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Advances in Environmental Applied Physics—2nd Edition
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Advances in Environmental Applied Physics—2nd Edition

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Applied Physics General".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 February 2025) | Viewed by 6246

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Francesco Caridi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Mathematics and Informatics, Physic and Earth Sciences (MIFT), University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy
Interests: environmental radioactivity; gamma spectrometry; liquid scintillation; alpha spectrometry; gas radon detection; emanometry; ionizing radiations
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The presence of pollutants in the environment constitutes a health risk to the population, since this could increase the likelihood of incurring cancer. Experimental analysis will enhance the detection of significant radionuclides and metals that cause harm to the population and stimulate environmental remediation.

Among the various analytical techniques for the assessment of physical and chemical pollutants in the environment, alpha and gamma spectrometry are employed to obtain the specific activity of alpha and gamma radionuclides, respectively; ICP-MS can be used to investigate metals concentration; liquid scintillation counting (LSC) is employed to quantify the activity concentration of tritium, radon, and gross alpha and beta; total alpha/beta counting, with the thick source method, can be used for gross alpha and beta specific activity evaluation; and emanometry, in the H2O setup configuration, can be employed to estimate the gas radon activity concentration.

Dr. Francesco Caridi
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • environment
  • radioactivity
  • metals
  • alpha spectrometry
  • gamma spectrometry
  • ICP-MS
  • liquid scintillation counting (LSC)
  • total alpha/beta counting
  • emanometry

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Related Special Issues

Published Papers (6 papers)

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18 pages, 1402 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Gamma-Irradiation Effect on Radicals Formation and on Antiradical Capacity of Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L.) Seeds
by Ralitsa Mladenova, Nikolay Solakov, Kamelia Loginovska and Yordanka Karakirova
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(6), 3287; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15063287 - 17 Mar 2025
Viewed by 143
Abstract
The irradiation by gamma-rays is a widely used technique for disinfection in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. In view of growing concerns by consumers about this technique, further investigation of the effects of radiation is required. In this work electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) [...] Read more.
The irradiation by gamma-rays is a widely used technique for disinfection in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. In view of growing concerns by consumers about this technique, further investigation of the effects of radiation is required. In this work electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy was applied to study the free radicals in irradiated horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L.) seeds and to evaluate the free radical scavenging activity (FRSA) using the stable DPPH radical. In order to evaluate the antiradical potential, a spectrophotometric study was also used. The identification and quantification of some individual polyphenol compounds before and after irradiation by 1, 5, and 10 kGy gamma rays of peeled and shell seeds were obtained by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The EPR spectrum recorded on irradiated horse chestnut is a typical signal for irradiated cellulose-contained substances. The results show that the signal is stable, and it can be found in the samples irradiated with a dose of 1 kGy, 45 days after treatment, whereas for samples irradiated by 5 and 10 kGy, it is even found 250 days later. The study showed that free radical scavenging activity increases in shell seeds, while it decreases in peeled seed extracts after irradiation depending on the dosage, which corresponds to the total phenolic content. Shell seed extracts have significantly stronger antiradical activity than that of peeled seeds. Regarding the HPLC analysis, some polyphenolics were degraded and others were formed as a result of irradiation. The irradiation by 5 kGy dosage has a most significant positive effect on the antioxidant potential of shell chestnut seeds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Environmental Applied Physics—2nd Edition)
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23 pages, 8764 KiB  
Article
Towards the Sustainable Removal of Heavy Metals from Wastewater Using Arthrospira platensis: A Laboratory-Scale Approach in the Context of a Green Circular Economy
by Lamprini Malletzidou, Eleni Kyratzopoulou, Nikoletta Kyzaki, Evangelos Nerantzis and Nikolaos A. Kazakis
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(2), 791; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15020791 - 15 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 872
Abstract
The use of living Arthrospira platensis (A. platensis) cultures emerges as a promising green solution for the bioremediation of water contaminated by toxic metal waste. The scope of the present study is to evaluate the microalga’s potential in heavy metal remediation, [...] Read more.
The use of living Arthrospira platensis (A. platensis) cultures emerges as a promising green solution for the bioremediation of water contaminated by toxic metal waste. The scope of the present study is to evaluate the microalga’s potential in heavy metal remediation, in the case of multi-metal-treated (multi-MT) systems. For this reason, A. platensis cultures were exposed to mono- and multi-metal solutions of Cu, Cd, Ni, Pb, and Zn, and their metal adsorption ability was investigated. The heavy metal removal efficiency of A. platensis cultures was evaluated using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Additionally, the cultures were examined using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Near-Infrared (NIR) Spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectrophotometry, and optical microscopy, together with pH and electrical conductivity (EC) measurements to evaluate the quality of the cultures and the changes induced by heavy metal stress. The results showed that metal removal is still efficient in multi-MT cultures. In particular, Cu, Cd, Pb, and Zn removal of multi-MT cultures is elevated or relative to the respective removal of the mono-metal-treated (mono-MT) cultures, showing a synergistic or cooperative interaction between the metals, while the removal of Ni of multi-MT cultures decreased compared to Ni of mono-MT cultures, showing an antagonistic interaction to the other metals. The study shows that A. platensis is considered an effective microalga toward the bioremediation of multi-metal polluted cultures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Environmental Applied Physics—2nd Edition)
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12 pages, 2662 KiB  
Article
Determination of Lichens’ Bioaccumulation Capacity for Radioactive Isotopes Under Laboratory Conditions as a Basis for Their Application as Biomonitors
by Michał Saniewski, Michał Hubert Węgrzyn, Patrycja Fałowska, Patrycja Dziurowicz, Karolina Waszkiewicz and Tamara Zalewska
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(23), 11455; https://doi.org/10.3390/app142311455 - 9 Dec 2024
Viewed by 734
Abstract
This study investigates the bioaccumulation capacity of the lichen Cladonia uncialis for radioactive isotopes, aiming to establish its potential as a biomonitor. Conducted under controlled laboratory conditions, the experiment utilised gamma-emitting isotopes to simulate fallout. The lichens were exposed to varying concentrations of [...] Read more.
This study investigates the bioaccumulation capacity of the lichen Cladonia uncialis for radioactive isotopes, aiming to establish its potential as a biomonitor. Conducted under controlled laboratory conditions, the experiment utilised gamma-emitting isotopes to simulate fallout. The lichens were exposed to varying concentrations of these isotopes in three aquariums. The results demonstrated that the bioaccumulation of 54Mn, 57Co, 60Co, 65Zn, 137Cs, and 241Am by C. uncialis was proportional to their initial deposition levels, and this occurred in the first days of the experiment. Analysis of isotope activity in washed and unwashed lichens showed that retention primarily occurred intracellularly, indicating effective bioaccumulation. The study derived the Aggregated Transfer Coefficient (Tag) for each isotope, which ranged from 0.34 to 0.64, and the absorption capacity of the elements increased in the following order: 54Mn < 57Co < 60Co ≤ 65Zn < 241Am < 137Cs. Absorption efficiency, amounting to approximately 50% for 137Cs and 241Am, highlights the potential for lichens to serve as reliable biomonitors for environmental monitoring and estimation of deposition when knowing only the activity of the isotopes in lichen. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Environmental Applied Physics—2nd Edition)
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15 pages, 1360 KiB  
Article
Ecological and Health Risks from Trace Elements Contamination in Soils at the Rutile Bearing Area of Akonolinga, Cameroon
by Fayette Kitcha Sime, Dieu Souffit Gondji, Ilsa Rosianna, Eka Djatnika Nugraha, Oumar Bobbo Modibo, Chutima Kranrod, Yasutaka Omori, Naofumi Akata, Masahiro Hosoda, Saïdou and Shinji Tokonami
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(22), 10538; https://doi.org/10.3390/app142210538 - 15 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1057
Abstract
This study evaluates the concentrations of trace elements (TEs) in soils from the rutile deposit area of Akonolinga, Cameroon, and analyzes the associated health risks. A total of 25 samples were analyzed using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The results show that TE [...] Read more.
This study evaluates the concentrations of trace elements (TEs) in soils from the rutile deposit area of Akonolinga, Cameroon, and analyzes the associated health risks. A total of 25 samples were analyzed using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The results show that TE concentrations follow the decreasing order Fe, Ti, Zr, Mn, Cr, V, Ba, Zn, Nb, Ni, Pb, Ga, Cu, Co, Y, Br, and Sn. Pollution indices and the Pearson correlation matrix reveal moderate correlations between Fe and several other TEs, indicating a common origin. Enrichment Factors show significant enrichment in Zr, Nb, and Ti, with notable enrichment in Cr and Co at certain sites. Although the Geo-Accumulation Index indicates no direct contamination and the overall ecological risk is low, the Contamination Factor reveals high levels for Cr, Nb, Ti, and Zr. The carcinogenic risk is moderate, while non-carcinogenic risks are high for children and considerable for adults. These research highlight the potential public health impacts in this mining region and provide essential baseline data for future environmental risk management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Environmental Applied Physics—2nd Edition)
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7 pages, 1328 KiB  
Communication
Radon-Specific Activity in Drinking Water and Radiological Health Risk Assessment: A Case Study
by Francesco Caridi, Giuseppe Paladini, Maurizio D’Agostino, Santina Marguccio, Alberto Belvedere, Giovanna Belmusto, Giovanna Stilo, Domenico Majolino and Valentina Venuti
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(17), 9660; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13179660 - 26 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1239
Abstract
In this paper, the evaluation of the Rn-222 radioactivity content in drinking water samples from the Calabria region, southern Italy, is reported as a case study. The Rn-222-specific activity in the analyzed groundwater samples for human use was evaluated by using the PerkinElmer [...] Read more.
In this paper, the evaluation of the Rn-222 radioactivity content in drinking water samples from the Calabria region, southern Italy, is reported as a case study. The Rn-222-specific activity in the analyzed groundwater samples for human use was evaluated by using the PerkinElmer Tricarb 4910 TR setup and compared with the parameter value (100 Bq L−1) reported in the reference Italian legislation, i.e., D.Lgs. 28/2016, derived from the European Directive 2013/51/Euratom. The radiological health risk for the population of the investigated area, due to the ingestion and inhalation of Rn-222 dissolved in water, was then evaluated by calculating the total annual effective dose, only in those cases where the parameter value was exceeded. The obtained results represent a main reference for the investigated area and are useful for determining any possible radiological health risk for human beings related to the ingestion of the investigated radionuclide. Moreover, they can also be used as a baseline for future investigations regarding background radioactivity levels. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Environmental Applied Physics—2nd Edition)
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38 pages, 4800 KiB  
Systematic Review
Systematic Review of Exposure Studies to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields: Spot Measurements and Mixed Methodologies
by Raquel Ramirez-Vazquez, Isabel Escobar, Enrique Arribas and Guy A. E. Vandenbosch
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(23), 11161; https://doi.org/10.3390/app142311161 - 29 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1460
Abstract
This work presents a review and evaluation of studies measuring exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields (RF-EMF). The review meets the basic quality criteria and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines after the eligibility criteria of the PECO (Population, [...] Read more.
This work presents a review and evaluation of studies measuring exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields (RF-EMF). The review meets the basic quality criteria and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines after the eligibility criteria of the PECO (Population, Exposure, Comparator, and Outcome) methodology and the instrument Critical Appraisal Skills Programme Español (CASPe). A total of 86 papers published between 1 January 1998 and 31 December 2023 are included: 61 studies with spot measurements and 25 studies with mixed methodologies (spot measurements, personal measurements with volunteers or with a trained researcher and prediction models) are highlighted. Forty-three percent of the studies use Spectrum Analyzers in the spot measurements, mainly the Narda SRM–3006, followed by the Narda SRM-3000, highlighting the introduction and use of Sensors for this kind of study. The minimum mean value was measured in Palestine at 0.0600 µW/m2, and the maximum mean value was measured in Norway at 200,000 µW/m2. The RF-EMF exposure levels measured in the different microenvironments are minimal and far from the maximum levels established by the ICNIRP guidelines. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Environmental Applied Physics—2nd Edition)
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