My research activity is mainly focused on the
study and experimental characterization of environmental inorganic species (both stable and
radioactive) in connection with emission processes, transfer and
removal of air pollutants from the atmosphere, i.e. the biogeochemistry of atmospheric aerosol.
The need to combine environmental
surveys to technological and industrial development/evolution has
offered the opportunity for experimental investigations
addressed also to specific materials (train brakes) and / or processes / emission
sources (power plants), integrating environmental expertise to the
technological-productive processes. In addition to the experimental
characterization of atmospheric aerosols, the research includes the
extensive use of computational methods for the interpretation of
the data, with particular reference to the techniques of Source
apportionment: Chemical Mass Balance, Cluster Analysis, Principal
Component Analysis and Positive Matrix Factorization, Cluster analysis of
back-trajectories applied to experimental dataset owned by
the group (collab. NASA NIA, Virginia (USA); and Universidad Miguel
Hernández de Elche, Departamento de Física y Arquitectura de
Computadores, Spain). Presently vertical profiles of aerosol
related parameters are being investigated either with the aid of
stratospheric balloons (ESA-Bexus) or with UAV (Unmanned Aerial
Vehicle) designed by the dept. of Aerial engineering of Bologna
University (Prof F. Giulietti) and equipped with owned
instrumentation.
This area of research includes
characterization studies of the chemistry of precipitation,
atmospheric deposition to the ground and Biomonitoring by
lichens
Responsible for 12 years observations of aerosol properties at the WMO-GAW station of Mt. CIMONE (2173 m asl) in collaboration with ISAC-CNR, including airborne radiotracers
RADIOACTIVITY
Airborne gaseous and particle-reactive
radiotracers (210Pb, 7Be and radon) in the study of the
dynamics of air pollution at background (Monte Cimone and Terra
Nova Bay, Antarctica) and coastal sites
Radiochronology of recent depositional
environments used as archives environmental and atmospheric fluxes
of elements in peat bogs (Siberia), surface soil and marine
sediments
Artificial radioactivity: fallout from weapon
tests and Accidents (Chernobyl, and Fukushima Algeciras) -
induced radioactivity in colour gemstones through processes of
gemstone enhancement), nuclear medicine
Natural radioactivity: Radioactivity of rocks
radon - TENORM (Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring
Radioactive Materials): coal - production cycle of phosphate
fertilizers - ceramic materials - solid wastes: waste incinerator,
coal.
EQUIPMENT:
Measurements of radioactivity:
Alpha and gamma spectrometry with
semiconductor detectors( HPGe) and NaI (both in the laboratory and
in the field) - Measurements of radon (semiconductor ZnS (Ag),
electretes, passive methods) - Geiger-Muller
Environmental analysis:
Samplers of atmospheric particulate PM10 and
PM2.5 (Hydra Dual -FAI Instruments and Sioutas)
Cationic and anionic chromatography (Dionex
–Thermo: isocratic ICS90 and gradient ICS2000) (analyzed several
thousand samples of PM10 and PM2.5
Conductivity and pH probe
Ultrasonic bath
Scales
Optical Particle Counting (laser scattering )
with fixed instruments - Metone and portable - IST)
Blackcarbon with micro Aethalometer
(Magee)
Multielemental analysis by PIXE (Proton
Induced Xray Emission) facility at the INFN National Laboratories
of Legnaro (PD) - AN2000 accelerator.
Processing techniques and data reduction by
multivariate analysis - chemometrics (basic statistics, correlation
analysis, factor analysis for major components and biplot Gabriel,
Cluster analysis) - receptor models for source apportionment (PMF,
PCA, cluster backtrajectories)
The research covers two main areas: Atmospheric Chemistry
(chemical speciation of particulate and receptor modelling) and
Environmental radioactivity, sometimes with remarkable overlap.
Atmospheric aerosol is one of the air pollutants of
greatest interest and relevance. Not only it constitutes a risk to
the health of the population and a threat to the environment and to
cultural heritage, but, due to the efficient mechanisms of
transport and mixing in the atmosphere, it can transfer its
dangerous content over long distances, up to produce the so-called
transboundary pollution and even settle in remote regions of the
planet, such as, for example, the polar or Siberian (chemical
background of the planet). Atmospheric aerosol, consisting, as is
well known, of both natural and anthropogenic components has a
significant influence on the Earth's climate with components active
both in cooling and warming processes. Aerosols are characterized
at our lab on PM10, PM2.5. and size fractionated matrices through
gravimetry, ion chromatography and multielemental analysis with
PIXE (Proton Induced X-ray Spectrometry); recently chemical
characterization has included ICP-MS for further trace inorganic
analysis as well as the determination of carbon-related parameters
such as for example Organic and Elemental Carbon. The areas
investigated are the Po Valley, Antarctica and the background
station WMO-GAW of Monte Cimone, on the top of the Northern
Apennines. L. Tositti is responsible since 1997 of the
measures of airborne PM10 (fine atmospheric dust with a mean
aerodynamic diameter <10 µm) and 7Be and 210Pb used as powerful
atmospheric radiotracers. In particular, Be-7 and Pb210 data were
included in various European projects now completed, while recently
it has been the subject of an elaboration and a comparison with
their counterparts in China Mt. Walinguan ; presently they are
subject of further processing in collaboration with the Atmospheric
modelling group of NASA NIA and with other researchers of the
University of Elche (Spain). The importance of radiotracers, widely
applied outside Italy in atmospheric studies and climate, lies in
their little or no influence of anthropogenic emission on the same
processes; thus they can be used as analysis unambiguous tracers
(proxy) in dynamic simulation of stable chemicals of environmental
and climate interest
RESEARCH DETAILS
Study of inorganic species (both stable and radioactive) in
relation to processes of emission, transfer and removal from the
atmosphere (biogeochemical cycle of atmospheric aerosol).
Chemistry of atmospheric aerosol PM10, PM2.5 and
size-fractionated in urban environment (Bologna, Ferrara, Rimini,
western Liguria) and in remote sites (Mt.Cimone station, Siberia,
the Po Delta)
Aerosols in indoor tertiary environments
Aerosols emitted by train brakes
Aerosols in the air column from PBL to the stratosphere (ESA
project BEXUS 2014)
Radioactivity in the environment, in production cycles and
wastes
Radiotracers in the study of the dynamics of air pollution
at background (Monte Cimone and Terra Nova Bay, Antarctica)
Scientific Responsibilities as Principal Investigator in research projects
2017-ongoing: Compact low-cost multiprobes for atmospheric monitoring, including UAV and cultural heritage applications
2017-ongoing: Element speciation in airborne particulate matter through high energy methods (XAS, XPS, EXAFS- based on synchrotron application) Coll. with Marco Giorgetti, UNIBO Dept. Ind. Chemistry “Toso Montanari)
1996- to date: airborne radioactivity in the study of atmospheric circulation at the background WMO-GAW station “O. Vittori” (Northern Apennines, 2165 m a.s.l.): EU Projects VOTALP I, II), STACCATO in collab. with ISAC-CNR; more developments on the analysis of the collected dataset are still ongoing in collaboration with NASA/NIA and with the University of Elche, Spain) – Main focuses: Stratosphere-to- troposphere exchange, Saharan dust intrusions, PM10 source areas in the central Mediterranean basin (coll. Bonasoni e Cristofanelli ISAC-CNR)
2017-ongoing: Source apportionment of Airborne Particulate Matter in Val d’Agri oil field (Basilicata) (Formal Collaboration with Rosa Caggiano, IMAA-CNR, Tito Scalo (PZ))
2016-ongoing: New chemiluminescence and bioluminescence methods for the determination of airborne particulate matter toxicity via ROS production in collaboration with Stefano Girotti, Dept. Pharmacy and Biotechnology Univ. of Bologna
2016-2018: Impact of dust-laden African air masses and of stratospheric air masses in the Iberian Peninsula. Role of the Atlas mountains. Acrónimo: FRESA (MINISTERIO DE ECONOMIA Y COMPETITIVIDAD, Programa Estatal de I+D+i Orientada a los Retos de la Sociedad).
2015-ongoing: Chemical speciation and Source apportionment of airborne particulate matter in a highly impacted area in southern Apulia (funded, CTU Procura della Repubblica di Brindisi P r o c . N . 1 0 4 3 / 1 4 r . g . n . r . m o d 2 1 )
2015-ongoing: Atmospheric deposition of atmospheric pollutants as a function of an elevational gradient in the Terni district, central Italy (formal collaboration with D. Cappelletti Univ. Perugia, Dip. Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie)
2014-2016: Chemical speciation and Source apportionment of airborne particulate matter in an industrial district in inner Liguria (funded, CTU Procura della Repubblica di Savona, Procedimento Nr. 653/14 r.g.n.r. mod 21)
2014-2016: Chemical speciation and Source apportionment of airborne particulate matter in a highly impacted town in the Adriatic coast (funded, CTU Procura della Repubblica di Gorizia P r o c . N . 1213/13 R.N.R.I)
2014- ongoing: Geological and geochemical control on natural radioactivity and radon occurrence in the Euganean Hills district (Italy) (in coll. with the Dept. of Geosciences Univ. of Padua, funded)
2014-ongoing: Characterization of atmospheric aerosol profiles (from ground level up to 25 km) with stratospheric balloons (ESA Bexus-18 – Formal collaboration with CNRS/Univ. de Orléans)
2014: Radon in railway tunnel boring (funded, consultancy activity in favour of a private company)
2011: Assessment of indoor pollution levels in an office story building (consultancy activity in favour of Coop-Italia, funded)
2011: Follow up of the Fukushima atmospheric radioactive plume in Italy (follow up of Fukushima nuclear accident following the 2011 Tohoku earthquake)
2011-2013: Chemical speciation and Source apportionment of airborne particulate matter in a highly impacted town in the Ligurian coast (funded, CTU Procura della Repubblica di Savona Proc. N.2006/10/44 r.g.n.r)
2008-2010: Assessment of background levels of airborne particulate matter in the Po Delta area (funded, CTU Procura della Repubblica di Rovigo Proc. N. 4163/07)
2008-2010: MONITER, Monitoring of waste incinerators in Emilia Romagna Region (Responsible of the reserch unit on ion speciation for the whole project) (Regione Emilia Romagna, funded)
2008-2010: Natural radioactivity and radon potential in the Vulsini volcanic district
2007-2008: Levels of metal and non-metal elements in PM10 in the Ferrara Province (Progetto Obiettivo II, in coll. with ARPA-ER Environmental Protection Agency of Emilia Romagna, funded)
2008: Comparison of destructive (ICP-MS) and non-destructive (XRF, PIXE) methods in the determination of DL 155 elements in PM10 (Pb, As, Cd, Ni) (Progetto Polvere III, in coll. with ARPA-ER Environmental Protection Agency of Emilia Romagna, funded)
2007-2008: Physical and chemical characterization of airborne particulate emissions from train braking (Trenitalia, funded)
2007: Airborne particulate ion speciation (Fondazione CARISBO research contribution for research and instrumentation acquisition, awarded to L.Tositti )
2004-2006: SITECOS, Integrated study on the national territory for the characterization and control of the atmospheric pollutants”, PRIN 2004 project, MIUR, funded (chemical speciation of PM10 and PM2.5 in Bologna, Tositti local coordinator)
2004-2006: Chemical characterization of size-segregated aerosol in Bologna (Progetto Polvere II, in coll. with ARPA-ER Environmental Protection Agency of Emilia Romagna, Funded)
2002-2004: Atmospheric deposition of stable and radioactive pollutants in peat-bogs of central Siberia (coll. With the Physics Dept. of Bologna University, Tunguska cosmic body effects)
1984-1988: Atmospheric deposition of stable and radioactive pollutants in the Venice lagoon and recent radiochronological reconstruction by 210Pb dating
1986-1988: the distribution of radioactive pollution from Chernobyl accident in NE Italy
1985- 1988: Enhancement of natural radionuclides level in industrial processes: coal-fired power plants and phosphate-based fertilizers (from NORM to TENORM)
1989-2005: National Project of Research in Antarctica (funded): application of radiotracer methods to describe the biogeochemical cycle of atmospheric species in the Terra Nova Bay area (assessment of artificial radioactivity deposition in the Antarctic environment; radon and thoron ration in the study of the coastal circulation in the Ross Sea)
2005-2008: National Project of Research in Antarctica (funded): cycling of CO2 at the air/sea interface in the Ross Sea and climatic implications
2005- to date: National Project of Research in Antarctica (funded): Characterization of recent sediments in the Ross Sea with focus on biogenic components and links to Primary Production
