A preliminary study on the effects of rainfall-related conditions on chromium increase in ultramafic-hosted springs: A possible climate change concern?

This study investigates the impact of intense rainfall on chromium concentrations in five springs discharging from ultramafic rocks in the Northern Apennines (Italy), which are used for drinking water supply through integration into the local water network. Total chromium concentration increased significantly in response to heavy rain, exceeding the WHO drinking water guideline value (up to 80 μg/L) in one spring and the forthcoming 2036 EU target of 25 μg/L in all the springs. This increase could be attributed to a synergistic combination of factors: i) the reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) by natural organic matter (NOM) in soil and transport as NOM-Cr(III) colloids and/or during the oxidation of magnetite to ferrihydrite in the aquifer; ii) the abundance of detrital ultramafic material in the study area, which may store Cr(III)-bearing colloids too; iii) a triggering effect of first intense rainfall after a 20 dry consecutive days period (wet-dry cycle).

Assessing the long-term trend of spring discharge in a climate change hotspot area.

Global warming affects atmospheric and oceanic energy budgets, modifying the Earth's water cycle. The Mediterranean region is a critical zone for climate change due to a decrease in recharge and an increase in the frequency and severity of droughts over recent decades. While the impacts of possible emissions scenarios on surface water have been extensively studied, the effects on groundwater discharge remain uncertain at both global and local scales.

Hydrogeological assessment of a major spring discharging from a calcarenitic aquifer with implications on resilience to climate change.

Groundwater is a vital source of freshwater, serving ecological, environmental, and societal needs. In regions with springs as a predominant source, such as the Northern Apennines (Italy), resilience of these springs to climate-induced recharge changes is crucial for water supply and ecosystem preservation. In this study, Nadìa Spring in the Northern Apennines is examined through an unprecedented array of multidisciplinary analyses to understand its resilience and unique characteristics.

Detecting vinyl chloride by phytoscreening in the shallow critical zone at sites with potential human exposure.

Chlorinated ethene (CE) contaminants are widespread in groundwater, and the occurrence of vinyl chloride (VC), among others, is a well-known issue due to its mobility, persistence, and carcinogenicity. Human exposure to VC may occur through inhalation after soil vapor intrusion into buildings at sites with shallow underground contamination. Soil vapor intrusion risk is traditionally assessed through indoor air and sub-slab sampling (direct evidence) or soil gas and groundwater surveys (indirect evidence).

A quantitative review and meta-analysis on phytoscreening applied to aquifers contaminated by chlorinated ethenes.

Applications and acceptance of phytoscreening, i.e., the use of trees as screening tools for underground contamination, are still limited in many countries due to the lack of awareness of application policies, the intrinsic qualitative nature of the technique, and the paucity of critical analyses on available data.