Andreas M. Zissimos

• PhD
• Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment

The use of gas-liquid chromatographic (GLC) retention data to obtain sets of solute descriptors is outlined, with reference to the schemes of Laffort and of Weckwerth. The method of Snyder and Dolan to obtain a set of solute descriptors from reverse phase high performance chromatographic (RP-HPLC) measurements is described. The work of Abraham on t...

The soil geochemical atlas of Cyprus is a recent addition to the series of national to continental-scale geochemical mapping programmes implemented over the last two decades for environmental and resource applications. The study has been conducted at the high sampling density of 1 site per 1km(2), with multi-element and multi-method analysis perfor...

The city of Lefkosia (Nicosia) on the Mesaoria Plain of Cyprus has been populated since the Bronze Age. A detailed survey of the city and surrounding suburban area has been undertaken to assess the relationship between land use, geology and soil geochemistry. In total, 441 soil samples were collected from 10 to 20 cm depth and analysed by ICP-MS fo...

The origin and distribution of hexavalent chromium, Cr (VI) over four seasonal cycles was investigated through a conceptual model that included three aquifer systems in Cyprus. An extensive water sampling grid covered two sea water intruded coastal aquifers, namely the Kokkinochoria (A1) and Kiti-Pervolia (A2) aquifers and the Troodos massif (A3)....

Partition coefficients for a set of drug compounds have been measured in four solvent–water systems, with octanol, chloroform, cyclohexane and toluene as solvents. The data have been used to test four different methods for the calculation of the three Abraham descriptors, dipolarity/polarizability S, hydrogen bond acidity A, and hydrogen bond basic...

About a century ago, B was recognised as an essential element for the normal growth of plants and terrestrial organisms. Limitations for plant development have been recognised in agricultural systems, particularly in highly weathered soil. Boron is rarely analysed in whole rock or soil analysis, as it requires specific analytical techniques. It is...

The present study aims to investigate the efficiency of the electrocoagulation (EC) process on the removal of heavy metals from real acid mine drainage (AMD) samples derived from the abandoned open-cast of North Mathiatis mine (Nicosia, Cyprus). EC process was applied with the use of aluminum electrodes in 0.5 L reactors and the removal ability of...

Agricultural soil (Ap-horizon, 0–20 cm) samples were collected from 33 European countries as part of the GEMAS (GEochemical Mapping of Agricultural and grazing land Soil) soilmapping project. The Mg data derived from total concentrations (XRF) and two acid digestion methods, aqua regia (AR) and Mobile Metal Ion (MMI®), were used to provide an overv...

Cr(VI) is known to induce hormesis in plants. Nevertheless, its effects on the quality of agricultural produce are poorly studied. In the present study, tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plants were exposed to incremental Cr(VI) concentrations through irrigation with water containing K2Cr2O7 in escalating concentrations (0.05, 0.5, 1, 5 and 10 mg L-...

The different types of land-use and soil lithology in urban and peri-urban areas of modern cities compose a complex mosaic of soil ecosystems. It is largely unknown how these differences result in changes in bacterial community composition and structure as well as in functional guilds involved in N cycling. To investigate the bacterial composition...

Agricultural soil (Ap-horizon, 0–20 cm) samples were collected from 33 European countries as part of the GEMAS (GEochemical Mapping of Agricultural and grazing land Soil) soilmapping project. The Mg data derived from total concentrations (XRF) and two acid digestion methods, aqua regia (AR) and Mobile Metal Ion (MMI® ), were used to provide an over...

Extensive areas of arable land have been abandoned in many countries around the world, especially in the Mediterranean region. The overall goal of this study is to assess the effects of agricultural land abandonment on soil organic carbon (SOC) concentrations and stocks in a Mediterranean mountain environment. The specific objectives are (i) to qua...

Plants exposed to toxic Cr(VI) concentrations show reduced biomass production and yield. The present study examined (1) the impacts of increasing Cr(VI) exposure (0.05, 0.5, 1, 5 and 10 mg L-1 K2Cr2O7 in irrigation water) on the growth and development, yield, and stress physiology of two important crop species, such as wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)...

This study extends the program of urban soil geochemical mapping in Cyprus to Lemesos, the country's second largest and fastest developing urban centre. Data from 411 soil samples are combined with samples previously analysed as part of the detailed soil geochemical atlas of Cyprus (GAC). Parent lithology is the dominant control on the distribution...

Abandoned mining areas have left a legacy of environmental damage with potential public health implications. The present study aimed at (1) assessing the level of contamination of the sites surrounding the Agrokipia abandoned copper mine in Cyprus through the mobilization of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), (2) correlating results with the minera...

Regional geochemical mapping programs are predominantly based on regolith materials as the sampling media. The use of plant organs has been more limited, despite potential advantages demonstrated in more localised studies that have examined biogeochemical responses to various types of mineralisation or contamination, or sought to identify species w...

Chromium has been proven to be extremely phytotoxic. This study explored the impacts of increasing Cr(VI) exposure (up to 10 mg L-1 K2Cr2O7) in the growth and development of alfalfa plants and adaptation responses employed, in an environmentally relevant context. The threshold concentration of K2Cr2O7 in irrigation water beyond which stress respons...

The demand for ‘high-tech’ element resources (e.g., rare earth elements, lithium, platinum group elements) has increased with their continued consumption in developed countries and the emergence of developing economies. To provide a sound knowledge base for future generations, it is necessary to identify the spatial distribution of critical element...

The present study describes the Pliocene paleoenvironmental evolution and the main paleoclimatic trends of Cyprus Island (southeastern Mediterranean) reconstructed using planktonic foraminifera. The Essovouyes-Exovouyes section, which is located on the boundary of Messaoria basin in the north and Larnaka basin in the south, corresponds to a continu...

The origin and distribution of hexavalent chromium, Cr (VI) over four seasonal cycles was investigated through a conceptual model that included three aquifer systems in Cyprus. An extensive water sampling grid covered two sea water intruded coastal aquifers, namely the Kokkinochoria (A1) and Kiti-Pervolia (A2) aquifers and the Troodos massif (A3)....

This study examines the spatial distribution of soil inorganic carbon (SIC) and soil organic carbon (SOC) in samples from over 3200 sites across Cyprus, collected as part of the Geochemical Atlas of Cyprus project. The concentration of SIC is largely controlled by underlying lithology, with distinct variations between the main geological terranes,...

The GEMAS (geochemical mapping of agricultural soil) project collected 2108 Ap horizon soil samples from regularly ploughed fields in 33 European countries, covering 5.6 million km2. The <2 mm fraction of these samples was analysed for 53 elements by ICP-MS and ICP-AES, following a HNO3/HCl/H2O (modified aqua regia) digestion. Results are used here...

AGU Fall Meeting, New Orleans 11-15 December 2017

We have assembled infinite dilution activity coefficients in water at 298 K for 661 varied compounds. For 655 of these compounds we were able to construct a multiple linear regression equation using Abraham descriptors with a standard deviation of 0.29 log units in log γ∞. Unlike methods such as ASOG or UNIFAC, our equation does not rely on functio...

Over 4000 agricultural and grazing land soil samples were collected for the “Geochemical Mapping of Agricultural and Grazing Land Soil of Europe” (GEMAS) project carried out by the EuroGeoSurveys Geochemistry Expert Group. The samples were collected in 33 European countries, covering 5.6 million km2 at a density of 1 sample site per 2500 km2. All s...

Agricultural soil (Ap-horizon, 0–20 cm) and grazing land soil (Gr-horizon, 0–10 cm) samples were collected from a large part of Europe (33 countries, 5.6 million km2) as part of the GEMAS (GEochemical Mapping of Agricultural and grazing land Soil) soil mapping project. GEMAS soil data have been used to provide a general view of element mobility and...

Purpose – Radon is responsible for approximately 50 per cent of public exposure to environmental radiation. The purpose of this paper is to quantitatively assess indoor radon levels in Cyprus. Design/methodology/approach – In total, 500 passive radon detectors were used to estimate radon levels in the areas of Nicosia (capital), Paphos, Nisou and...

Rare earth elements (REEs) are used as indicators or proxies for a range of geological and mineralogical processes due to their unique geochemical characteristics. Total and aqua regia- extractable concentrations of REEs and 57 other elements have been determined for 5,350 soil samples as part of the high sampling density Geochemical Atlas of Cypru...

Partial least squares regression (PLSR) models, using mid-infrared (MIR) diffuse reflectance Fourier transformed (DRIFT) spectra, were used to predict distribution coefficient (Kd) values for selected added soluble metal cations (Ag+, Co2+, Cu2+, Mn2+, Ni2+, Pb2+, Sn4+, and Zn2+) in 4813 soils of the Geochemical Mapping of Agricultural Soils (GEMAS...

Two thousand one hundred and eight agricultural soils (0–20 cm depth) collected at a density of one sample per 2500 km2 under the auspices of the Geochemical Mapping of Agricultural Soils (GEMAS) project over most of the European continent have been analysed using the Mobile Metal Ion (MMI®) partial extraction technique with ICP-MS finish. For a nu...

Partial least squares regression (PLSR) models, using mid-infrared (MIR) diffuse reflectance Fourier-transformed (DRIFT) spectra, were used to predict distribution coefficient (Kd) values for selected added soluble metal cations (Agþ, Co2þ, Cu2þ, Mn2þ, Ni2þ, Pb2þ, Sn4þ, and Zn2þ) in 4813 soils of the Geochemical Mapping of Agricultural Soils (GEMAS...

Within the European Union, guidance in the form of a uniform Soil Directive does not exist and member states are left to enact their own legislation governing historic soil contamination. Several historic or "legacy" sites exist in Cyprus - an EU member state with a long history of mining and a significant number of abandoned mining sites. The gold...

During 2008 the GEochemical Mapping of Agricultural Soils (GEMAS) project collected 2108 agricultural (ploughed soil, Ap horizon, 0–20 cm) and 2023 grazing land soil samples (Gr, 0–10 cm) evenly spread over 33 European countries and covering an area of 5.6 million km2. The pH of all samples was determined by one single laboratory applying a 0.01 M...

During the past three decades, on average 13% of the rain falling on the Republic of Cyprus has been converted to agricultural products, while some 70% of the rain water that flows to dams has been used for irrigation. Climate change projections indicate that Cyprus, similarly to other water-stressed countries, is becoming hotter and drier. This ha...

Purpose Concern about the environmental impact of agriculture caused by intensification is growing as large amounts of nutrients and contaminants are introduced into the environment. The aim of this paper is to identify the geogenic and agricultural controls on the elemental composition of European, grazing and agricultural soils. Materials and me...

The aim of this study was to develop partial least squares (PLS) models to predict the concentrations of 45 elements in soils extracted by the aqua regia (AR) method using diffuse reflectance Fourier Transform mid-infrared (MIR; 4000–500 cm−1) spectroscopy. A total of 4130 soils from the GEMAS European soil sampling program (geochemical mapping of...

Ce, La and Y from agricultural (Ap) and grazing land (Gr) soils of Europe have been investigated using new geochemical data produced by the GEMAS (Geochemical mapping of agricultural and grazing land soils) project. Interpolated maps showing Ce, La, and Y distributions in Ap and Gr were generated using ArcView and classified with the concentration...

The aim of this study was to develop partial least-squares (PLS) regression models using diffuse reflectance Fourier transform mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy for the prediction of the concentration of elements in soil determined by X-ray fluorescence (XRF). A total of 4130 soils from the GEMAS European soil sampling program (geochemical mapping of...

Arsenic concentrations are reported for the <2 mm fraction of ca. 2200 soil samples each from agricultural (Ap horizon, 0–20 cm) and grazing land (Gr, 0–10 cm), covering western Europe at a sample density of 1 site/2500 km2. Median As concentrations in an aqua regia extraction determined by inductively coupled plasma emission mass spectrometer (ICP...

The Geochemical Mapping of Agricultural and Grazing Land Soil (GEMAS) project provides soil geochemical data for over 50 elements at a density of 1 sample per 2500 km2 across the European continent. Median baseline total concentrations of niobium (Nb) determined by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry in the <2 mm fraction of 2108 ploughed agricultural...

The relative influences of parent lithology and anthropogenic effects on the soil geochemistry of Cyprus have been evaluated using a high density soil survey. Cyprus contains a number of lithologically distinct terranes, including the ultramafic-mafic Troodos Ophiolite Complex, which hosts a number of Cyprus-type Cu deposits, and the surrounding ca...

Applied geochemistry and environmental sciences invariably deal with compositional data. Classically, the original or log-transformed absolute element concentrations are studied. However, compositional data do not vary independently, and a concentration based approach to data analysis can lead to faulty conclusions. For this reason a better statist...

Cited By (since 1996): 2, Export Date: 2 October 2012, Source: Scopus

Analytical data for 10 major oxides (Al2O3, CaO, Fe2O3, K2O, MgO, MnO, Na2O, P2O5, SiO2 and TiO2), 16 total trace elements (As, Ba, Ce, Co, Cr, Ga, Nb, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sr, Th, V, Y, Zn and Zr), 14 aqua regia extracted elements (Ag, As, Bi, Cd, Ce, Co, Cs, Cu, Fe, La, Li, Mn, Mo and Pb), Loss On Ignition (LOI) and pH from 3526 soil samples from two cont...

Applied geochemistry and environmental sciences invariably deal with compositional data. Classically, the original or log-transformed absolute element concentrations are studied. However, compositional data do not vary independently, and a concentration based approach to data analysis can lead to faulty conclusions. For this reason a better statist...

A first impression of the geochemistry and quality of European ground water was obtained by using bottled mineral water as a sampling medium. In total, 1785 bottled waters were purchased from supermarkets of forty European countries, representing 1247 wells/drill holes/springs at 884 locations. All bottled waters were analysed for 72 parameters at...

Knowledge about soil quality at a European scale is urgently required for e.g., the new European Chemicals Regulation, the pending EU Soil Protection Directive and, the assessment of soil as a repository of organic carbon in a changing climate. A unique data collection on total organic matter (TOC) has been established by the Geological surveys in...

A study was made to correlate an overall solute polarity descriptor (p) with several molecular parameters: excess molar refraction (E), dipolarity/polarizability (S), effective hydrogen-bond acidity (A) and basicity (B), and McGowan volume (V), through the linear solvation model (p=c+eE+sS+aA+bB+vV). The achieved values of p were introduced in a re...

The McGowan volume has been widely used for the analysis of physicochemical and biochemical properties in chemistry and drug industry. Because McGowan volumes are not available for ions, its application is limited to only neutral compounds. Pauling radii of metallic ions have been collected and studied to obtain McGowan volumes for ions. Regression...

The van der Waals volume is a widely used descriptor in modeling physicochemical properties. However, the calculation of the van der Waals volume (V(vdW)) is rather time-consuming, from Bondi group contributions, for a large data set. A new method for calculating van der Waals volume has been developed, based on Bondi radii. The method, termed Atom...

Equations based on the Abraham solvation equations are presented for the partition of solutes between water and wet diethyl ether, wet diisopropyl ether, dry diethyl ether, dry diisopropyl ether, dry tetrahydrofuran and dry dioxane, and between the gas phase and wet diethyl ether, dry diethyl ether, dry tetrahydrofuran and dry dioxane. These equati...

Partition coefficients, as values of log P, between water and two room-temperature ionic liquids and between water and an aqueous biphasic system have been correlated with Abraham's solute descriptors to yield linear free energy relationships that can be used to predict further values of log P, to ascertain the solute properties that lead to increa...

Partition coefficients, as values of log P, between water and two room-temperature ionic liquids and between water and an aqueous biphasic system have been correlated with Abraham's solute descriptors to yield linear free energy relationships that can be used to predict further values of log P, to ascertain the solute properties that lead to increa...

Solvation equations have been obtained for seven high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) systems, generated in the reverse phase (RP) mode with fast gradient elution. A training set of 40 compounds was used for each system. The seven equations were then used to calculate Abraham descriptors for a completely separate 40-compound test set. In...

Two sets of molecular descriptors, the five experimental Abraham, and the five COSMOments of Klamt's COSMO-RS, have been compared for a data set of 470 compounds. Both sets are considered as almost complete sets of LFER. The two sets of descriptors are shown to exhibit a large overlap as far as their chemical content. The chemical information howev...

Partition coefficients from water to wet octanol and to 24 dry solvents have been obtained for Sudan I from the ratio of solubilities in water and the solvents. From these (global) partition coefficients for Sudan I and the equilibrium constants for the azo (Z)quinone (Q) tautomeric equilibrium, partition coefficients for the Z and Q tautomers have...

A drug can be characterized by "descriptors" that include size (volume) and H-bond acidity and H-bond basicity. These descriptors can be rapidly estimated from structure by a fragment scheme and used to predict physicochemical and transport properties of drug candidates (e.g. logP, solubility, gastrointestinal absorption, permeability and blood-bra...

A total of five salicylaldoxime ligands, (HL1–5), analogues of commercial metal extractants were synthesised and characterised. The cobalt(II) complexes [CoL2] (L=L1–5) of these ligands were synthesised and characterised by microanalysis, atomic absorption, infra and mass spectroscopy. X-ray structure analysis was carried out on the adducts [Co(L)2...

From literature data and from our own measurements, we have compiled a database of partition coefficients of non-electrolytes from water to wet di-n-butyl ether (DBE) and dry DBE, and from the gas phase to wet DBE and to dry DBE. Application of the general linear free energy relationship solvation equations shows that there are small, but significa...