A5032368431- Fecal contamination and water quality
- Groundwater flow and contamination studies
- Legionella and Acanthamoeba research
- Groundwater and Isotope Geochemistry
- SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
- Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Water Treatment and Disinfection
- Dental Research and COVID-19
- Hydrology and Watershed Management Studies
- Soil Moisture and Remote Sensing
- Urban Stormwater Management Solutions
- Indoor Air Quality and Microbial Exposure
- Hydrology and Sediment Transport Processes
- Geophysical Methods and Applications
- Radioactivity and Radon Measurements
- Environmental Science and Water Management
- Biosensors and Analytical Detection
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Underwater Acoustics Research
- Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens research
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
University of Salento
2023-2025
Water Research Institute
2016-2022
National Research Council
2016-2022
Groundwater is one of the major sources water supply for human needs. But anthropic activities such as agriculture are causing significant volume depletion and quality deterioration, favoring microbial contamination that has a negative impact on health. The geological characteristics ground can influence transport microorganisms, especially if made permeable rock. Furthermore, irrigation with untreated or partially treated wastewater represent an additional health risk due to potential...
According to Italian Ministerial Decree No. 185 of 12 June 2003, water is considered suitable for irrigation if levels fecal bacteria (i.e., Escherichia coli and Salmonella) are within certain parameters. The detection other microorganisms not required. aim this study determine the bacteriological quality groundwater used occurrence enteric viruses (Norovirus, Enterovirus, Rotavirus, Hepatovirus A), compare presence with indicators. A total 182 wells was analyzed. Widespread contamination...
This study represents the first investigation of microbiological groundwater pollution as a function aquifer type and season for Apulia region southern Italy. Two hundred seven wells were randomly selected from those monitored by Regional Agency Environmental Protection emergency use. Both compulsory (Escherichia coli, Total Coliform, Enterococci) optional (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella spp., Heterotrophic Plate Count at 37 22 °C) parameters assessed regularly these wells. Groundwater...
Legionella is the causative agent of Legionnaires' disease, a flu-like illness normally acquired following inhalation or aspiration contaminated water aerosols. Our recent studies revealed that climatic parameters can increase number reported cases community-acquired disease. Here, we evaluated presence in networks and distribution disease associated with touristic-recreational facilities Apulia region (southern Italy) during period 2001-2017 using geostatistical analyses. Geostatistical...
Legionellae are opportunistic bacteria that cause various conditions after exposure to contaminated aerosols, ranging from a serious type of pneumonia mild case an influenza-like illness. Despite the risks exposure, little is known about occurrence Legionella in natural environments and, even though studies have shown there potential risk transmission via inhalation, it does not be detected groundwater used for irrigation. The culture methods traditionally detect several limits can partly...
This study investigated the environmental contamination of groundwater as a consequence discharge treated wastewater into soil. The investigation focused on treatment plant located in an area fractured by karst Salento peninsula (Apulia, Italy). Water samples were collected at four sites (raw wastewater, infiltration trench, and monitoring well), monthly from May to December 2019 (with exception August), tested for (1) panel bacteria; (2) enteric viruses; (3) chemical substances. A gradual...
In most regions of the world, safeguarding groundwater resources is a serious issue, particularly in coastal areas where main water source for drinking, irrigation and industry. Water availability depends on climate, topography geology. The aim this paper to evaluate aquifer recharge as possible strategy relieve resource scarcity. Natural defined downward flow reaching table, increasing reservoir. Hydro-meteorological factors (rainfall, evapotranspiration runoff) may alter natural processes....
As a complement to clinical disease surveillance, the monitoring of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in wastewater can be used as an early warning system for impending epidemics. This study investigated dynamics SARS-CoV-2 untreated with respect trend coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) prevalence Southern Italy. A total 210 samples were collected between May and November 2020 from 15 Apulian treatment plants (WWTP). The concentrated accordance standard World Health...
Abstract During the COVID-19 pandemic, wastewater monitoring has been used to monitor levels of SARS-CoV-2 RNA entering sewerage system. In Italy, Istituto Superiore di Sanità coordinated SARI project (Sorveglianza Ambientale Reflue in Italia) detect and its variants. this study, concentration variants raw against cases was evaluated together with effect temperature precipitation on virus spread. We validated a predictive model, proposed by De Giglio et al., 2021, establish number...
This study evaluated whether some chemical and microbial contaminants in treated sewage effluents from two wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) reached the groundwater when they drained through a fractured karst vadose zone (WWTP-K) porous (WWTP-P). Forty-five samples of water (SW), (TW), monitoring well (MW), collected WWTP-P (24) WWTP-K (21), were analyzed for range microbiological properties. The E. coli Salmonella counts below limits outlined Legislative Decree 152/06 both types WWTP....
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) provide optimal conditions for the environmental spread of Legionella. As part Evaluation Sanitary Risk Related to Discharge Ground (SCA.Re.S) project, this study was conducted evaluate presence Legionella in WWTP effluent and groundwater samples collected from two wells located downstream plant. The were analyzed determine concentrations spp using standard culture-based method molecular techniques, followed by genomic sequencing analysis. detected only...
At the local scale, environmental parameters often require monitoring by means of affordable measuring techniques and technologies given they need to be frequently surveyed. Streamflow in riverbeds or channels is a hydrological variable that needs monitored order keep runoff regimes under control somehow forecast floods, allowing prevention damage for people infrastructure. Moreover, such always extremely important knowledge status connected aquatic ecosystems. This paper presents new...
Climate change and anthropogenic pressures are the main drivers of quantitative qualitative depletion water bodies, worldwide. Nowadays, in many urban areas, discharging effluents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) into surface bodies is a management solution to face problem scarcity sustain environmental flows. Although this practice can cause some concerns public opinion about possible ecological side-effects impairment quality on receiving streams, it an important contribution...
Legionnaires' disease is caused by inhalation or aspiration of small water droplets contaminated with Legionella, commonly found in natural and man-made systems moist soil. Over the past 5 years, notification rates this have almost doubled European Union (EU) / Environmental Agency (EEA), from 1.4 2015 to 2.2 cases per 100,000 population 2019. Some studies show that greater presence microorganism network increase legionellosis could be related variations some environmental factors, such as...