMID: 28012240 DOI: 10.1002/jssc.201601076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2016] [Revised: 12/02/2016] [Accepted: 12/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
A liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous quantification of nicotine and seven minor tobacco alkaloids in both refill liquids for electronic cigarettes and their generated aerosol was developed and validated. The limit of detection and limit of quantification values were 0.3-20.0 and 1.0-31.8 ng/mL, respectively. Within-laboratory reproducibility was 8.2-14.2% at limit of quantification values and 4.8-12.7% at other concentration levels. Interday recovery was 75.8-116.4%. The method was applied to evaluate the compliance of commercial liquids (n = 95) with their labels and to assess levels of minor alkaloids. Levels of nicotine and its corresponding compounds were also evaluated in generated aerosol. About 47% of samples showed differences above ±10 % of the stated nicotine concentration. About 78% of the "zero nicotine" liquids showed traces in the range of 1.3 ± 0.1-254.0 ± 14.6 μg/mL. Nicotine-N'-oxides, myosmine, and anatabine were the most common minor alkaloids in liquids containing nicotine. Nicotine and N'-oxides were detected in all air samples when aerosol was generated from liquids containing nicotine. Nicotine average emissions from electronic cigarette (2.7 ± 0.9 μg/m3 ) were significantly lower (p < 0.01, t-test) with respect to conventional cigarette (30.2 ± 1.5 μg/m3 ).
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Famele
- National Centre for Chemicals, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Carolina Ferranti
- National Centre for Chemicals, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Carmelo Abenavoli
- National Centre for Chemicals, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Palleschi
- National Centre for Chemicals, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Rosanna Mancinelli
- National Centre for Chemicals, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Rosa Draisci
- National Centre for Chemicals, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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Dambruoso P, de Gennaro G, Di Gilio A, Palmisani J, Tutino M. The impact of infield biomass burning on PM levels and its chemical composition. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2014; 21:13175-13185. [PMID: 24310905 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-013-2384-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2013] [Accepted: 11/18/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
In the South of Italy, it is common for farmers to burn pruning waste from olive trees in spring. In order to evaluate the impact of the biomass burning source on the physical and chemical characteristics of the particulate matter (PM) emitted by these fires, a PM monitoring campaign was carried out in an olive grove. Daily PM10 samples were collected for 1 week, when there were no open fires, and when biomass was being burned, and at two different distances from the fires. Moreover, an optical particle counter and a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) analyzer were used to measure the high time-resolved dimensional distribution of particles emitted and total PAHs concentrations, respectively. Chemical analysis of PM10 samples identified organic and inorganic components such as PAHs, ions, elements, and carbonaceous fractions (OC, EC). Analysis of the collected data showed the usefulness of organic and inorganic tracer species and of PAH diagnostic ratios for interpreting the impact of biomass fires on PM levels and on its chemical composition. Finally, high time-resolved monitoring of particle numbers and PAH concentrations was performed before, during, and after biomass burning, and these concentrations were seen to be very dependent on factors such as weather conditions, combustion efficiency, and temperature (smoldering versus flaming conditions), and moisture content of the wood burned.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Dambruoso
- Chemistry Department, University of Bari, via Orabona 4, Bari, 70126, Italy
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26
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Dambruoso PR, de Gennaro G, Loiotile AD, Di Gilio A, Giungato P, Marzocca A, Mazzone A, Palmisani J, Porcelli F, Tutino M. School Air Quality: Pollutants, Monitoring and Toxicity. Environmental Chemistry for a Sustainable World 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-02387-8_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
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