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Monitoring potentially toxic Ostreopsis cf. ovata along the italian coasts. Year 2023.

Working Programme ISPRA/ARPA: Ostreopsis cf. ovata blooms along the italian coasts. The presence of the potentially toxic dinoflagellate Ostreopsis ovata (Fukuyo) has been observed along the Italian coast since the ‘90s. From then, intense and recurrent blooms of this seaweed alga occurred in several locations of the Tyrrhenian Sea and Adriatic Sea. The presence of the microalgae O. ovata was detected in all the Italian coastal regions but Emilia-Romagna and Molise.

Environment in Italy: an overview. Environmental Data Yearbook 2023

Environment in Italy: an overview. Environmental Data Yearbook 2023 is a statistical report produced by the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research(ISPRA) in collaboration with the regional and autonomous province environmental protection agencies as part of the National System for Environmental Protection (SNPA).

Riverine floating macrolitter: the Italian national monitoring programme within the Marine Strategy

Most marine litter originates on land, disperses into the environment, and is transported via rivers into the seas. As part of the monitoring programs under the Marine Strategy Directive, which provides a framework for community action in marine environmental policy, an Operational Agreement between the Ministry of the Environment (MASE) and ISPRA included a monitoring program on floating macro-litter in 12 Italian rivers at survey stations near their mouths.

Methodology for the identification and classification of the ecological potential of heavily modified (HMWB) and artificial (AWB) water bodies for coastal and transitional waters

In the framework of the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC), this Guideline was developed by the National Working Group for the identification and classification of the ecological potential of heavily modified water bodies (HMWB) and artificial water bodies (AWB) for coastal and transitional waters.

Atlas of Environmental Data. 2023 edition

The Atlas of environmental data, a volume that ISPRA publishes for the first time, offers an overview of the main environmental data. It provides cartographic representations showing the spatial distribution of the main environmental information which, together with graphs, tables and texts, illustrate the state of the entire national territory.

Application of isotopic analysis for the proportioning of organic matter: study of an artificial reservoir

With the study of the stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen it is possible to quantify the contribution to the total organic substance deriving either from the natural transformation of the biotic component or from anthropic sources such as, for example, urban and/or industrial waste. Recent research has demonstrated the effectiveness of such investigations in the identification and evaluation of contributions to organic matter deriving from multiple sources, in fact the stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen show an isotopic composition characteristic of the source from which they originate.

The invasion of an alien jellyfish in an Italian touristic port

Alien species are animal and plant organisms introduced accidentally or intentionally by humans outside their origin area. Maritime traffic is one of the species’ pathways of introduction, therefore, studying the alien populations that invaded port environments can help to fill the knowledge gaps on their invasion routes and impacts on local biodiversity and ecosystems.

Methodological aspects for the application of bioassays included in the technical annex to the Environment Ministry Decree 173/16: protocol for the preparation of elutriate.

This booklet describes the methodological protocol to be used in the preparation of elutriates for the execution of bioassays on coastal marine sediments to be managed. The main aim is to minimize possible interference related to the techniques and methodologies used in the various public and private laboratories, as well as the need to comply with adequate chemical-physical conditions of the matrix to be tested that are closer to the field of application, in particular for those chronic/long term bioassays referred as "third type" in the Technical Annex of the Environment Ministry Decree 173/2016. 

Guidelines for Monitoring the environmental effects of the produced water discharge deriving from offshore hydrocarbons extraction"

Companies involved in offshore oil and gas production activities operating on the Italian continental shelf are required to carry out environmental monitoring in order to obtain information on the actual and potential environmental impacts of Produced Water (PW) discharged in the sea for the marine ecosystem. Such activities are regulated under D. Lgs. 152/2006 (art.104) and the guidelines are a result of an ISPRA advisory group appointed by the Environmental Ministry (now MITE).