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Salone R, De Paola C, Carbonari R, Rufino F, Avino R, Caliro S, Cuoco E, Santi A, Di Maio R. High-resolution geoelectrical characterization and monitoring of natural fluids emission systems to understand possible gas leakages from geological carbon storage reservoirs. Sci Rep 2023; 13:18585. [PMID: 37903927 PMCID: PMC10616212 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45637-8] [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: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Gas leakage from deep geologic storage formations to the Earth's surface is one of the main hazards in geological carbon sequestration and storage. Permeable sediment covers together with natural pathways, such as faults and/or fracture systems, are the main factors controlling surface leakages. Therefore, the characterization of natural systems, where large amounts of natural gases are released, can be helpful for understanding the effects of potential gas leaks from carbon dioxide storage systems. In this framework, we propose a combined use of high-resolution geoelectrical investigations (i.e. resistivity tomography and self-potential surveys) for reconstructing shallow buried fracture networks in the caprock and detecting preferential gas migration pathways before it enters the atmosphere. Such methodologies appear to be among the most suitable for the research purposes because of the strong dependence of the electrical properties of water-bearing permeable rock, or unconsolidated materials, on many factors relevant to CO2 storage (i.e. porosity, fracturing, water saturation, etc.). The effectiveness of the suggested geoelectrical approach is tested in an area of natural gas degassing (mainly CH4) located in the active fault zone of the Bolle della Malvizza (Southern Apennines, Italy), which could represent a natural analogue of gas storage sites due to the significant thicknesses (hundreds of meters) of impermeable rock (caprock) that is generally required to prevent carbon dioxide stored at depth from rising to the surface. The obtained 3D geophysical model, validated by the good correlation with geochemical data acquired in the study area and the available geological information, provided a structural and physical characterization of the investigated subsurface volume. Moreover, the time variations of the observed geophysical parameters allowed the identification of possible migration pathways of fluids to the surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosanna Salone
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell'Ambiente e delle Risorse, Università di Napoli Federico II, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Claudio De Paola
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell'Ambiente e delle Risorse, Università di Napoli Federico II, 80126, Naples, Italy
- Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Osservatorio Vesuviano, 80124, Naples, Italy
| | - Rolando Carbonari
- Institute of Earth Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 9190401, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Francesco Rufino
- Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Osservatorio Vesuviano, 80124, Naples, Italy
| | - Rosario Avino
- Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Osservatorio Vesuviano, 80124, Naples, Italy
| | - Stefano Caliro
- Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Osservatorio Vesuviano, 80124, Naples, Italy
| | - Emilio Cuoco
- Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Osservatorio Vesuviano, 80124, Naples, Italy
| | - Alessandro Santi
- Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Osservatorio Vesuviano, 80124, Naples, Italy
| | - Rosa Di Maio
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell'Ambiente e delle Risorse, Università di Napoli Federico II, 80126, Naples, Italy.
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Rufino F, Busico G, Cuoco E, Muscariello L, Calabrese S, Tedesco D. Geochemical characterization and health risk assessment in two diversified environmental settings (Southern Italy). Environ Geochem Health 2022; 44:2083-2099. [PMID: 33871745 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-021-00930-1] [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: 07/05/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
An integrated approach using chemical and microbial indicators has been tested in two different sites of the Campania Plain (Southern Italy) with different land use covering and different hydrogeological features in order: (1) to define the water-rock interaction processes, (2) to differentiate sources of pollution in a detailed way (3) to evaluate the degree of water quality in the studied alluvial aquifer and (4) to identify the most worrying elements for human's health. Groundwater have showed a HCO3-Ca signature for both investigated sites, and a progressive enrichment in alkali ions has been highlighted moving from the boundary of the plain toward the coastal areas, due to groundwater interaction with volcanic rocks along the flow path. The application of the Factor Analysis allowed to identify different sources of pollution, which were attributed to (a) leaks in the sewer system for the Agro-Aversano Area and also the spreading of manure as fertilizers in agricultural activities for the Caiazzo Plain. Furthermore, it has been highlighted that the use of major elements, trace elements and microbiological indicators, allows to accurately differentiate contamination processes in progress. In fact, from the results of the Factor Analysis applied in the Agro-Aversano area, no significant statistically relationships between major elements and microbiological indicators of fecal contamination were highlighted, unlike the Caiazzo plain where statistically significant correlations have been found between major and trace elements and microbiological indicators. The use of a Groundwater Quality Index has shown general poor water quality for the majority of analyzed samples due to the high amount of Nitrate and Fecal indicators. The use of a Health Risk Assessment highlighted that Nitrate coupled with Fluoride represent the most important concern for human health compared to the all investigated parameters in both sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Rufino
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy.
| | - Gianluigi Busico
- Laboratory of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology, Department of Geology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Emilio Cuoco
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
- Osservatorio Vesuviano, National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, Via Diocleziano 328, 80124, Napoli, Italy
| | - Lidia Muscariello
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Sergio Calabrese
- Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, Università Degli Studi Di Palermo, via Archirafi, 36, 90123, Palermo, Italy
- Sezione di Palermo, National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, Via U. La Malfa 153, 90146, Palermo, Italy
| | - Dario Tedesco
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
- Osservatorio Vesuviano, National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, Via Diocleziano 328, 80124, Napoli, Italy
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Rufino F, Cuoco E, Busico G, Caliro S, Maletic EL, Avino R, Darrah TH, Tedesco D. Deep carbon degassing in the Matese massif chain (Southern Italy) inferred by geochemical and isotopic data. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2021; 28:46614-46626. [PMID: 33040287 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-11107-1] [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: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The Italian Apennines are among the most important sources of freshwater for several Italian regions. With evidences of deep CO2-rich fluids intruding into aquifers in the nearby central-southern Apennines, a thorough investigation into the geochemistry of groundwater became critical to ensure the water quality in the area. Here, we show the main hydrogeochemical processes occurring in the Matese Massif (MM) aquifer through the investigation of 98 water samples collected from springs and water wells. All waters were classified as HCO3 type with Ca dominance (from 50% up to 97%) and variable amount of Mg (from 1% up to 49%). A multivariate statistical approach through the application of the factor analysis (FA) highlighted three main hydrogeochemical processes: (i) water-carbonate rock interactions mostly enhanced in peripheral areas of the MM by CO2 deep degassing; (ii) addition of NaCl-rich components linked to recharging process and to water mixing processes of the groundwater with a thermal component relatively rich in Cl, Na, and CO2; (iii) anthropogenic activities influencing groundwater composition at the foothills of MM. Furthermore, the first detailed TDIC, pCO2, and δ13C-TDIC distribution maps of the MM area have been created, which track chemical and isotopic anomalies in several peripheral areas (Pratella, Ailano, and Telese) throughout the region. These maps systematically highlight that the greater the amount of dissolved carbon occurs the heavier the C isotope enrichment, especially in the peripheral areas. Conversely, spring waters emerging at higher altitudes within MM are only slightly mineralized and associated with δ13C-TDIC values mainly characterized by recharging processes with the addition of biogenic carbon during the infiltration process through the soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Rufino
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy.
| | - Emilio Cuoco
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
- Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, sezione di Napoli - Osservatorio Vesuviano, Via Diocleziano 328, 80124, Naples, Italy
| | - Gianluigi Busico
- Department of Geology, Laboratory of Engineering Geology & Hydrogeology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Stefano Caliro
- Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, sezione di Napoli - Osservatorio Vesuviano, Via Diocleziano 328, 80124, Naples, Italy
| | - Erica L Maletic
- School of Earth Sciences, The Ohio State University, 125 South Oval Mall, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Rosario Avino
- Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, sezione di Napoli - Osservatorio Vesuviano, Via Diocleziano 328, 80124, Naples, Italy
| | - Thomas H Darrah
- School of Earth Sciences, The Ohio State University, 125 South Oval Mall, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
- Global Water Institute, 190 North Oval Mall, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Dario Tedesco
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
- Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, sezione di Napoli - Osservatorio Vesuviano, Via Diocleziano 328, 80124, Naples, Italy
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Rufino F, Busico G, Cuoco E, Darrah TH, Tedesco D. Evaluating the suitability of urban groundwater resources for drinking water and irrigation purposes: an integrated approach in the Agro-Aversano area of Southern Italy. Environ Monit Assess 2019; 191:768. [PMID: 31761967 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-019-7978-y] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Deterioration of groundwater quality due to the introduction of pollutants from natural and anthropic sources has become a major environmental issue. We tested three methodologies in assessing groundwater quality and intrinsic aquifer vulnerability in the Agro-Aversano area (Southern Italy). A geographic information system (GIS)-based groundwater quality index (GQI) was realized to assess groundwater quality for drinking and irrigation use and, in parallel, standard SINTACS was applied to evaluate the intrinsic vulnerability of the aquifer. Nitrate concentrations and sodium absorption ratio (SAR) in groundwater samples were used to verify the reliability of vulnerability data. GQI analysis pointed to a general poor quality of groundwater both for drinking and irrigation use, especially in sub-urban areas. The spatial pattern of water quality from GQI analysis was positively related to nitrate and fluoride concentrations for drinking use and to bicarbonate and sodium concentrations for irrigation use, whose levels exceeded the WHO and FAO recommended thresholds, respectively. Standard SINTACS was found to be inadequate for describing the aquifer state, its results showing no correlation with nitrate concentration or SAR. Because of this inconsistency, we tested a novel approach combining GQI with SINTACS analysis. Results showed positive correlation with nitrate (r = 0.63) and SAR (r = 0.64) contents, thus pointing to combined SINTACS-GQI as a more reliable approach than standard methodologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Rufino
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Gianluigi Busico
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy.
| | - Emilio Cuoco
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Thomas H Darrah
- School of Earth Sciences, The Ohio State University, 275 Mendenhall Laboratory, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Dario Tedesco
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
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Marquardt H, Rufino F, Weisburger JH. Mutagenic activity of nitrite-treated foods: human stomach cancer may be related to dietary factors. Science 1977; 196:1000-1. [PMID: 323974 DOI: 10.1126/science.323974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
By the Salmonella typhimurium test, extracts of Japanese raw fish treated in the laboratory with nitrite showed mutagenic activity which is prevented by addition of ascorbate. Extracts from similarly treated beef and hot dogs were nonmutagenic. The data conform to a working concept that the high stomach cancer incidence in Japanese and certain other populations may be due to specific dietary factors of an alkylnitrosamide type.
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Marquardt H, Rufino F, Weisburger JH. On the aetiology of gastric cancer: mutagenicity of food extracts after incubation with nitrite. Food Cosmet Toxicol 1977; 15:97-100. [PMID: 17566 DOI: 10.1016/s0015-6264(77)80312-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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