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.     

The measurement procedure in the SEMONT monitoring system

The measurement procedure of the open area in situ electric field strength is presented, acquiring the real field data for testing of the Serbian electromagnetic field monitoring network (SEMONT) and its Internet portal. The SEMONT monitoring system introduces an advanced approach of wireless sensor network utilization for the continuous supervision of overall and cumulative level of electromagnetic field over the observed area. The aim of the SEMONT system is to become a useful tool for the national and municipal agencies for the environmental protection, regarding the electromagnetic pollution monitoring and the exposure assessment of the general population. Considering the public concern on the potentially harmful effects of the long-term exposure to electromagnetic radiation, as well as the public transparency principle that is incorporated into the Serbian law on non-ionizing radiation protection, the SEMONT monitoring system is designed for the long-term continuous monitoring, presenting real-time measurement results, and corresponding exposure assessment over the public Internet network.     

Antifungal activity of the pygidial gland secretion of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Laemostenus punctatus</Emphasis> (Coleoptera: Carabidae) against cave-dwelling micromycetes

The antifungal potential of the pygidial gland secretion of the troglophilic ground beetle Laemostenus punctatus from a cave in Southeastern Serbia against cave-dwelling micromycetes, isolated from the same habitat, has been investigated. Eleven collected samples were analyzed and 32 isolates of cave-dwelling fungi were documented. A total of 14 fungal species were identified as members of the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, Alternaria, Cladosporium, Rhizopus, Trichoderma, Arthrinium, Aureobasidium, Epicoccum, Talaromyces, and Fusarium. Five isolates were selected for testing the antifungal activity of the pygidial gland secretion: Talaromyces duclauxi, Aspergillus brunneouniseriatus, Penicillium sp., Rhizopus stolonifer, and Trichoderma viride. The microdilution method has been applied to detect minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimal fungicidal concentrations (MFCs). The most sensitive isolate was Penicillium sp., while the other isolates demonstrated a high level of resistance to the tested agent. L. punctatus has developed a special mechanism of producing specific compounds that act synergistically within the secretion mixture, which are responsible for the antifungal action against pathogens from the cave. The results open opportunities for further research in the field of ground beetle defense against pathogens, which could have an important application in human medicine, in addition to the environmental impact, primarily.     

Development of an immuno-immobilized androgen receptor assay (IRA) and its application for the characterization of the receptor binding affinity of different pesticides

Pesticides are synthetic chemicals used not only for improving food and feed production but also for the protection of materials and of human health and well-being. Some of these substances are suspected for adverse effects attributable to an interaction with the endocrine system of vertebrates by mimicking or inhibiting endogenous hormones. One of the biological targets important in this relation is the androgen receptor (AR). To be able to screen environmental samples for the presence of compounds which might interfere with androgen action, we aimed to develop a receptor assay based on recombinant human AR (rhAR). We herein describe an rhAR assay in which the receptor is immobilized in microtiter plates via a specific antibody. The assay can be used for high throughput screening of chemicals spread into the environment. 29 of the most recommended pesticides of the Federal Country Hessen, Germany, were tested for their ability to displace [3H]-DHT bound to the rhAR. This evaluation included the major part of the most common herbicides, insecticides and fungicides and covered three potential groups of endocrine disrupting chemicals. For 28 of the substances evaluated, the relative binding affinity to the rhAR was below 0.1% when compared to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) (100%), only fentinacetate exhibited an affinity of 1.42%. An exchange assay indicated that the binding inhibition was reversible. In consequence, fentinacetate seems to be a hormonally active substance which may be present in vegetables or fish, but also on clothing. We conclude that further investigations on this compound and its metabolites are necessary.     

In vitro Screening von Pflanzenschutzmittel-Wirkstoffen auf östrogene Aktivität

Over the last years, the obviously increasing, hormone-dependent impairments observed in humans and animals, as well as the increased occurrence of hormone-dependent types of cancer, are sometimes associated with environmental chemicals which are suspected to imitate or block the effects of natural hormones. For a variety of environmental chemicals an endocrine efficacy could already be demonstrated. Little is known, however, about a possible hormonal activity of plant protection agents which are at present certificated in the Federal Republic of Germany. The aim of the present study was the in vitro testing of at least 57 active ingredients of pesticides and growth regulators certificated in the Federal Republic of Germany, for their possible estrogenic activity. The E-Screen-Assay based on the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 was used as the suitable test system. For at least 8 of the tested substances, an receptor-mediated estrogenic activity could be shown in vitro. With the exception of one substance, 7 active ingredients displayed a very weak affinity for the human estrogen receptor. Their ability to displace 17β-estradiol from the receptor was low. Only the herbicide Pendimethalin is to be classified as a full estrogen receptor agonist; it is able to displace 17β-estradiol almost completely from the receptor. Howeverm the estrogenic potency of Pendimethalin, in comparison to 17β-estradiol, was seen to be as small as the estrogenic potency of the other 7 substances tested positively in the E-Screen-Assay. Among this 7 substances, two could not be classified as estrogenically active anymore, because their affinity to the human estrogen receptor was too weak. The relevance of the available results for livng organisms should be clarified in further in vivo investigations.     

Balkan endemic nephropathy and aristolochic acid I: an investigation into the role of soil and soil organic matter contamination,as a potential natural exposure pathway

Aristolochic acids (AAs) are carcinogenic and nephrotoxic plant alkaloids present in Aristolochia species, used in traditional medicine. Recent biomolecular and environmental studies have incriminated these toxins as an etiological agent in Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN), a severe kidney disease occurring in the Balkan Peninsula. The questions on how the susceptible populations are exposed to these toxins have not yet been clearly answered. Exposure to AAs through the food chain, and environmental pollution (soil/dust), could provide an explanation for the presence of BEN in the countries where no folkloric use of the plant has been documented (Bulgaria, Croatia). Additional exposure pathways are likely to occur, and we have shown previously that AAs can contaminate crop plants through absorption from soil, under controlled laboratory environment. Here, we attempt to provide additional support to this potential exposure pathway, by revealing the presence of AAI in soil and soil organic matter samples collected from BEN and non-BEN areas. The samples were processed in order to be analyzed by high-pressure liquid chromatography, and ion trap mass spectrometry. Our results showed the presence of AAI in small concentrations, both in BEN and non-BEN soils, especially where Aristolochia plants and seeds were present.     

7Be to 210Pb concentration ratio in ground level air in Belgrade area

7Be to 210Pb concentration ratios in ground level air on two monitoring stations (MS1 and MS2) in Belgrade area were determined from 1996 to 2001. The average monthly concentrations of 7Be in ground level air were in the range of 0.6-18.3 mBq/m3 and exhibited one or two summer/early fall maxims and one minimum in winter. The maximum concentrations for 210Pb were generally observed in the fall, with the average concentrations in the range of 1.09 x 10(-4) to 30.9 x 10(-4) Bq/m3. The 7Be/210Pb ratios were in the range of 1.7-12.7 (MS1) and 1.8-11.3 (MS2), with summer maxims and late fall/winter minimums. The mean Radionuclides Loading Indices values approach zero except for 1996/1997 (MS1) and 2001 (MS2) due to higher concentrations of 7Be and 210Pb. The mean monthly concentrations of both radionuclides exhibited lognormal distributions. There is significant correlation between the 7Be/210Pb activities ratio and the air stability classes A + B + C for both monitoring stations (correlation coefficients 0.61-0.65), and no correlation with D class and E + F classes. Correlation was found between the activity of 7Be and air stability classes A + B + C (0.46-0.68), and E + F (0.38 for MS1), while for 210Pb, a moderate correlation (0.38-0.40) was found with the E + F air stability classes.