Testing the effectiveness of phytoscreening to monitor shallow groundwater contamination by chlorinated ethenes

The research presented herein aims to investigate the strengths and weaknesses of a relatively new technique called phytoscreening. Parallel to the well-known phytoremediation, it consists of exploiting the absorbing potential of trees to delineate groundwater contamination plumes, especially for chlorinated ethenes (i.e., PCE, TCE, 1,2-cis DCE, and VC). The latter are prevalent contaminants in groundwater but their fate and transport in surface ecosystems, such as trees, are still poorly understood and subjected to high variability. Moreover, the analytical validity of tree-coring is still limited in many countries due to a lack of knowledge of its application opportunities. Tree-cores are extracted from trunks and generally analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. A systematic review of former literature on phytoscreening for chlorinated ethenes is presented in this PhD thesis to evaluate the factors influencing the effectiveness of the technique. Besides, we tested the technique by probing eight sites contaminated by chlorinated ethenes in Italy (Emilia-Romagna) in different hydrogeological and seasonal settings. We coupled the technique with the assessment of gaseous-phase concentrations directly on-site, inserting detector tubes or a photoionization detector in the tree-holes left by the coring tool. Finally, we applied rank order statistic analysis on field data along with literature data to assess under which conditions phytoscreening should be applied to either screen or monitor environmental contamination issues. A relatively high correlation exists between tree-core and groundwater concentrations (Spearman’s ρ > 0.6), being higher for compounds with higher sorption, for sites with shallower and thinner aquifers, and when sampling specific tree types with standardized sampling and extraction protocols. These results indicate the opportunities for assessing the occurrence, type, and concentration of solvents directly from the stem of trees. This can reduce the costs of characterization surveys, allowing rapid identification of hotspots and plume direction and thus optimizing the drilling of boreholes.

Landslide activity in contrasting land-cover settings constrained by multi-temporal inventorying

This doctoral thesis focuses on the study of historical shallow landslide activity over time in response to anthropogenic forcing on land use, through the compilation of multi-temporal landslide inventories. The study areas, located in contrasting settings and characterized by different history of land-cover changes, include the Sillaro River basin (Italy) and the Tsitika and Eve River basins (coastal British Columbia). The Sillaro River basin belongs to clay-dominated settings, characterized by extensive badland development, and dominated by earth slides and earthflows. Here, forest removal began in the Roman period and has been followed by agricultural land abandonment and natural revegetation in recent time. By contrast, the Tsitika-Eve River basins are characterized by granitic and basaltic lithologies, and dominated by debris slides, debris flows and debris avalanches. In this setting, anthropogenic impacts started in 1960’s and have involved logging operation. The thesis begins with an introductory chapter, followed by a methodological section, where a multi-temporal mapping approach is proposed and tested at four landslide sites of the Sillaro River basin. Results, in terms of inventory completeness in time and space, are compared against the existing region-wide Emilia-Romagna inventory. This approach is then applied at the Sillaro River basin scale, where the multi-temporal inventory obtained is used to investigate the landslide activity in relation to historical land cover changes across geologic domains and in relation to hydro-meteorological forcing. Then, the impact of timber harvesting and road construction on landslide activity and sediment transfer in the Tsitika-Eve River basins is investigated, with a focus on the controls that interactions between landscape morphometry and cutblock location may have on landslide size-frequency relations. The thesis ends with a summary of the main findings and discusses advantages and limitations associated with the compilation of multi-temporal inventories in the two settings during different periods of human-driven, land-cover dynamics.

Ecological responses of Western Palearctic avian species to late Quaternary climate oscillations

This PhD thesis explores the ecological responses of bird species to glacial-interglacial transitions during the late Quaternary in the Western Palearctic, using multiple approaches and at different scales, enhancing the importance of the bird fossil record and quantitative methods to elucidate biotic trends in relation to long-term climate changes. The taxonomic and taphonomic analyses of the avian fossil assemblages from four Italian Middle and Upper Pleistocene sedimentary successions (Grotta del Cavallo, Grotta di Fumane, Grotta di Castelcivita, and Grotta di Uluzzo C) allowed us to reconstruct local-scale patterns in birds’ response to climate changes. These bird assemblages are characterized by the presence of temperate species and by the occasional presence of cold-dwelling species during glacials, related to range shifts. These local patterns are supported by those identified at the continental scale. In this respect, I mapped the present-day and LGM climatic envelopes of species with different climatic requirements. The results show a substantial stability in the range of temperate species and pronounced changes in the range of cold-dwelling species, supported by their fossil records. Therefore, the responses to climate oscillations are highly related to the thermal niches of investigated species. I also clarified the dynamics of the presence of boreal and arctic bird species in Mediterranean Europe, due to southern range shifts, during the glacial phases. After a reassessment of the reliability of the existing fossil evidence, I show that this phenomenon is not as common as previously thought, with important implications for the paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental significance of the targeted species. I have also been able to explore the potential of multivariate and rarefaction methods in the analyses of avian fossils from Grotta del Cavallo. These approaches helped to delineate the main drivers of taphonomic damages and the dynamics of species diversity in relation to climate-driven paleoenvironmental changes.

Genes involved in germline regulative pathways in metazoa: an integrative approach to investigate a key feature of animal biology

In Metazoa, the germline represents the cell lineage devoted to transmission of genetic heredity across generations. Its functions intuitively evoke the crucial roles that it plays in the development of a new organism and in the evolution of the species. Germline establishment is tightly tied to animal multicellularity itself, in which the complex differentiation of cell lineages is favoured by the confinement of totipotency in specific cell populations. In the present thesis, I addressed the subject of germline characterization in animals through different approaches, in an attempt to cover different sides and scales. First, I investigated the extent and nature of shared differentially transcribed molecular factors in 10 different species germline-related lineages. I observed that newly evolved genes are less likely to be involved in germline-related mechanisms and that the mostly shared transcriptional signal across the species considered was the upregulation of genes associated to proper DNA replication, instead of the expected transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation, that apparently have a higher level of lineage-specificity. I then focused on the evolutionary history of Tudor domain containing proteins, a gene family that underwent germline-associated expansions in animals. Using data from 24 holozoan phyla, I could confirm the previously proposed evolution of the Tudor domain secondary structure. Also, I associated lineage-specific family reductions and expansions to peculiar genomic dynamics and to the evolution of germline-associated piRNA pathway of retrotransposon silencing. Lastly, I characterized and investigated the expression of the Tudor protein TDRD7 in the clam Ruditapes philippinarum. Through immunolocalization, I could compare its expression profiles in gametogenic specimens to the previously characterized germline marker vasa. Combining results with literature, I proposed that, in this species, TDRD7 is involved in the assembly of germ granules, i.e. cytoplasmic structures associated to germline differentiation in virtually all animals, but whose assemblers can be taxon specific.

Perceval tra epos e romanzo: genesi, ricezione e tradizioni testuali. Con edizione critica del Livre d‘Helias et Perceval

La tesi si propone di descrivere le diverse fasi storiche attraverso le quali si è evoluta la struttura narrativa del personaggio di Perceval nei primi due secoli della sua genesi nella letteratura romanza ed europea. Il personaggio ha avuto un notevole successo dal Medioevo di Chrétien of Troyes fino all'età moderna e contemporanea. Lo studio filologico dell'evoluzione del personaggio all'interno della galassia testuale e delle forme della sua tradizione permette di delineare un quadro composito, in cui è possibile rintracciare la genesi e lo sviluppo di importanti fenomeni storico-letterari, destinati a influenzare la letteratura europea e occidentale nel lungo periodo. Una seconda parte è invece dedicata allo studio della struttura letteraria e narrativa del personaggio rintracciabile all'interno della lettura delle differenti opere che tramandano le versioni della storia di Perceval. Infine, la ricerca si concentra su un caso di studio in grado di illuminare la persistenza delle strutture sopra individuate: le Prophecies de Merlin, romanzo arturiano della seconda metà del XIII secolo, sono infatti espressione delle modalità in cui la storia della vita di Perceval viene messa in scena in testi che non si concentrano direttamente sulla sua biografia. All'interno della tradizione delle Prophecies de Merlin, il profeta del regno arturiano di cui sono raccolte numerose profezie, il caso del Livre d'Helias et Perceval è emblematico. Il Livre d'Helias et Perceval delle Prophecies de Merlin, accompagnato da uno studio filologico che comprende un'edizione critica, uno studio completo della tradizione e un'analisi linguistica, si propone quindi come caso di studio ideale per analizzare la fortuna e l'evoluzione del personaggio di Perceval nel Medioevo romanzesco ed europeo.

Integración de sistemas para la documentación, gestión y puesta en valor del patrimonio arquitectónico: el parque arqueológico de las tumbas de la Vía Latina en Roma

En la civilización de la antigua Roma, tres de los aspectos más importantes de la vida cotidiana estaban vinculados a la arquitectura: las termas, los acueductos y las tumbas. Esta investigación propone el estudio de la integración de sistemas avanzados para la documentación, gestión y valorización del patrimonio arquitectónico funerario de la Vie Latina y la Appia Antica, en estrecha relación con el tema del Paisaje Cultural. De hecho, el Parque de las Tumbas Latinas alberga uno de los complejos funerarios más importantes, que en la actualidad conserva el aspecto tradicional del antiguo paisaje romano. A lo largo de una vía empedrada, como todas las vías consulares, la Vía Latina (al igual que la Vía Appia Antica), que, como recordaba Tito Livio, conectaba en su día las ciudades de Roma con Capua, sigue manteniendo "congelado" el antiguo trazado urbano/paisajístico. El sistema multiforme del Ager Romanus y del sitio cultural Via Latina/Appia Antica estudiado en esta investigación es, por tanto, comparable a una estructura viva y dinámica y, como tal, debe ser analizada. Por lo tanto, para diseñar una herramienta de protección y gestión tan "potente" y adecuada para un sitio histórico de enorme importancia, fue necesario utilizar las técnicas de levantamiento arquitectónico más avanzadas que se utilizan actualmente (como el escaneo láser y la fotogrametría, junto con un software de análisis específico), acompañadas de un estudio en profundidad de las técnicas de construcción antiguas. El último aspecto clave que pretende abordar la investigación es la catalogación. De hecho, los sitios y monumentos históricos no se pueden mantener sólo mediante su uso y utilización pasiva, sino activando todas las operaciones de protección y conservación mediante intervenciones directas (mantenimiento/restauración) e indirectas, como la catalogación constante de las obras históricas y la consiguiente "catalogación dinámica".

Monitoring of Mediterranean marine benthic biodiversity through novel, standardized, and integrated approaches

Marine healthy ecosystems support life on Earth and human well-being thanks to their biodiversity, which is proven to decline mainly due to anthropogenic stressors. Monitoring how marine biodiversity changes trough space and time is needed to properly define and enroll effective actions towards habitat conservation and preservation. This is particularly needed in those areas that are very rich in species compared to their low surface extension and are characterized by strong anthropic pressures, such as the Mediterranean Sea. Subtidal rocky benthic Mediterranean habitats have a complex structural architecture, hosting a panoply of tiny organisms (cryptofauna) that inhabit crevices and caves, but that are still unknown. Different artificial standardized sampling structures (SSS) and methods have been developed and employed to characterize the cryptofauna, allowing for data replicability and comparability across regions. Organisms growing on these artificial structures can be identified coupling morphological taxonomy and DNA barcoding and metabarcoding. The metabarcoding allows for the identification of organisms in a bulk sample without morphological analysis, and it is based on comparing the genetic similarities of the assessed organisms with barcoding sequences present in online barcoding repositories. Nevertheless, barcoded species nowadays represent only a small portion of known species, and barcoding reference databases are not always curated and updated on a regular basis. In this Thesis I used an integrative approach to characterize benthic marine biodiversity, specifically coupling morphological and molecular techniques with the employment of SSS. Moreover, I upgraded the actual status of COI (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I) barcoding of marine metazoans, and I built a customized COI barcoding reference database for metabarcoding studies on temperate biogenic reefs. This work implemented the knowledge about diversity of Mediterranean marine communities, laying the groundworks for monitoring marine and environmental changes that will occur in the next future as consequences of anthropic and climate threats.

A multidisciplinary approach to the study of protein dynamics and signal transmission

Allostery is a phenomenon of fundamental importance in biology, allowing regulation of function and dynamic adaptability of enzymes and proteins. Despite the allosteric effect was first observed more than a century ago allostery remains a biophysical enigma, defined as the “second secret of life”. The challenge is mainly associated to the rather complex nature of the allosteric mechanisms, which manifests itself as the alteration of the biological function of a protein/enzyme (e.g. ligand/substrate binding at the active site) by binding of “other object” (“allos stereos” in Greek) at a site distant (> 1 nanometer) from the active site, namely the effector site. Thus, at the heart of allostery there is signal propagation from the effector to the active site through a dense protein matrix, with a fundamental challenge being represented by the elucidation of the physico-chemical interactions between amino acid residues allowing communicatio n between the two binding sites, i.e. the “allosteric pathways”. Here, we propose a multidisciplinary approach based on a combination of computational chemistry, involving molecular dynamics simulations of protein motions, (bio)physical analysis of allosteric systems, including multiple sequence alignments of known allosteric systems, and mathematical tools based on graph theory and machine learning that can greatly help understanding the complexity of dynamical interactions involved in the different allosteric systems. The project aims at developing robust and fast tools to identify unknown allosteric pathways. The characterization and predictions of such allosteric spots could elucidate and fully exploit the power of allosteric modulation in enzymes and DNA-protein complexes, with great potential applications in enzyme engineering and drug discovery.

Valutazione cinematica complessiva, in vivo e sotto carico, di un modello protesico di caviglia a 3 componenti.

Nonostante le importanti ricadute che gli impianti protesici di caviglia hanno nella qualità della vita dei pazienti che si sottopongono ad intervento di sostituzione articolare, le reali proprietà biomeccaniche e cinematiche in-vivo e sotto carico degli impianti protesici sono state scarsamente studiate e descritte in letteratura. Lo scopo di questa trattazione è quella di valutare la cinematica protesica complessiva, in vivo, attraverso l’utilizzo dell’Analisi Radiostereometrica model-based (MB-RSA) e di ulteriori metodiche clinico-strumentali. La valutazione cinematica è stata permessa dall’analisi della posizione degli impianti attraverso la MB-RSA. Tra gli obiettivi secondari, i pazienti sono stati valutati clinicamente mediante AOFAS Ankle-Hindfoot score e SF-36, mediante full-body gait analysis con sensori inerziali e valutazione posturale-stabilometrica mediante Y Balance Test e workstation dedicata Delos DPPS. I pazienti sottoposti ad iter completo con valutazione clinica e strumentale a fine follow-up sono risultati 18 (2 drop-out). Il ROM complessivo a catena cinetica chiusa ha evidenziato una dorsi-plantarflessione complessiva media di 19.84°. Gli score clinici hanno mostrato tutti un netto miglioramento nel post-operatorio. La gait analysis ha evidenziato uno schema del passo composto dai tre principali spike e compatibile con schemi fisiologici. Dal punto di vista cinematico, i risultati angolari MB-RSA ricavati durante questo lavoro di tesi evidenziano tutti e 6 i gradi di libertà, dato coerente con la mobilità di una caviglia nativa. Valori di articolarità differenti sono stati registrati mediante sensori inerziali. Infine, in una valutazione cinematica complessiva, le possibili implicazioni sul bilanciamento posturale e propriocettivo presente nelle caviglie artrosiche e successivamente sottoposte a sostituzione protesica totale sono ampiamente descritte e discusse. I dati raccolti in questo lavoro di tesi rappresentano il risultato di una valutazione cinematica complessiva, e potranno aiutare a definire una tipologia di soggetto artrosico in cui i risultati siano verosimilmente migliori ed eventualmente a migliorare design e strumentari futuri.

Development of a Whole-Genome Sequencing (WGS) approach for the characterization of Legionella environmental isolates in water systems

Legionella is a Gram-negative bacterium that represent a public health issue, with heavy social and economic impact. Therefore, it is mandatory to provide a proper environmental surveillance and risk assessment plan to perform Legionella control in water distribution systems in hospital and community buildings. The thesis joins several methodologies in a unique workflow applied for the identification of non-pneumophila Legionella species (n-pL), starting from standard methods as culture and gene sequencing (mip and rpoB), and passing through innovative approaches as MALDI-TOF MS technique and whole genome sequencing (WGS). The results obtained, were compared to identify the Legionella isolates, and lead to four presumptive novel Legionella species identification. One of these four new isolates was characterized and recognized at taxonomy level with the name of Legionella bononiensis (the 64th Legionella species). The workflow applied in this thesis, help to increase the knowledge of Legionella environmental species, improving the description of the environment itself and the events that promote the growth of Legionella in their ecological niche. The correct identification and characterization of the isolates permit to prevent their spread in man-made environment and contain the occurrence of cases, clusters, or outbreaks. Therefore, the experimental work undertaken, could support the preventive measures during environmental and clinical surveillance, improving the study of species often underestimated or still unknown.

Per conoscere il teatro delle persone con disabilita visive: documenti, studi, sperimentazioni, laboratori, interviste.

Attraverso questa tesi, si intente centrare l'attenzione del mondo accademico e di quello teatrale sugli apporti delle pratiche performative al posizionamento sociale e la qualità della vita delle persone cieche e ipovedenti. Questa tesi tenta di fornire strumenti che avvicinino le persone con disabilità visive alla pratica delle attività teatrali basate su teorie scientifiche. Innanzitutto, a questo fine, ho reperito, sintetizzato e messo in reciproca relazione contributi di taglio psicologico, fisiologico e sociologico. Da questo lavoro esplorativo è risultato un quadro compressivo delle condizioni psicofisiche delle persone con disabilità visive. I loro aspetti psicologici presentano disturbi depressivi, ansie, problematiche circa la concezione di sé e l’autostima, rischi di suicidio, mentre quelli fisici includono stabilità posturale, coordinamento bilaterale e diverse forme di attività. A questi elementi vanno inoltre associati controllo dell'espressione, socialità e memoria. Combinando questi insiemi di caratteristiche alle possibilità e alle dinamiche del laboratorio teatrale, si sono quindi elaborate, progettate e sperimentate diverse serie di esercizi teatrali per non vedenti e ipovedenti. Tuttavia, a causa degli impedimenti oggettivi causati dalla pandemia del Covid, questa parte sperimentale della ricerca è in gran parte restata allo stato embrionale. Infine, sono stati documentati con descrizioni e interviste due laboratori teatrali per non vedenti rappresentativi della realtà italiana. A questi ho aggiunto riferimenti su iniziative e istituzioni di carattere teatrale: New Life, Teatro Ciego, XINMU Laboratorio teatrale, EXTANT, Theater Breaking, CRE Outreach. Si spera che, attraverso questo ricerca, non solo le persone con disabilità visive si famigliarizzino con le risorse offerte dalle pratiche formative, ma anche gli studiosi interessati possano sinteticamente accedere ad una complessiva e preliminare delle attività teatrali per i non vedenti, contribuendo, così, allo sviluppo sistematico della ricerca in questo campo.

Multi-scale analysis of active landslides using two-pass differential interferometry

Landslides are common features of the landscape of the north-central Apennine mountain range and cause frequent damage to human facilities and infrastructure. Most of these landslides move periodically with moderate velocities and, only after particular rainfall events, some accelerate abruptly. Synthetic aperture radar interferometry (InSAR) provides a particularly convenient method for studying deforming slopes. We use standard two-pass interferometry, taking advantage of the short revisit time of the Sentinel-1 satellites. In this paper we present the results of the InSAR analysis developed on several study areas in central and Northern Italian Apennines. The aims of the work described within the articles contained in this paper, concern: i) the potential of the standard two-pass interferometric technique for the recognition of active landslides; ii) the exploration of the potential related to the displacement time series resulting from a two-pass multiple time-scale InSAR analysis; iii) the evaluation of the possibility of making comparisons with climate forcing for cognitive and risk assessment purposes. Our analysis successfully identified more than 400 InSAR deformation signals (IDS) in the different study areas corresponding to active slope movements. The comparison between IDSs and thematic maps allowed us to identify the main characteristics of the slopes most prone to landslides. The analysis of displacement time series derived from monthly interferometric stacks or single 6-day interferograms allowed the establishment of landslide activity thresholds. This information, combined with the displacement time series, allowed the relationship between ground deformation and climate forcing to be successfully investigated. The InSAR data also gave access to the possibility of validating geographical warning systems and comparing the activity state of landslides with triggering probability thresholds.

Early-stage deformation localisation in thrust systems: new perspectives from carbonates in the Italian Southern Alps and Oman Mountains

This thesis investigates mechanisms and boundary conditions that steer the early localisation of deformation and strain in carbonate multilayers involved in thrust systems, under shallow and mid-crustal conditions. Much is already understood about deformation localisation, but some key points remain loosely constrained. They encompass i) the understanding of which structural domains can preserve evidence of early stages of tectonic shortening, ii) the recognition of which mechanisms assist deformation during these stages and iii) the identification of parameters that actually steer the beginning of localisation. To clarify these points, the thesis presents the results of an integrated, multiscale and multi-technique structural study that relied on field and laboratory data to analyse the structural, architectural, mineralogical and geochemical features that govern deformation during compressional tectonics. By focusing on two case studies, the Eastern Southern Alps (northern Italy), where deformation is mainly brittle, and the Oman Mountains (northeastern Oman), where ductile deformation dominates, the thesis shows that the deformation localisation is steered by several mechanisms that mutually interact at different stages during compression. At shallow crustal conditions, derived conceptual and numerical models show that both inherited (e.g., stratigraphic) and acquired (e.g., structural) features play a key role in steering deformation and differentiating the seismic behaviour of the multilayer succession. At the same time, at deeper crustal conditions, strain localises in narrow domains in which fluids, temperature, shear strain and pressure act together during the development of the internal fabric and the chemical composition of mylonitic shear zones, in which localisation took place under high-pressure (HP) and low-temperature (LT) conditions. In particular, results indicate that those shear zones acted as “sheltering structural capsules” in which peculiar processes can happen and where the results of these processes can be successively preserved even over hundreds of millions of years.

Beyond pollinator reward: steps forward and knowledge gaps on the role of floral nectar in plant-animal interactions.

The work done within the framework of my PhD project has been carried out between November 2019 and January 2023 at the Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences of the University of Bologna, under the supervision of Prof. Marta Galloni and PhD Gherardo Bogo. A period of three months was spent at the Natural History Museum of Rijeka, under the supervision of Prof. Boštjan Surina. The main aim of the thesis was to investigate further the so-called pollinator manipulation hypothesis, which states that when a floral visitor gets in contact with a specific nectar chemistry, the latter affects its behavior of visit on flowers, with potential repercussions on the plant reproductive fitness. To the purpose, the topic was tackled by means of three main approaches: field studies, laboratory assessments, and bibliographic reviews. This research project contributes to two main aspects. First, when insects encounter nectar-like concentrations of a plethora of secondary metabolites in their food-environment, various aspects of their behavior relevant to flower visitation can be affected. In addition, the results I gained confirm that the combination of field studies and laboratory assessments allows to get more realistic pictures of a given phenomenon than the single approaches. Second, reviewing the existent literature in the field of nectar ecology has highlighted how crucial is to establish the origin of nectar biogenic amines to either confirm or reject the multiple speculations made on the role of nectar microbes in shaping plant-animal interactions.

Contaminants of emerging concern in drinking water: assessment of the effectiveness of removal by drinking water treatments and possible risks to human health

Contaminants of emerging concern are increasingly detected in the water cycle, with endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) receiving attention due to their potential to cause adverse health effects even at low concentrations. Although the EU has recently introduced some EDCs into drinking water legislation, most drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) are not designed to remove EDCs, making their detection and removal in DWTPs an important challenge. The aim of this doctoral project was to investigate hormones and phenolic compounds as suspected EDCs in drinking waters across the Romagna area (Italy). The main objectives were to assess the occurrence of considered contaminants in source and drinking water from three DWTPs, characterize the effectiveness of removal by different water treatment processes, and evaluate the potential biological impact on drinking water and human health. Specifically, a complementary approach of target chemical analysis and effect-based methods was adopted to explore drinking water quality, treatment efficacy, and biological potential. This study found that nonylphenol (NP) was prevalent in all samples, followed by BPA. Sporadic contamination of hormones was found only in source waters. Although the measured EDC concentrations in drinking water did not exceed threshold guideline values, the potential role of DWTPs as an additional source of EDC contamination should be considered. Significant increases in BPA and NP levels were observed during water treatment steps, which were also reflected in estrogenic and mutagenic responses in water samples after the ultrafiltration. This highlights the need to monitor water quality during various treatment processes to improve the efficiency of DWTPs. Biological assessments on finished water did not reveal any bioactivity, except for few treated water samples that exhibited estrogenic responses. Overall, the data emphasize the high quality of produced drinking water and the value of applying integrated chemical analysis and in vitro bioassays for water quality assessment.