[Assessment of seawater quality along the Asinara Gulf. Note 1: preliminary results of seawater monitoring using Dicentrarchus labrax and Sparus aurata as bioindicators]

In recent years, physical-chemical, chemical and microbiological testing systems to water's control was matched by the use of "biomarkers" such as algae, nematodes, Anellidi, Porifera, molluscs and arthropods (crustaceans), although these are phylogenetically distant from humans and they differ in methods of recruitment, toxico-kinetics and metabolism of xenobiotics. That is why today the predatory fishes (tuna, mackerel, sea bream, sea bass and swordfish) are among the most widely used in biomonitoring studies. In particular Sparus aurata and Dicentrarchus labrax (sea bream and sea bass) are appropriate in warning of environmental pollution. Moreover since the two species are precious and particularly present in food, they could represent a potential vehicle for the transport of contaminants to humans. To this end, the aim of this note, part of a complex research project launched in line with the provisions of the ministry for the environment, land and sea, is to evaluate the quality of coastal waters by using of Sparus aurata and Dicentrarchus labrax. The results obtained show that the area concerned, at present, is not affected by serious pollution processes, as the human pressure is highlighted by the presence of phenols in sea water and heavy metals (Cd and Hg) in the bioindicators. The detection of these toxic elements in fish species, could also not be directly attributable to any condition of impairment of the environment. However given the accumulation of these contaminants in the parts are edible, the consumption of fish could be a source of exposure particularly for those most exposed to health risks (children, elderly, sick and pregnant women).

[Thermal comfort in perioperatory risk's evaluation]

Studies till now conducted about operating rooms' microclimate have been focused mainly on operators' thermal comfort, considering that uneasiness conditions may compromise their working performance. In last years, nevertheless, the anesthesiologic community recalled attention on patients' risks determined by perioperatory variations of normothermia, underlining the necessity of orientating studies to individuate microclimate characteristics act to guarantee thermal comfort of the patient too. Looking at these considerations, a study has been conducted in the operating rooms of the hospital-university Firm and the n.1 USL of Sassari, finalized, on one hand, to determinate microclimate characteristics of the operating blocks and to evaluate operators' and patients' thermal comfort, on the other to individuate, through a software simulation, microclimate conditions that ensure contemporarily thermal comfort for both the categories. Results confirm the existence of a thermal "gap" among operators and patients, these last constantly submitted to "cold-stress", sometimes very accentuated. So, we underline microclimate's importance in operating rooms, because there are particular situations that can condition perioperatory risks. Moreover it can be useful to integrate risk's classes of the American Society of Anestesiology (ASA) with a score attributed to the PMV/PPD variation, reaching more real operatory risk indicators.