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    Cristina Truzzi

    Ultrasensitive Square Wave Anodic Stripping Voltammetry is used for the first time for the systematic determination of Cd, Pb, and Cu in siliceous spicules of marine sponges; the procedure is performed directly in hydrofluoric acid... more
    Ultrasensitive Square Wave Anodic Stripping Voltammetry is used for the first time for the systematic determination of Cd, Pb, and Cu in siliceous spicules of marine sponges; the procedure is performed directly in hydrofluoric acid solution, according to a procedure ...
    During the period March 1997 — March 1998 dimethyl sulphide (DMS), dimethylsulphoniopropionate (DMSP) and carbon disulphide (CS2) were determined weekly in the water of the Lagoon of Venice, Italy (at three stations located in the... more
    During the period March 1997 — March 1998 dimethyl sulphide (DMS), dimethylsulphoniopropionate (DMSP) and carbon disulphide (CS2) were determined weekly in the water of the Lagoon of Venice, Italy (at three stations located in the Giudecca Canal, the San Secondo Canal and the Rio di San Nicolò). At the same time, the following hydrological and biological variables were also measured: tide height, temperature, transmittance, fluorescence, pH, salinity, chlorinity, sulphate, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, silicate, chlorophyll a, phaeopigments, phytoplankton (abundance and biomass). Principal component analysis (PCA), applied as a dimension reduction tool, made it possible to summarize multivariate information in a small number of components, which highlighted the relationships between the temporal evolutions of the sulphur compounds with hydrological and biological variables in the seasonal biogeochemical cycle of the lagoon. In particular the overall temporal cycle, which begins with the development of biological activity in late winter and spring, followed by the predominance of degradation processes during the late summer and the remineralization of nutrients in autumn, is clearly described in the plane of the first two principal components, together with the interrelationships between all the relevant variables.
    Heavy metal concentrations (cadmium, lead, and copper) in spring, tap, and bottled waters of the Sibylline Mountains National Park (central Italy) were investigated using square wave anodic stripping voltammetry from 2004 to 2011. The... more
    Heavy metal concentrations (cadmium, lead, and copper) in spring, tap, and bottled waters of the Sibylline Mountains National Park (central Italy) were investigated using square wave anodic stripping voltammetry from 2004 to 2011. The mean (±SD) concentrations detected (1.3 ± 0.4 ng L cadmium, 14 ± 6 ng L lead, and 0.16 ± 0.10 μg L copper) were below the limits stipulated by Italian and European legislation for drinking and natural mineral water. In the three studied areas of the park (Mount Bove north, Mount Bove south, and springs of River Nera) with very few exceptions, both mineral waters bottled in the area and aqueduct waters from public fountains had approximately the same metal concentrations as did the spring waters from which they were derived. Conversely, substantially higher metal concentrations were found at some sites in private houses, which may be due to release of metals from old metal pipes. At the time of this study, waters of Sibylline Mountains National Park were of good quality, and no influence of the bottling process on heavy metal concentrations was found.
    Tea is grown around the world under extremely diverse geographic and climatic conditions, namely, in China, India, the Far East and Africa. However, recently, growing tea also appears to be feasible in many regions of Europe, from where... more
    Tea is grown around the world under extremely diverse geographic and climatic conditions, namely, in China, India, the Far East and Africa. However, recently, growing tea also appears to be feasible in many regions of Europe, from where high-quality, chemical-free, organic, single-estate teas have been obtained. Hence, the aim of this study was to characterize the health-promoting properties in terms of the antioxidant capacity of traditional hot brews as well as cold brews of black, green and white teas produced across the European territory using a panel of antioxidant assays. Total polyphenol/flavonoid contents and metal chelating activity were also determined. For differentiating the characteristics of the different tea brews, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry were employed. Overall, our findings demonstrate for the first time that teas grown in Europe are good quality teas th...
    Black Soldier Fly (BSF) meal is considered an alternative, emerging, and sustainable ingredient for aquafeed formulation. However, results on fish physiological responses are still fragmentary and often controversial, and no data are... more
    Black Soldier Fly (BSF) meal is considered an alternative, emerging, and sustainable ingredient for aquafeed formulation. However, results on fish physiological responses are still fragmentary and often controversial, and no data are available on the effect of insect meal-based diets on fish reproduction. On this regard, zebrafish, with its relatively short life cycle, represents an ideal experimental model to explore this topic. In this study, female zebrafish were fed for 12 months on a control diet based on fish meal (FM) and fish oil and two experimental diets with full-fat BSF (Hermetia illucens) prepupae meal inclusion, to replace 25% and 50% of FM (BSF25 and BSF50). All diets were isonitrogenous, isolipidic, and isoenergetic. The effects of these two experimental diets on female's reproduction were investigated through a multidisciplinary approach, including the evaluation of growth, gonadosomatic index, spawned/fertilized eggs and hatching rate, adult female carcass and fertilized egg fatty acid composition, histological analysis of the ovary, spectroscopic macromolecular composition of class IV oocytes, and expression of genes involved in fish lipid metabolism in the liver. Results showed that while fish were perfectly able to cope with a 25% insect meal dietary inclusion, a 50% inclusion level caused the overexpression of genes involved in lipid metabolism, a general reduction in the number of spawned eggs, and differences in the frequency rate of previtellogenic oocytes, class III, IV, oocytes and postovulatory follicles and atretic oocytes, in the macromolecular composition of class IV oocytes, and in the fatty acid composition of the fertilized eggs, respect to control and 25% group.
    Mercury (Hg) is a pollutant that has toxic effects on ecosystems and biota. As it biomagnifies in the food chain, its presence in edible fish poses a high risk to human health. Herein, total Hg (THg) content was quantified in 2018–2019... more
    Mercury (Hg) is a pollutant that has toxic effects on ecosystems and biota. As it biomagnifies in the food chain, its presence in edible fish poses a high risk to human health. Herein, total Hg (THg) content was quantified in 2018–2019 using thermal decomposition amalgamation atomic absorption spectrometry in muscle tissue of red mullet (Mullus barbatus), a commercially important species throughout the Adriatic Sea (Central Mediterranean Sea). Specimens were grouped into 16 pools based on sex, reproductive stages, and sampling area. The overall mean value of THg content was 0.20 ± 0.15 mg kg−1 in terms of wet weight. THg levels in males and females showed no statistically significant differences, whereas specimens that were captured in open sea showed a higher THg content than coastal samples. Statistically significant differences between THg content and the reproductive stages of fish were found in females. However, neither lipid content nor fish length were statistically correlate...
    The northern Adriatic Sea is a particular water system, in which the levels of nutrients are commonly low or unbalanced. In general, phosphate detection can be done with the classical molybdenum-blue method. However, the method cannot be... more
    The northern Adriatic Sea is a particular water system, in which the levels of nutrients are commonly low or unbalanced. In general, phosphate detection can be done with the classical molybdenum-blue method. However, the method cannot be used in oligotrophic seawater samples due to its low sensitivity and high interference problems. In this study, we present a new electrochemical method, based on the application of a plastic conductive electrode containing a molybdenum reagent embedded. The sensitivity for phosphate was high enough to detect this nutrient in oligotrophic seawater.
    The aim of this work was to study the distribution of Cd, Pb and Cu fractions (total, dissolved, inorganic particulate and phytoplankton) in the seawater of Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea, Antarctica). During the 2013-2014 Antarctic summer four... more
    The aim of this work was to study the distribution of Cd, Pb and Cu fractions (total, dissolved, inorganic particulate and phytoplankton) in the seawater of Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea, Antarctica). During the 2013-2014 Antarctic summer four seawater samplings were carried out along the water column from mid-November 2013 to mid-February 2014, in the Gerlache Inlet area, near the “Mario Zucchelli” Italian Station. CTD profiles were also carried out. Seawater samples were divided in aliquots subjected to different treatments for the determination of the total concentration and dissolved, inorganic particulate and phytoplankton fractions. The algal fraction was separated from the inorganic particulate by a procedure previously set-up [1-2]. All the samples were subjected to microwave digestion before Cd, Pb and Cu determination by Square Wave Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (SWASV). For Cd, total (Cdtot) and dissolved (Cddis) concentrations were similar (~60/80 ng/L), within the experimenta...
    Over the last years, the potential use of Black Soldier Fly meal (BSF) as a new and sustainable aquafeed ingredient has been largely explored in several fish species. However, only fragmentary information is available about the use of BSF... more
    Over the last years, the potential use of Black Soldier Fly meal (BSF) as a new and sustainable aquafeed ingredient has been largely explored in several fish species. However, only fragmentary information is available about the use of BSF meal-based diets in sturgeon nutrition. In consideration of a circular economy concept and a more sustainable aquaculture development, the present research represents the first comprehensive multidisciplinary study on the physiological effects of a BSF diet during sturgeon culture in an aquaponic system. Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii) juveniles were fed over a 60-days feeding trial on a control diet (Hi0) and a diet containing 50% of full-fat BSF meal respect to fish meal (Hi50). Physiological responses of fish were investigated using several analytical approaches, such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, histology, Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), microbiome sequencing and Real-time PCR. While aquaponic systems performe...
    Black Soldier Fly (BSF) meal is considered as an alternative, emerging and sustainable ingredient for aquafeed production. However, results on fish physiological responses are still fragmentary and often controversial, while no studies... more
    Black Soldier Fly (BSF) meal is considered as an alternative, emerging and sustainable ingredient for aquafeed production. However, results on fish physiological responses are still fragmentary and often controversial, while no studies are available on fish behavior in response to these new diets. The present work represents the first comprehensive multidisciplinary study aimed to investigate zebrafish physiological and behavioural responses to BSF-based diets. Five experimental diets characterized by increasing inclusion levels (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% respect to fish meal) of full fat BSF prepupae meal were tested during a 2-months feeding trial. Prepupae were cultured on coffee silverskin growth substrate enriched with a 10% Schizochytrium sp. to improve insects’ fatty acids profile. The responses of zebrafish were assayed through biometric, histological, gas chromatographic, microbiological, spectroscopic, molecular and behavioural analyses. Results evidenced that BSF-based diets...
    The Adriatic Sea is vulnerable to pollution due to its low bathymetry, intense industrial activity, and tourism. In this context, a good depuration plant activity could play a key role for the maintenance of a good environmental quality.... more
    The Adriatic Sea is vulnerable to pollution due to its low bathymetry, intense industrial activity, and tourism. In this context, a good depuration plant activity could play a key role for the maintenance of a good environmental quality. In the framework of the AdSWiM project, “Managed use of treated urban wastewater for the quality of the Adriatic Sea”, a study on dissolved potentially toxic element (PTE) levels was carried out to assess the impact of treated urban wastewaters on the quality of the bathing waters in the Adriatic Sea during the 2019 and 2020 summer period. In the present study, three areas along the Italian–Croatian coastline (Gulf of Trieste, Zadar, and Split) were identified for the monitoring of five depuration plant (DP) outflows. Water samples were collected after the treatment inside the DPs, and coastal seawater was sampled in the proximity of the discharging pipelines. Dissolved Hg, Cd, and As levels were determined with an atomic fluorescence spectrometer. ...
    Macronutrients (nitrogen—N; phosphorus—P; silicon—Si) play a crucial role in ocean surface waters stimulating the planktonic primary production; in fact, their concentrations are fundamental for the evaluation of the trophic status of the... more
    Macronutrients (nitrogen—N; phosphorus—P; silicon—Si) play a crucial role in ocean surface waters stimulating the planktonic primary production; in fact, their concentrations are fundamental for the evaluation of the trophic status of the water body and eutrophication phenomena. Loads of nutrients into the sea are mainly represented by river runoff and depuration plant outflows. For this purpose, in the framework of the AdSWiM project, “Managed use of treated urban wastewater for the quality of the Adriatic Sea” levels of N-NO3, N-NO2, N-NH4, Si-Si(OH)4, P-PO4 (dissolved inorganic phosphorus—DIP) and total dissolved phosphorus (TDP) were determined colorimetrically at two sites in the Gulf of Trieste: Lignano Sabbiadoro and San Giorgio di Nogaro. For each site, during the bathing seasons of 2019 and 2020, a sample from the depuration plant (DP) outflow and another one in the bottom seawater near the discharging pipelines were collected. Results showed a strong dilution effect on nut...
    Correction for ‘Separation of micro-phytoplankton from inorganic particulate in Antarctic seawater (Ross Sea) for the determination of Cd, Pb and Cu: optimization of the analytical methodology’ by C. Truzzi et al., Anal. Methods, 2015, 7,... more
    Correction for ‘Separation of micro-phytoplankton from inorganic particulate in Antarctic seawater (Ross Sea) for the determination of Cd, Pb and Cu: optimization of the analytical methodology’ by C. Truzzi et al., Anal. Methods, 2015, 7, 5490–5496.
    In this study we analysed total mercury (THg) levels in European hake (Merluccius merluccius) - an ecologically and commercially important species throughout the Mediterranean - caught in the northern and central Adriatic Sea. To the best... more
    In this study we analysed total mercury (THg) levels in European hake (Merluccius merluccius) - an ecologically and commercially important species throughout the Mediterranean - caught in the northern and central Adriatic Sea. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study evaluating THg levels in hake fillets in relation to ecological (season) and biological (body size, sex, sexual maturity, lipid content) parameters. THg levels in muscle showed no sex-related differences; in contrast, significant season-related differences were found in females, with higher levels in spring-summer compared with autumn-winter. No season-related differences were seen in males. A significant sex effect was found for body size and sexual maturity. Females showed a correlation between THg level and length, THg being significantly higher in mature compared with immature specimens. No significant sex effect was found for muscle lipid content, because a correlation between THg concentration and tissue lipids was found in both sexes. Since the mean THg concentration found in M. merluccius fillets (0.64 ± 0.29 mg kg-1 dry weight; range, 0.20-1.53) was consistently under the level set by EU regulations, this study demonstrates that European hake caught in the northern and central Adriatic is safe for human consumption.
    According to the concept of circular economy, insects represent good candidates as aquafeed ingredients. Nevertheless, there are some potential chemical risks linked with insect consumption. In this study, we reared the teleost Danio... more
    According to the concept of circular economy, insects represent good candidates as aquafeed ingredients. Nevertheless, there are some potential chemical risks linked with insect consumption. In this study, we reared the teleost Danio rerio, used as an experimental model, with five experimental diets characterized by increasing levels (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) of full-fat Hermetia illucens (Hi) prepupae, substituting for fish meal (FM) and fish oil (FO). We investigated the presence of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) Cd, Pb, Ni, As, and Hg in larval (20 days), juvenile (2 months), and adult (6 months) fish. Quantitative determinations of Cd, Pb, Ni, and As were made with an atomic absorption spectrometer; the total mercury content was determined by a direct mercury analyzer. The substitution of FM and FO with Hermetia illucens meal led to a reduction in the content of some PTEs, such as Pb, As, and Ni, in fishfeed, leading to concentrations below the legal limit of undesirable ...
    The authors wish to make the following corrections to the paper [...].
    Atmospheric aerosol samples were collected at Faraglione Camp, 3 km away from the Italian Mario Zucchelli Station (Terra Nova Bay, Ross Sea), from 1 December 2013 to 2 February 2014. A two-step extraction procedure was applied to... more
    Atmospheric aerosol samples were collected at Faraglione Camp, 3 km away from the Italian Mario Zucchelli Station (Terra Nova Bay, Ross Sea), from 1 December 2013 to 2 February 2014. A two-step extraction procedure was applied to characterize the soluble and insoluble components of PM10-bound metals. Samples were analyzed for Al, Fe, Cd, Cu, and Pb by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) and by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer (GF-AAS). The mean atmospheric concentrations were (reported as means ± SD) Al 24 ± 3 ng m−3; Fe 23 ± 4 ng m−3; Cd 0.92 ± 0.53 pg m−3; Cu 43 ± 9 pg m−3, and Pb 16 ± 5 pg m−3. The fractionation pattern was metal-specific, with Al, Fe, and Pb mainly present in the insoluble fractions, Cd in the soluble one, and Cu equally distributed between the two fractions. The summer evolution showed overall constant behavior of both fractions for Al and Fe, while a bell-shaped trend was observed for the three trace metals. Cd and Cu showed a ...
    Presently, ingredients with the best nutritional values which do not affect the dietary and health attributes of the final products, remain a priority both for feed and food production. As regards aquafeeds, the advancement of knowledge... more
    Presently, ingredients with the best nutritional values which do not affect the dietary and health attributes of the final products, remain a priority both for feed and food production. As regards aquafeeds, the advancement of knowledge on fish nutritional and feeding requirements and the expansion of the number of well-characterized and sustainable raw materials which can be used and that can solve strategic problems in fish nutrition, are of primary importance. This will allow an increase in flexibility in formulating highly nutritious feeds, ensure biological efficiency, reduce stress response and improve animal’s welfare and nutritional value. Furthermore, this will ensure safe and nutritious products for human consumption. In fact, is well-known that food choices have a significant impact on our health. Several studies have demonstrated that diet is one of the most important modifiable risk factors for several common chronic diseases. A correct diet should be nutritionally adeq...
    Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens, HI, Diptera, Stratiomydae) has great potential as a food and feed ingredient in the European Union (EU). The production of insects as livestock feed or as food ingredients requires strict monitoring... more
    Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens, HI, Diptera, Stratiomydae) has great potential as a food and feed ingredient in the European Union (EU). The production of insects as livestock feed or as food ingredients requires strict monitoring of the content of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the growth substrate, to meet the security requirements. This study aims to investigate the presence of PTEs, like cadmium, lead, mercury, arsenic, and nickel, in HI prepupae and in their growth substrates based on coffee roasting by-product and microalgae Schizochytrium sp. and Isochrysis sp. Analyses were carried out via graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry for Cd, Pb, Ni, and As, and via Direct Mercury Analyzer for Hg. All element concentrations found in growth substrates were below the legal limit of undesirable substances in animal feed (2002/32/EC). Elements concentrations in HI prepupae were in the range (mg kg−1 wet weight) of 0.072 to 0.084 for Cd, 0.018 to 0.026 for Pb, ...
    Environmental contextOwing to its remoteness, Antarctica is an excellent natural laboratory for conducting studies on the behavior of marine aerosols and for monitoring the impact of global human activities. The aim of this study is to... more
    Environmental contextOwing to its remoteness, Antarctica is an excellent natural laboratory for conducting studies on the behavior of marine aerosols and for monitoring the impact of global human activities. The aim of this study is to provide an extensive chemical characterization of Antarctic aerosol and to investigate its sources. A distinction among anthropogenic, crustal, and biogenic sources was defined using several chemical markers. During the 2010–11 austral summer, an aerosol sampling campaign was carried out at a coastal Antarctic site (Terra Nova Bay, Victoria Land). In this work, previously published data about water-soluble organic compounds and major and trace elements were merged with novel measurements of major ions, carboxylic acids and persistent organic pollutants (polychlorobiphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated naphthalenes, polybrominated diphenylethers and organochlorine pesticides) in order to provide a chemical characterisation of Anta...
    During the period March 1997-March 1998 dimethyl sulphide (DMS), dimethylsulphoniopropionate (DMSP) and carbon disulphide (CS2) were determined weekly in the water of the Lagoon of Venice, Italy (at three stations located in the Giudecca... more
    During the period March 1997-March 1998 dimethyl sulphide (DMS), dimethylsulphoniopropionate (DMSP) and carbon disulphide (CS2) were determined weekly in the water of the Lagoon of Venice, Italy (at three stations located in the Giudecca Canal, the San Secondo Canal and the Rio di San Nicolò). At the same time, the following hydrological and biological variables were also measured: tide height, temperature, transmittance, fluorescence, pH, salinity, chlorinity, sulphate, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, silicate, chlorophyll a, phaeopigments, phytoplankton (abundance and biomass). Principal component analysis (PCA), applied as a dimension reduction tool, made it possible to summarize multivariate information in a small number of components, which highlighted the relationships between the temporal evolutions of the sulphur compounds with hydrological and biological variables in the seasonal biogeochemical cycle of the lagoon. In particular the overall temporal cycle, which begins with the development of biological activity in late winter and spring, followed by the predominance of degradation processes during the late summer and the remineralization of nutrients in autumn, is clearly described in the plane of the first two principal components, together with the interrelationships between all the relevant variables.
    Coastal areas are known to receive significant anthropogenic inputs, mainly deriving from metropolitan areas, industries, and activities related to tourism. Among these inputs, some trace elements are listed as priority pollutants in the... more
    Coastal areas are known to receive significant anthropogenic inputs, mainly deriving from metropolitan areas, industries, and activities related to tourism. Among these inputs, some trace elements are listed as priority pollutants in the European Water Framework Directive, due to their ability to bioaccumulate in organisms. Many studies have been conducted on heavy metals (HMs) accumulation and on their possible effects on different edible marine species. While the most studied sessile organisms are bivalves, in the current review, we focus our attention on other sessile taxa (sponges, cnidarians, bryozoans, polychaetes, cirripeds, and tunicates), proposed as bioindicators in coastal shallow waters. Although their potential as bioindicator tools has been repeatedly highlighted in the literature, these organisms are still poorly investigated and considered for monitoring. In this context, we analyze the available literature about this topic, in order to summarize the current knowledg...
    Insects represent a valuable and sustainable alternative ingredient for aquafeed formulation. However, insect-based diets have often highlighted controversial results in different fish species, especially when high inclusion levels were... more
    Insects represent a valuable and sustainable alternative ingredient for aquafeed formulation. However, insect-based diets have often highlighted controversial results in different fish species, especially when high inclusion levels were used. Several studies have demonstrated that nutritional programming through parental feeding may allow the production of fish better adapted to use sub-optimal aquafeed ingredients. To date, this approach has never been explored on insect-based diets. In the present study, five experimental diets characterized by increasing fish meal substitution levels with full-fat Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens; BSF) prepupae meal (0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%) were used to investigate the effects of programming via broodstock nutrition on F1 zebrafish larvae development. The responses of offspring were assayed through biometric, gas chromatographic, histological, and molecular analyses. The results evidenced that the same BSF-based diets provided to adults w...
    Trace heavy metals Cd, Pb, and Cu were determined (by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry) in aerosol samples collected at Dome C (the Italo-French Station Concordia), a remote site of the Central East Antarctic plateau, for which no... more
    Trace heavy metals Cd, Pb, and Cu were determined (by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry) in aerosol samples collected at Dome C (the Italo-French Station Concordia), a remote site of the Central East Antarctic plateau, for which no data are available until now. During the Austral Summer 2005–2006, three PM10 high-volume impactors were installed in two locations nearby of Concordia station: the first one very close and downwind of the station (about 50 m north), the other two (very close to each other) in a ‘distant’ site, upwind of the station and close to the astrophysics tent (not used in that expedition) at ~800 m south of Station Concordia. For each sample, the availability of the mass of the aerosol collected (obtained by differential weighing carried out on site), in addition to the volume of the filtered air, allowed us to express results both in terms of metal mass fractions in the aerosol and in the usual way of metal atmospheric concentrations. Metal contents increa...

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