Comprehensive characterization of PAHs profile in Serbian soils for conventional and organic production: potential sources and risk assessment

This study presents a comprehensive characterization of occurrence and levels of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in arable soils used for conventional and organic production in northern and central part of Serbia as well as cross-border region with Hungary. Furthermore, this study includes a characterization of PAH sources and carcinogenic/non-carcinogenic human health risk for PAHs accumulated in analysed arable soils. The total concentration of 16 PAHs varied between 55 and 4584 µg kg^?1 in agricultural soil used for conventional production and between 90 and 523 µg kg^?1 in agricultural soil used for organic production. High molecular weight (HMW) PAHs were dominant compounds with similar contribution in both soil types (86% and 80% in conventional and in organic soil, respectively). Principal component analysis and diagnostic ratios of selected PAHs were used for identification of PAH sources in the analysed soils. Additionally, positive matrix factorization was applied for quantitative assessment. The results indicated that the major sources of PAHs were vehicle emissions, biomass and wood combustion, accounting for?~?93% of PAHs. Exposure of farmers assessed through carcinogenic (TCR) and non-carcinogenic (THQ) risk did not exceed the acceptable threshold (TCR?<?10^–6 and THQ?<?1). Oral ingestion was the main exposure route which accounted for 57% of TCR and 80% of THQ. It was followed by dermal contact. This investigation gives a valuable data insight into the PAHs presence in arable soils and reveals the absence of environmental and health risk. It also acknowledges the importance of comprehensive monitoring of these persistent pollutants.

     

Evaluation of the levels and sources of trace elements in urban particulate matter

An assessment of air quality of Belgrade, Serbia, was performed by determining the trace element content in airborne daily PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 samples collected from a central urban area. The ambient concentrations of Zn were the highest in PM_2.5 (1,998.0 ng m⁻³). Multivariate receptor modelling (principal component analysis and cluster analysis) has been applied to determine the contribution of different sources of specific metallic components in airborne particles. The obtained results showed that vehicle traffic and fossil fuel combustion in stationary objects were the main sources of trace metals in Belgrade urban aerosols.     

Effects of Flooding on Lead and Cadmium Speciation in Sediments from a Drinking Water Reservoir

Římov water reservoir on the river Malše is the main source of drinking water for the town of České Budějovice and for the majority of inhabitants in the South Bohemian region, Czech Republic. Changes in cadmium and lead contents in bottom sediments before and after an extensive flood on the river Malše in August, 2002 were therefore determined. A five-step sequential extraction procedure was used in order to obtain more detailed information about the influence of the flood on heavy metal retention. In order to determine the mobility of lead and cadmium, the mobility factor (MF) for these heavy metals was calculated. The mobility factor of cadmium showed a significant decrease in the upper parts of the sediment profiles after the flood (e.g., from 59.4% to 49.1%) caused by a release of cadmium especially from the exchangeable fraction. There were no significant changes in the lead mobility factor after the flood, but a decrease of lead concentration in the exchangeable fraction was observed. Presented results show that the flood led to a leaching of the heavy metals present in bottom sediments into the environment.     

Spatio-temporal analysis of land use/land cover change and its effects on soil erosion (Case study in the Oplenac wine-producing area,Serbia)

In this paper, various spatial modelling techniques were applied to analyse changes in soil cover and their impact on soil erosion in the Oplenac wine-producing area in Serbia in the past (1985 and 2013) and in the future (with predictions for 2041). The Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs Sediment Delivery Ratio (InVEST SDR) model and the Modules for Land Use Change Evaluation (MOLUSCE) model, integrated with methods of remote sensing, were successfully applied and were shown to be valid tools for predicting the impact of Land Use Land Cover (LULC) changes when estimating soil loss. The results revealed that the greatest impact of land use changes between 1985 and 2013 was on a reduction in areas under vineyards and an extension of meadow and pasturelands as an individual and social response to economic conditions during the research period. The forecast for 2041 reflected the trends observed in the previous period, with the greatest changes witnessing an increase in urban areas and a decrease in areas of arable land. It was also found that the effect of LULC changes on spatio-temporal patterns in the Oplenac wine-producing area did not have a major impact on soil loss, meaning this area, with its good agro-climatic characteristics, is suitable for the intensification of agricultural production.     

Assessment of GC–MS response of selected pesticides in apple matrices related to matrix concentration

A uniform analyte response is required for GC–MS analysis in order to obtain acceptable quantitative results. The response of pesticides in complex matrices is susceptible to variation due to the interactions of co-extractives, both with pesticides or with GC–MS system. This study was conducted to determine the magnitude of the interactions, called matrix effect, and their behavior with the matrix dilution. The response of pyrimethanil (4,6-dimethyl-N-phenylpyrimidin-2-amine), cyprodinil (4-cyclopropyl-6-methyl-N-phenylpyrimidin-2-amine), trifloxystrobin (methyl-(2Z)-2-methoxyimino-2-[2-[[(E)-1-[3(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]ethylidene amino]oxymethyl]phenyl]acetate) and bifenthrin(2-methyl-3-phenylphenyl)methyl-3-[(Z)-2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoroprop-1-enyl]-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane-1-carboxylate), used in apple crops protection, was evaluated in different concentrations of peel and flesh extracts of Granny Smith, Golden Delicious and Demi Rouge, selected as representatives of different matrix types. The matrix effect ranged from ?0.05 to 146.14%, depending on matrix type and pesticide. The highest response variation was observed in extracts of Granny Smith—an enhancement in flesh and suppression in peel extract. With the dilution, the matrix effect decreased with different magnitudes, but for Granny Smith peel extract an inverted effect was observed. The presence of the matrix effect in GC–MS pesticides analysis was obvious, requiring the application of matrix-matched calibration in quantification procedures for each variety, with calibration standards matched by the matrix concentration.     

Lead,cadmium and mercury contents and bioaccumulation potential of wild edible saprophytic and ectomycorrhizal mushrooms,Croatia

ABSTRACT

Lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg) contents in ten species of edible mushrooms in Trako??an, Croatia were determined. In addition, the similarity between the studied species was determined by cluster analysis. The caps and stipes of the fruiting bodies were analysed separately. The analyses were carried out by inductively coupled plasma - optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The greatest mean lead concentrations of 1.91 and 1.60 mg kg ^?1 were determined in caps and stipes of Macrolepiota procera. The greatest mean concentrations of cadmium (3.23 and 2.24 mg kg^?1) were determined in caps and stipes of Agaricus campestris and of mercury (2.56 and 2.35 mg kg^?1) in Boletus edulis. In terms of the anatomical parts of the fruiting body (cap-stipe), a considerably greater concentration of the analysed elements was found in the cap for all mushroom species. According to calculated bio-concentration factors, all the examined species were found to be bio-accumulators of Cd and Hg. On the basis of the accumulation of the studied metals, great similarity of mushroom species belonging to the same genus and partial similarity of species of the same ecological affiliation was obtained by cluster analysis.     

Zero-valent iron particles for PCB degradation and an evaluation of their effects on bacteria,plants, and soil organisms

Two types of nano-scale zero-valent iron (nZVI-B prepared by borohydride reduction and nZVI-T produced by thermal reduction of iron oxide nanoparticles in H₂) and a micro-scale ZVI (mZVI) were compared for PCB degradation efficiency in water and soil. In addition, the ecotoxicity of nZVI-B and nZVI-T particles in treated water and soil was evaluated on bacteria, plants, earthworms, and ostracods. All types of nZVI and mZVI were highly efficient in degradation of PCBs in water, but had little degradation effect on PCBs in soil. Although nZVI-B had a significant negative impact on the organisms tested, treatment with nZVI-T showed no negative effect, probably due to surface passivation through controlled oxidation of the nanoparticles.

     

Trampling impact on vegetation of embryonic and stabilised sand dunes in Montenegro

Trampling is one of the human activities that are harmful for plant species and communities of sand dune ecosystems. The aim of this study was to compare the vegetation of embryonic and shifting Ammophila sand dunes with and without fencing to limit trampling. Fenced sand dunes appeared to be richer in species but differences were more prominent in embryonic sand dunes. Some species (Cakile maritima, Pancratium maritimum) were missing on trampled embryonic dunes. The positive impact of trampling exclusion on embryonic sand dunes was indicated by a lowered slope in a Whittaker graph as well as by rarefaction curves that showed higher species richness on the lower slope. Changes in the vegetation of more stabilised shifting Ammophila sand dunes due to trampling are not evident, although species composition is also impoverished. Fencing of parts of sand dunes proved to be an effective measure for vegetation conservation. In addition to physical exclusion of visitors, fences can also have symbolic value for raising public awareness.     

Modeling of policies for reduction of GHG emissions in energy sector using ANN: case study—Croatia (EU)

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This study describes the development of tool for testing different policies for reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in energy sector using...