Geochemistry, stable isotopes and statistic tools to estimate threshold and source of nitrate in groundwater (Sardinia, Italy).

In the European Union, nitrate vulnerable zone (NVZ) should be designed for the mitigation of nitrate (NO) contamination caused by agricultural practices. Before establishing new NVZ, the sources of NO must be recognized. A geochemical and multiple stable isotopes approach (hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur and boron) and statistical tools were applied to define the geochemical characteristics of groundwater (60 samples), calculate the local NO threshold and assess potential sources of NO contamination in two study areas (hereafter Northern and Southern), located in a Mediterranean environment (Sardinia, Italy).

Determination of traces of Sb(III) using ASV in Sb-rich water samples affected by mining.

Chemical speciation [Sb(V) and Sb(III)] affects the mobility, bioavailability and toxicity of antimony. In oxygenated environments Sb(V) dominates whereas thermodynamically unstable Sb(III) may occur. In this study, a simple method for the determination of Sb(III) in non acidic, oxygenated water contaminated with antimony is proposed.

Antimony in the soil-water-plant system at the Su Suergiu abandoned mine (Sardinia, Italy): strategies to mitigate contamination.

This study was aimed to implement the understanding of the Sb behavior in near-surface environments, as a contribution to address appropriate mitigation actions at contaminated sites. For this purpose, geochemical data of soil (8 sites), water (29 sites), and plant (12 sites) samples were collected. The study area is located at Su Suergiu and surroundings in Sardinia (Italy), an abandoned mine area heavily contaminated with Sb, with relevant impact on water bodies that supply water for agriculture and domestic uses.