Factors associated with driving under the influence of alcohol

Objective: This study examined the risk factors of driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) among drivers of specific vehicle categories (DSC). On the basis of this research, the variables related to DUI and involvement in traffic crashes were defined. The analysis was conducted for car drivers, bicyclists, motorcyclists, bus drivers, and truck drivers.

Method: The research sample included drivers involved in traffic crashes on the territory of Serbia in 2016 (60,666). Two types of analyses were conducted in this study. Logistic regression established the correlation between DUI and DSC and the The Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (Multi-criteria decision making) method was applied to consider the scoring and explore the potential for the prevalence of DUI on the basis of 2 data sets (DUI and non DUI).

Results: The study results showed that driver error and male drivers were the 2 most significant risk factors for DUI, with the highest scores and potential for prevalence. The nonuse of restraint systems, driver experience, and driver age are the factors with a significant prediction of involvement in an accident and an insignificant prediction of DUI.

Conclusions: Following the development of the logistic prediction models for DUI drivers, testing of the model was conducted for 3 control driver groups: Car, motorcycle, and bicycle. The prediction model with a probability greater than 50% showed that 77% of car drivers were under the influence of alcohol. Similarly, the prediction percentage for motorcyclists and bicyclists amounted to 71 and 67%, respectively. The recommendation of the study is that drivers whose DUI probability is above 50% should be potentially suspected of DUI. The results of this study can help to understand the problem of DUI among specific driver categories and detect DUI drivers, with the aim of creating successful traffic safety policy.     

Geochemical distribution of selected elements in flotation tailings and soils/sediments from the dam spill at the abandoned antimony mine Stolice,Serbia

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Materials held within mine tailings pose a serious risk to the environment in cases of tailings dam failure. Collapse of the tailing dam at the...     

Associations of trace elements in aerosol at the south Adriatic coast

We applied statistical methods to the data of a 5-year sampling period to characterize the features of trace elements in airborne particulate matter at the South Adriatic Coast. The analysis of surface soil samples was also performed. The data were processed by cluster analysis, enrichment factor determination and receptor rose statistics. It is shown that the principal element association consists of Fe, Mn and Ti originating from surface material resuspension. Hg and Se were shown to originate from more complex natural and anthropogenic processes. A strong emission source of Cd and Se was identified in the SSE direction.Selected article from the Regional Symposium on Chemistry and Environment Krusevac, Serbia, June 2003, organized by Dr. Branimir Jovancicevic.     

Uptake,distribution and loss of Cr in the crab Xantho hydrophilus

Uptake of ⁵¹Cr(III) is faster than uptake of ⁵¹Cr(VI), but it occurs mainly on the surface of the animals. Steady state is attained after 28 d. The resulting concentration factor is about 200. Although the uptake of ⁵¹Cr(VI) is slower, it is more intensively distributed into the organs and tissues of the animals. Steady state was not attained during the experiments (35 d); the highest concentration factor reached was about 10. The uptake of both ⁵¹Cr(III) and ⁵¹Cr(VI) seems to be passive. For both chemical forms of chromium, the loss rate is inversely proportional to the exposure time. When the uptake lasted longer, owing to the distribution of Cr(VI) into the organs and tissues, the loss rate of Cr(III) is somewhat faster relative to the loss rate of ⁵¹Cr(VI). The opposite is the case when the uptake of both forms lasts only two days. On the basis of the distribution and loss experiments, we argue that hexavalent chromium in living organisms is reduced to the trivalent form and then complexed with organic molecules.     

Effects of uncontrolled particulate matter release on precipitation under warfare conditions

This study has shown theoretical, observed and experimental evidence of pollutants released, transported and deposited during the Kosovo conflict in 1999 and their effects on precipitation in Serbia. The greatest bombardment of the chemical industry, oil refineries and fuel storage in Serbia which occurred during April, resulted in releases of many hazardous, toxic and cancerogenic substances. The number of April's days with precipitation greater or equal to 0.1 mm in 1999 are compared to those in the period from 1961 to 1990 registered at thirty meteorological stations in Serbia and especially at the Belgrade-Observatory station in the period from 1888 to 1995. The maximums of days with precipitation greater or equal to 0.1 mm were at the wider Belgrade area and at the central and southwestern parts of Serbia during April 1999. This is confirmed by using the Eta trajectory analysis.     

Dehalogenation Potential of Municipal Waste Incineration Fly Ash

BACKGROUND, AIMS AND SCOPE: In the first part of this paper the main principles which control the dehalogenation of polychlorinated aromatic compounds on municipal waste incineration fly ash (MWI-FA) have been discussed and the model fly ash of similar dehalogenation activity has been proposed. Even if both systems show comparable dehalogenation properties, the main question concerning the postulated identical reaction mechanism in both cases is left unanswered. The other very important point is to what extent is this dechlorination mechanism thermodynamically controlled. The same problem is often discussed in the literature also for the de novo synthetic reactions. From the data it is clear that metallic copper plays a decisive role in the mechanism of the dehalogenation reaction. Although the results reported in the first part strongly support the idea that copper acts in this dechlorination as the reaction component, in contrast to its generally accepted catalytic behaviour, we believed that additional support for this conclusion can be obtained with the help of a thermodynamic interpretation of the mechanism of the reaction. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The pathways of hexachlorobenzene dechlorination on MWI-FA and model fly ash were studied in a closed system at 260-300 degrees C under nitrogen atmosphere. These pathways were the same for both systems, with the following prevailing sequences: hexachlorobenzene --> pentachlorobenzene --> 1,2,3,5-tetrachlorobenzene --> 1,3,5-trichlorobenzene --> 1,3-dichlorobenzene. Thermodynamic calculations were carried out by using the method of minimization total Gibbs energy of the whole system. In the calculations, the following reaction components were taken into account: all gaseous chlorinated benzenes, benzene, hydrogen chloride, a gaseous trimer Cu3Cl3, and also Cu2O and CuCl2 as solid components. The effect of the reaction temperature and the amount of copper and water vapour were considered as well. The effect of reaction temperature was determined from the data calculated for the 500 to 750 K temperature region. The effect of the initial composition was determined for the molar amounts of copper = 0.01-3 moles and water vapour = 0.2 to 3 moles per mole of chlorobenzene isomer CONCLUSIONS: The results of hexachlorobenzene dechlorination by MWI-FA and model fly ash under comparable reaction conditions allow us to conclude that both dechlorinations proceed via the same dechlorination pathways, which can be taken as an evidence of the identical dehalogenation mechanism for both systems. The relative percentual distribution of the dehalogenated products depends on the temperature, but not on the initial amount of water vapour or copper metal. On the other hand, the initial amount of copper substantially affects the conversion of the dehalogenation as well as the molar ratio of Cu3Cl3 to HCl in the equilibrium mixture. Comparison of the experimental with thermodynamic results supports the idea that dehalogenation reactions are thermodynamically controlled. RECOMMENDATIONS AND OUTLOOK: Thermodynamic analysis of the dehalogenation reactions may prove useful for a wide range of pollutants. The calculations concerning polychlorinated biphenyls and phenols are under study.     

Bacterial community structure analyses to assess pollution of water and sediments in the Lake Shkodra/Skadar, Balkan Peninsula

- Goal, Scope, Background. Lake Skadar is the largest lake in Balkan Peninsula, located on the Montenegro-Albanian border. The unique features of the lake and wide range of endemic and rare or endangered plant and animal species resulted in the classification of the Skadar as a wetland site of international significance. In spite of its importance the Lake is influenced by inflowing waters from river Morača and other regional rivers contaminated by the industry, municipal and agricultural activities in the area. Therefore, the Lake has been subject of various physical, chemical, biological and toxicological examinations. However, community-level analyses are most relevant to assess the effect of stressors on aquatic ecosystems. In the present study bacterial community structure among differently polluted sites of the lake was compared by genetic fingerprinting technique. Methods Water and sediment samples were collected from five differently polluted sampling sites on the Lake Skadar in spring and autumn of the same year. The bacterial community structure in the samples was characterized and compared by temporal temperature gel electrophoresis (TTGE) analysis of polymerase chain reaction-amplified bacterial 16S rRNA genes. Results and Discussion The TTGE analysis resulted in many distinguishable and reproducible band patterns, allowing reliable comparison of bacterial communities among sampling sites. Results on the bacterial community structure revealed that three of the selected locations can be considered as sites that have not shown any pollution degradation determined by our method, due to similar structure of bacterial community in the sediment samples. On the other hand, significant shifts in bacterial community structure in the mouth of the river Morača and Plavnica were shown. Since the results coincide with some of the bioassays and chemical analysis performed previously, the changes in bacterial community structure are explained as an effect of antropogenic pollution on the lake ecosystem by waters of river Morača and stream Plavnica. Conclusion The TTGE has proven to be an efficient and reliable method to monitor bacterial dynamics and community shifts in aquatic environment, especially in the sediments. Within the variety of environmental quality assessments the use of TTGE analyses of bacterial community is strongly recommended, particularly as an initial investigation. However, in any conclusion on the state of the environment, the TTGE results should be combined to some other biological, chemical and hydrological data. Recommendation and Outlook Since prokaryotes are a crucial group of organisms in the biosphere, the ecosystem function studies are largely based on bacterial communities. Therefore, bacterial community structure analysis should be a part of an integrated weight of evidence approach in pollution assessment. In case of Triad approach, consisting of chemical analyses, bioassays, and community studies in the field, the TTGE bacterial community structure analyses should be placed in the later Triad leg. In comparison to other community studies, based on various biotic indices, the TTGE bacterial community analysis has proven to be very sensitive, reliable and less time consuming.     

Evaluation of the genotoxic and cytochrome P450 monooxygenase-inhibitory potential of Dicuran on procaryotic and eucaryotic test systems

The effect of the herbicide Dicuran 500 FL (formulated product) on the phenotypical and genotypical changes in procaryotic and eucaryotic organisms was investigated using short-term tests for detecting genotoxins. Since pesticides discharged in the water environment can modulate the mixed-function monooxygenases (MFO) detoxification system of water organisms, the in vivo and in vitro effects of Dicuran on hepatic cytochrome P450 (cyt P450) monooxygenase activities were also examined in juvenile carp (Cyprinus carpio L.). By measuring the activities of MFO in experimental carp exposed to Dicuran an attempt was made to establish whether Dicuran could be bioactivated by MFO into ultimate mutagens. Our results on the bacterial strains Salmonella typhimurium TA100 and TA98 show that Dicuran does not possess either mutagenic or premutagenic characteristics. The micronucleus test on the erythrocytes of experimental carp did not establish any clastogenic effect either. However, Dicuran significantly inhibited the MFO activity of 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) and benzo[a]pyrene monooxygenase (BaPMO) in the liver of experimental carp in vitro, as well as in in vivo conditions. These findings demonstrate the potentially damaging effect of Dicuran on the xenobiotic metabolizing enzyme systems of fish, and suggest the applicability of described methods for the prediction of the ecotoxicological significance of the presence of pesticides in the water environment.     

Limited scope for reproductive senescence in wild populations of a short-lived fish

Senescence in wild populations was long considered negligible but current evidence suggests that it is widespread in natural populations of mammals and birds, affecting the survival and reproductive output of older individuals. In contrast, little is known about reproductive senescence in species with asymptotic growth that can keep increasing their reproductive output as they grow older and larger. Using a cross-sectional study, we tested age-related decline in fecundity and relative allocation to reproduction in five wild populations of an annual killifish, Nothobranchius furzeri (Cyprinodontiformes). We did not detect any decline in absolute female egg production over their short lifespan in the wild. Relative fecundity (egg production controlled for female body mass) tended to decrease with age. This effect was driven primarily by a single population that survived 17 weeks, almost twice as long as the median persistence of the other four study populations. There was no decrease in relative ovary mass while in males, relative testes mass actually increased with age. Intra-population variation in relative ovary mass increased in older females suggesting heterogeneity in individual trajectories of female reproductive allocation. Overall, we demonstrate that annual killifish do not experience significant age-related decline in reproductive functions during their very short lifespan in the wild despite the marked deterioration of gonad tissue detected in captivity.