Lilla Spagnuolo

The Aegean arc represents the most prominent salient in the Mediterranean region and is characterized by large vertical-axis rotations along its limbs. Paleomagnetic studies along its western limb indicate that the external Ionian and Kruja zones of the Albano-Hellenides experienced ~40° of clockwise (CW) rotation relative to Africa/Adria, yet the timing of this rotation remains controversial. Previous interpretations have proposed either two (Miocene and Plio–Pleistocene) rotation episodes, or a single post mid-Miocene rotation accelerating along time. These uncertainties partly reflect the contribution of local thrust tectonics and/or strike-slip faults biasing the regional rotational trend. We present new paleomagnetic data from 41 sites located in the virtually continuous Eocene-Early Pliocene sedimentary succession of the Tragjasi thrust sheet (Ionian zone, SW Albania). Sampled layers lie on the backlimb of a 50 km-long anticline subparallel to the regional orogenic trend and located away from major strike-slip faults. Eocene to early Early Pliocene sediments consistently record a 35°±9° CW rotation, demonstrating that rotation in the external Albanides began not earlier than the late Early Pliocene (~4 Ma). Such new timing constraints were integrated into a quantitative kinematic reconstruction of the Aegean orocline over the last 20 Myr, developed in GPlates by combining paleomagnetic rotations with published kinematic models of the Peloponnese–Aegean domain. The reconstruction further integrates geophysical constraints on slab geometry and the amount of subducted oceanic lithosphere, allowing us to propose an updated kinematic evolution of the Aegean orocline. Our results show that the post-Messinian tectonic evolution was characterized by synchronous CW rotation of the Albano-Hellenides and the Peloponnese, accompanied by a marked acceleration of subduction rates. We interpret this kinematic reorganization as due to multiple geodynamic processes, including (i) enhanced slab pull driven by the subduction of ~150 km of negatively buoyant Ionian (Neo-Tethys) oceanic lithosphere, (ii) mechanical coupling across the Kefalonia-Lefkada Fault, (iii) westward propagation of the North Anatolian Fault into the Aegean region, and (iv) the progressive development of a slab tear beneath the southern Dinarides. Together, these results highlight the tight coupling between slab dynamics and oroclinal bending in the late Cenozoic evolution of the Aegean orocline.

The shallow and deep water sediments and fossils of Tuscany have been studied for centuries, but uncertainties still exist regarding the chronostratigraphy and the tectonic regime controlling the basin development. In an overall extensional tectonic regime, related to the opening of the Tyrrhenian Sea, Neogene-Quaternary Tuscan basins have been interpreted either as bowl-shaped basins evolving into graben bounded by normal faults, or as thrust-top basins (broken foreland basins). To better understand the dynamics of Tuscan basin infill, we present an integrated stratigraphic study of a succession exposed at the Belvedere waste facility near Legoli (municipality of Peccioli, Pisa, Italy), in the Valdera-Volterra basin (VVB). The section consists of clays and sandy clays interrupted by two sandy intervals and topped by a mainly sandy succession. We reconstruct depositional dynamics through sedimentary facies analysis and palaeoecology, and we use biostratigraphy and palaeomagnetism for chronostratigraphic assignment of the succession. The bio-magnetostratigraphic data indicate that the section falls at the Zanclean/Piacenzian transition, encompassing the Gilbert reversed chron (C2Ar) to the Gauss (C2An.3n) normal chron transition dated 3.6 Ma. Our study constrains the sedimentary infill of the VVB at Legoli between the latter part of the Zanclean and the early Piacenzian, at the onset of the first signs of a Northern Hemisphere glaciation. The section shows a shallow tilting towards the WNW, tilting that decreases towards the top of the section, pointing to tectonic control on deposition at a time of increased sediment accommodation due to basin subsidence. Our results indicate that this sector of the VVB, interpreted as a thrust-top basin under a crustal shortening acme during the Messinian, underwent tectonic subsidence controlled by normal faults during the Piacenzian.

Brake dust (BD) generated by vehicle braking systems, including those of cars and trains, contains various Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) that may pose risks to human health and the environment, particularly in soils where it accumulates. This study aims to evaluate differences in the chemical composition of BD emitted by road and railway transport, to analyze its deposition mechanisms in soil, and to estimate the associated carcinogenic (CR) and non-carcinogenic (HQ) risks from ingestion and dermal exposure. Two sites were selected: one adjacent to a busy roadway and the other near a railway line. At both locations, soil-sampling transects were established perpendicular to the emission sources at distances of 3, 6, 15, 25, and 45 m. Elemental concentration analyses were integrated with magnetic measurements, which are selective for magnetic iron oxide particles. The results confirm elevated concentrations of several metals at both sites. Both elemental and magnetic data reveal a clear deposition gradient, with the highest accumulation within 15 m of the source, followed by a gradual stabilization up to 45 m. However, the railway site exhibited significantly higher concentrations than the road site, highlighting the relevance of non-exhaust emissions (NEEs) from railway traffic, which remain poorly investigated. While HQ was non-significant, CR associated with Pb-, Ni-, and As-rich BD exceeded acceptable threshold values, particularly for ingestion exposure at the railway site. These results highlight the significance of NEEs from rail traffic in terms of soil contamination and risk assessment.

Here we investigate the suitability of Robinia pseudoacacia L. (black locust) leaflets as a novel biomonitor of airborne microplastics (MPs) including tyre wear particles (TWPs). Leaflets were collected from rural roadside locations (ROs, n = 5) and urban parks (UPs, n = 5) in Siena, Italy. MPs were removed by washing, identified by stereomicroscope, and analysed for polymer type by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Daily MP deposition was estimated from leaf area. The mass magnetic susceptibility and the bioaccumulation of traffic-related potentially toxic elements (PTEs) were also analysed. The total number of MPs at ROs was significantly higher at 2962, dominated by TWPs, compared with 193 in UPs, where TWPs were not found. In contrast, total microfibres were significantly higher in UPs compared with ROs (185 vs. 86). Daily MP deposition was estimated to range from 4.2 to 5.1 MPs/m²/d across UPs and 29.9–457.6 MPs/m²/d across ROs. The polymer types at ROs were dominated by rubber (80%) from TWPs, followed by 15% polyamide (PA) and 5% polysulfone (PES), while in UPs the proportion of PES (44%) was higher than PA (22%) and polyacrylonitrile (11%). The mean mass magnetic susceptibility, a proxy of the bioaccumulation of traffic-related metallic particles, was higher at ROs (0.62 ± 0.01 10^–8 m³/kg) than at UPs (–0.50 ± 0.03 10^–8 m³/kg). The content of PTEs was similar across sites, except for significantly higher concentrations of Sb, a tracer of vehicle brake wear, at ROs (0.308 ± 0.008 µg/g) compared with UPs (0.054 ± 0.006 µg/g). Our results suggest that the waxy leaflets and easy determination of surface area make Robinia an effective biomonitor for airborne MPs including TWPs.