Environmental Geochemistry

The Environmental Geochemistry Unit carries out researches mainly focused on the abundance, distribution and behaviour of trace elements in the surface environment. The researches concern several environmental matrices such as soil, stream sediment, surface water and groundwater, particulate matter, vegetable and animal organisms, as well as foods.

MAIN RESEARCH FIELDS

Trace elements in the soil-biosphere system: behaviour of trace elements in soil formation; mobility and availability of trace elements in soil and their transfer to biosphere in both uncontaminated and contaminated sites.
Heavy element contamination: abundance, distribution and behaviour of heavy elements in air, soil, surface water and groundwater, vegetable and animal organisms in urban, industrial, mining and agricultural sites; assessment of air and soil quality using particulate matter and bioindicators such as lichens, earthworms and isopods.
Water chemistry: chemistry of stream waters and groundwater (major ions and trace elements); influence of human activities on the concentration and distribution of inorganic contaminants in surface waters and groundwater.
Food chemistry and traceability: inorganic chemical composition of foods such as honey, grapes and wines (macro and micronutrients and non-essential trace elements); relationships between the geochemistry of vineyard soils and the chemical composition of grapes and wines; use of trace elements as geochemical tracers of the geographical origin of foods.
Geochemical mapping: use of soil and stream sediment based geochemical maps to define the relationships between the distribution of trace elements in the surface environment and the geolithological features of territory, and to locate geochemical anomalies and contaminated areas.

COLLABORATIONS

Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources, National Research Council (CNR)
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cagliari
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Florence
Department of Earth Sciences, Environment and Resources, University of Naples “Federico II”
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Pisa
Department of Earth, Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Urbino “Carlo Bo”
Department of Agricultural, Food and Agro-Environmental Sciences, University of Pisa
Agrobiology and Pedology Research Centre
Agricultural Research Council (CRA)

MAIN RESEARCH PROJECTS

2013-2014. “GEOBASI II – Realization of a geochemical database for defining a protocol aimed at evaluating the natural background values (geochemical baseline)”. Research project funded by Tuscany Region.
2012-2013. “Soil geochemistry and chemical composition of plants grown in an agricultural area in the Pitigliano municipality affected by the spreading of sewage sludge". Research contract between Aquaser S.r.l. and University of Siena.
2011-2012. “Influence of sewage sludge application on geochemistry of agricultural soils and chemistry of plants grown in an agricultural area in the Pitigliano municipality". Research contract between Aquaser S.r.l. and University of Siena.
2009-2011. “GEOBASI-Tuscany: geochemical baselines for different geo-environmental matrixes in the territory of Tuscan Region". Research grant of Tuscany Region within the 2007-2010 Regional Plan of Environmental Action.
2009-2010. “Biogeochemical cycles of environmental contaminants in the Orbetello lagoon ". Research project funded by Monte dei Paschi di Siena Bank.
2008-2009. “Trace elements as geochemical tracers to evaluate the quality and identify the geographical provenance of typical products of the Siena County, such as wine and olive oil”. Research project funded by the University of Siena within the 2006 University Research Plan.
2008. “Scientific investigation determining the contamination risks as well as any actions and restrictions due to exploitation of geothermal resources in the Mt Amiata area ". Research contract between Tuscany Region and University of Siena.
2007-2008. “For a quality honey in the province of Siena: current status and perspectives". Research project funded by Monte dei Paschi di Siena Bank.
2007-2008. “Assessment of the contamination level of waters and sediments in some representative water reservoirs in the areas of Objective 1”. Research contract between Research Institute for Soil Study and Conservation and University of Siena.
2007. “A methodology for determining the background values in stream waters to be used for the remediation of Merse River". Research contract between Tuscany Region and University of Siena.
2005-2006. “Geochemical mapping and environmental monitoring of stream waters and sediments in southern Tuscany”, within the Research Program of National Interest (PRIN 2004): "GEOBASI-Geochemical Baseline of Italy”, funded by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research.
2005-2006. “Toxicological and environmental risks associated with vehicular traffic: a small-scale application”. Research project funded by University of Siena within the 2004 University Research Plan.
2004-2005. “Hydrogeological study simulating the effects of groundwater pumping by the fish farms located in the Orbetello and Ansedonia areas”. Research project funded by the Regional Agency for Development and Innovation in Agriculture and Forestry (ARSIA) of Tuscany Region.
2003-2004. “Environmental geochemical study of the military areas of Perdasdefogu and Capo San Lorenzo in south-eastern Sardinia". Research contract between Italian Ministry of Defence and University of Siena.
2002-2004. “Environmental geochemical study of soils in the Kosovska Mitrovica area (northern Kosovo)". Research contract between Italian Ministry of Environment and Territory and University of Siena.
2002-2003. “Distribution and transport of persistent contaminants in the Alps". Research Program of National Interest (PRIN 2001) funded by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research.
2001-2002. “Environmental geochemistry and transfer of uranium and other heavy elements to the biosphere in contaminated areas of Kosovo and Bosnia". Research project funded by University of Siena within the 2001 University Research Plan.
2000-2001. “Production of a Geochemical National Archive and geochemical map prototypes of Italy (scale 1:250,000)”. Research project funded by the Italian National Agency for the Protection of the Environment (ANPA) and the Italian National Research Council (CNR).