In order to evaluate the impact of atmospheric pollutants emitted by the industrial settlement of Milazzo (Italy) on agriculture, sulphur dioxide and ozone levels in air were monitored and the data were used to estimate yield losses of the most widespread cultures. Trace element concentrations in crops and soils were also detected and metabolic profiles of soil microbial communities were considered. Vibrio fischeri test was used to appraise airborne pollutant ecotoxicity and epidemiological studies on causes of death distribution were carried out to characterize health state of people living in the area. All the sampling points were selected in farms on the basis of a theoretical meteo-diffusive model of industrial air pollutants. Experimental SO2 and O3 values mainly exceeded the threshold established by Italian and EU regulations to protect vegetation and they correspond to estimated significant crop losses. Conversely toxic element residues in soils and in agroalimentary products were generally lower than the fixed values. SO2 and O3 concentrations, toxic element contents and ecotoxicity levels of airborne pollutants were not related only to industrial site emissions, while the fluctuations on metabolic profiles of soil microbial communities seem to agree with the predicted deposition of xenobiotic compounds from the industrial plants. The epidemiological study evidenced a better health state of populations living in the investigated area than in the Messina province and the Sicily region but, inside the area, males living in the municipalities closest to the industrial settlement exhibited a worst health state than those in the very far ones.

This work assesses the environmental impact from chemical emissions due to military tests and routine activities in the area occupied by the Italian Inter-force Test Range (PISQ), located at Salto di Quirra, Sardinia, Italy. After reviewing the military activities carried out at PISQ, such as rocket launching, blasting and armament destruction, projectile and mortar fire impact, the associated pollution is evaluated. Chemical analyses were performed by means of Scanning Electronic Microscopy and Energy Dispersion Spectrometry on biotic and abiotic matrices. Residues of Rb, Tl, W, Ti and Al were found in matrices collected in the PISQ areas and environs. A review of experimental data on air, water, soil, milk, forage and animal tissues obtained by various Public Agencies of Sardinia proved that toxic element residues often exceeded the legal limits. PM10 and PM2.5 air concentrations also exceeded the legal limits after military blasting. Cd and Pb contents in the liver and kidneys of sheep living in farms at PISQ and in control farms that were located more than 20 km away from PISQ were higher than the legal limits. This work was performed to investigate concentration of xenobiotics in ecosystems emitted from PISQ activities. This assessment could be useful to focus future epidemiological studies carried out in PISQ and its neighbouring areas.

CO2 gas exchange, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate, and electron transport have been measured in leaves ofa yellow-green mutant of wheat (Triticum durum var Cappelli) and its wild type strain grown in the field. All these parameters, expressed on leaf area basis, were similar in both genotypes except electron transport which was more than double in the wild type. These results, treated according to a recent photosynthesis model for C3 plants, seem to indicate that the electron transport rate of mutant leaves is not sufficient to support the carboxylation derived through both the assimilation rate and the in vitro ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase activity. It is suggested that under our experimental conditions photosynthetic electron transport is not the sole energy-dependent determinant of ribulose-1, is not limiting it is possible to relate electron transport to the rate ofphosphoglyceric acid production and to carboxylation velocity (6).To test the practical application of this model, we have investigated some photosynthetic parameters of a Chl-deficient mutant of Triticum durum which grows normally in the field. Young seedlings show the same photosynthetic rate at saturating irradiances as the wild type (10).In this communication, we report on the correlation between net photosynthesis, uncoupled electron transport rate, and RuBP and RuBPCase content measured in the flag leaf of field grown mutant and wild type plants. MATERIALS AND METHODSPlants of a yellow-green mutant derived from a commercial variety of Triticum durum (var Cappelli) and its wild type strain were grown in a field near Rome. The crop was sown in January with a density of 500 plants/m2. Normal cultivation practices were applied, and irrigation was not necessary. Flag leaves were harvested on clear days starting in May when the leaves were fully expanded.Net photosynthesis was measured in a CO2 assimilation chamber in an open system connected with a Beckmann model 865 CO2 analyzer. Three or four detached leaves were enclosed in the ventilated chamber. Irradiance at leaf surface was 700 ,umol quanta m-2 s-', corresponding to light saturation of CO2 uptake. Leaf temperature, measured using a copper-constantan thermocouple in contact with the lower surface of one of the leaves, was 25 ± 1'C. Gas entering the chamber was saturated with water.RuBPCase activity was assayed using 2 g of fresh tissue taken from the material obtained by cutting five leaves in small pieces. The extraction was performed immediately after harvesting as previously described (3). The enzymic activity of the extract was measured by end-point titration of formed D-3-phosphoglycerate in a 60-s assay at 25'C as reported elsewhere (4).RuBP was determined by 14C incorporation into phosphoglycerate using commercial RuBPCase. Ten flag leaves, frozen in liquid N2 within 2 s from the harvest, were finely powdered and lyophilized. The dry powder was then treated according to the procedure of Latzko and Gibbs (8)

No abstract

No abstract