GNGTS 2013 - Atti del 32° Convegno Nazionale

guiding them away from their pen, which was subsequently destroyed. He returned with his herd the following day. d. The uunusual reptile, limacidae behaviour and pH water: while the majority of animal species seeks safety outside, a few species, such as reptiles (vipers, snakes), generally seek safety going inside houses 3-5 hours before a local earthquake. They yearn for dry places; if they enter inside, they take shelter in wool blankets. The same behaviour was noted at SPSC in toads, frogs, stag beetles and even Limacidae. It is interesting to observe how some of these species are behaving strangely as they usually like humidity whereas wool is hydro-repellent. Two days before the seismic event of October 3 rd 2012, epicentre in Sampeyre (16 km to SPSC) and M = 3.9, the Limacidae were moving in the fields standing on a fifth or their foot: they were probably escaping from the humid ground. The ground water pH was 10.5, so it is possible to suppose that the new chemical and physical properties of the soil water were the cause of this unusual behaviour. Problems to health and safety. a. Radon 222 ionization, high β and γ emission: sometimes we have recorded high values of β and γ a few days before earthquakes: two days before an earthquake of M = 4.6 located in Incisa Scapaccino (August 21 st , 2000), a 56.0 µS/h of radioactivity (β+γ particles) and radon values of 1,517 Bq/m 3 in air (α particles) were recorded near Biglione creek and in basement of SPSC. The same day of the seism, a viper and an unknown snake climbed at the first floor by the run-ladder. Three days after high radioactive emission, many insects and arachnids were found dead in SPSC basement, in the cellar and the garden. Damages to people and animal health were observed, in connection with measured high radon values, like rapid evolution of pathologies, especially dermatological effects and pneumonias by contact. In Fig. 3 radon monitoring values in SPSC for the January- December 2012 period are reported. The high radon emission could generate serious problems to safety (cancer, problems to lungs...). Fig. 3 – Radon emission in SPSC (2012) and anomalous animal behaviours. 64 GNGTS 2013 S essione 2.1