Tracciabilità delle provenienze e valorizzazione dei prodotti alimentari attraverso nuovi sistemi di caratterizzazione geochimica

In the 2009 in some experimental sites in Veneto (Vicenza and Treviso Provinces) has been collected 36 samples of soils in order to define, through XRF analysis, the content (wt%) of major elements (Si, Ti, Al, Fe, Mn, Mg, Ca, Na, K, P) and the concentration (ppm) of trace elements (Ba,Ce, Co, Cr, La, Nb, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sr, Th, V, Y, Zn, Zr, Cu, Ga, Nd, S, Sc). Moreover on 4 samples of grape juices, 4 samples of wines (cultivars Fiano, Verdicchio, Nero D’Avola e Refosco p.r.) and 2 samples of grapes (Nero D’Avola e Refosco p. r.) has been determined, using ICP-MS technique, the concentration of the most important trace elements (Li, Be, B, Na, Al, K, Rb, Ca, Sr, Ba, Mg, Mn, Fe, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Se, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sb, Te, Hg, Tl, Pb, Bi, U). These analysis has been useful to define quality of wines and grapes, typical ratios of every soils considered and to identify the geochemical fingerprint in an area where climatic differences are slightly important to influence the assimilation dynamics. In this work has been defined the relationship between soil matrix and wines through the comparison of the heavy metals concentration. Also for the purposes of food security, for both provinces concerned, were performed in gamma spectrometry analysis to determine the levels of natural radionuclides (U-238, Th-232 e K-40) and Cs-137. All venetian samples were compared with same samples coming from the plane of Marsala, an ideal area with regard to the monitoring of the climatic influence on an extreme environment (SIAS – Sicilian Agronomical and Meteorological Information Centre). In 2006, four properties belonging to an experimental vineyard were selected because of the similarities of their bio-agronomical factors (age of the vineyard and cultivation methods). They were cultivated respectively with Nero D’Avola, Refosco , Fiano and Verdicchio. Their soil samples together with the wines of 2006 have been collected and analysed at the Department of Earth Sciences. The following elements have been compared when analysing the soils and wines: the concentrations of alkaline elements (NA, K and Rb) and the alkaline earth ones (Mg, Sr and Ba). The relations among the transition metals (Fe, Mn, Co, Cr, Nb, Ni, Y, V, Zr, Zn e Cu) and the rare earth metals have been analysed, too. Refosco and Nero D’Avola assimilate the alkaline metals more than white wines. With regard to the alkaline earth metals the assimilation capacity is substantially the same. All wines have the same assimilation capacity of manganese, cobalt, chrome, nickel and yttrium. Nero D’Avola assimilates iron more than Fiano and Verdicchio while Fiano assimilates more vanadium and niobium, cerium and neodymium. The final result about comparison af two set of samples is that all sicilian samples assimilate more than venetian samples. 29 Honey samples have been collected and analysed by using ICP-MS with the support of CRA from all Italy. The botanical range taken into account has been as follows: acacia, chestnut tree, “millefiori”, lime tree, thistle, rosemary, tree of heaven and citrus tree. The honey from a chestnut tree was among all samples the one with the highest assimilation capacity of potassium, magnesium and calcium. Sodium assimilation had its highest rate at the coastal area of Sardinia where there are big marshy areas and currently active salt mines. The manganese clearly discriminates the honey from a chestnut tree and the sample from Lunigiana has an assimilation capacity higher than all other kinds of honey. The honey from “acacia” is the variety with the lowest assimilation capacity of metallic elements.A detailed study has been carried out on 4 honey samples supplied by a beekeeper from Campania. At the same time the soils close to the beehive have been analysed. In this area the following kinds of honey were found out: chestnut tree, eucalyptus, “millefiori” and orange tree. The chestnut tree together with the eucalyptus were proven to be the two varieties with the highest assimilation rate of potassium, rubidium and strontium. The honey of eucalyptus from the Cilento Coast close to Eboli has a good assimilation capacity of sodium. Honey as well as wine has been analysed with regard to the natural radioactivity. No particular anomalies were found, even for honey produced in the areas with high radioactive soils (samples from Campania). Concentrations of CS-137 over the average have been detected in two honey samples from northeast Italy.