Integrated evaluation of aerogenic pollution by air-transported heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Ni, Zn, Mn and Cu) in the analysis of the main deposit media

The composition of the ambient air is constantly changing; therefore, the monitoring of ambient air quality to detect the changes caused by aerogenic pollutants makes the essential part of general environmental monitoring. To achieve more effective improvement of the ambient air quality, the Directive 2008/50/EC on ‘Ambient Air Quality and Cleaner Air for Europe’ was adopted by the European Parliament and the European Council. It informed the public and enterprises about a negative effect of pollution on humans, animals and plants, as well as about the need for monitoring aerogenic pollutants not only at the continuous monitoring stations but also by using indicator methods, i.e. by analysing natural deposit media. The problem of determining the relationship between the accumulation level of pollutants by a deposit medium and the level of air pollution and its risks is constantly growing in importance. The paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the response of the main four deposit media, i.e. snow cover, soil, pine bark and epigeic mosses, to the long-term pollution by aerogenic pollutants which can be observed in the area of oil refinery influence. Based on the quantitative expressions of the amounts of the accumulated pollutants in the deposit media, the territory of the oil refinery investigated in this paper has been referred to the areas of mild or moderate pollution.     

Difficulties in emotion regulation and risky driving among Lithuanian drivers

Background: Risky driving is a common cause of traffic accidents and injuries. However, there is no clear evidence of how difficulties in emotion regulation contribute to risky driving behavior, particularly in small post-Soviet countries. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between difficulties in emotion regulation and self-reported risky driving behavior in a sample of Lithuanian drivers.

Methods: A total of 246 nonprofessional Lithuanian drivers participated in a cross-sectional survey. Difficulties in emotion regulation were assessed using the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS; Gratz and Roemer 2004), and risky driving behavior was assessed using the Manchester Driver Behaviour Questionnaire (DBQ; Lajunen et al. 2004).

Results: Males scored higher than females in aggressive violations and ordinary violations. Females scored higher for the nonacceptance of emotional responses, whereas males had more difficulties with emotional awareness than females. More difficulties in emotion regulation were positively correlated with driving errors, lapses, aggressive violations, and ordinary violations for both males and females. Structural equation modeling showed that difficulties in emotion regulation explained aggressive and ordinary violations more clearly than lapses and errors. When controlling for interactions among the distinct regulation difficulties, difficulties with impulse control and difficulties engaging in goal-directed behavior predicted risky driving. Furthermore, nonacceptance of emotional responses and limited access to emotion regulation strategies were related to less violations and more driving errors.

Conclusion: Emotion regulation difficulties were associated with the self-reported risky driving behaviors of Lithuanian drivers. This provides useful hints for improving driver training programs in order to prevent traffic injuries.     

Effect of application of phosphate and organic manure-based fertilizers on arsenic transformation in soil columns

The mobility of arsenic in Cambisol under the influence of added barnyard manure and application of a phosphate solution to the soil was described on the basis of column experiments. A soil sample containing 126 mg/kg total As and 3.72 mg/kg specifically-sorbed As was extracted using demineralized water (DIW) or a 28 μmol/l phosphate solution in a column containing untreated soil and in a column with added barnyard fertilizer. The pH, Eh, alkalinity, main components, including DOC, and selected trace elements (Al, Mn, Pb, Cu, Zn, Cd, Cr, Co, Ni, Ba and As) were determined in the extracts. Hydrodynamic tests of the flow and transport of the substances in the columns were carried out. The addition of barnyard manure was manifested in elevated concentrations of the main inorganic components, DOC and Al and a decrease in the Eh value and Mn concentration. Application of a phosphate solution was manifested in a decrease in the NO₃ and SO₄ concentrations, probably as a result of the effect of increased biological fixation. The As concentration in extracts varied from 8.8 to 15.5 μg/l and was not dependent on the composition of the extracting solution or the addition of barnyard fertilizer.     

Variation of wild boar reproductive performance in different habitat types: Implications for management

The aim of this study was analyze reproductive performance of wild boar in different habitat over a 7-year period (2006–2012). A total of 468 pregnant females and 2.819 fetuses were analyzed, the mean number of fetuses was 6.02 (median = 6) per animal (4.62 per juvenile, 6.39 per yearling and 6.77 per adult). In litters, male-biased fetuses occurred significantly more often than female, the overall fetal sex ratio is 1: 0.86. Positive reproductive traits increased up to 90 kg of live body weight and then decreased. The reproductive parameters observed in our study reflect a relatively high reproductive capacity compared to the populations in southern and northern Europe, but are comparable with some populations in central Europe. Concerning habitat conditions, it is obvious that they influence the reproductive performance of females, and therefore must be included in management plans.     

What drives visitors to tourist sites to choose “green” accommodation facilities?

Environment, Development and Sustainability - Our aim is to determine the factors influencing a visitor’s decision to stay in a green accommodation facility. Visitors from six tourist sites...     

The effect of changes to the method of estimating the pollen count from aerobiological samples

Pollen data have been recorded at Novi Sad in Serbia since 2000. The adopted method of producing pollen counts has been the use of five longitudinal transects that examine 19.64% of total sample surface. However, counting five transects is time consuming and so the main objective of this study is to investigate whether reducing the number to three or even two transects would have a significant effect on daily average and bi-hourly pollen concentrations, as well as the main characteristics of the pollen season and long-term trends. This study has shown that there is a loss of accuracy in daily average and bi-hourly pollen concentrations (an increase in % ERROR) as the sub-sampling area is reduced from five to three or two longitudinal transects. However, this loss of accuracy does not impact on the main characteristics of the season or long-term trends. As a result, this study can be used to justify changing the sub-sampling method used at Novi Sad from five to three longitudinal transects. The use of two longitudinal transects has been ruled out because, although quicker, the counts produced: (a) had the greatest amount of % ERROR, (b) altered the amount of influence of the independent variable on the dependent variable (the slope in regression analysis) and (c) the total sampled surface (7.86%) was less than the minimum requirement recommended by the European Aerobiology Society working group on Quality Control (at least 10% of total slide area).     

Accumulation of Heavy Metals by in vitro cultures of plants

The aim of the project is to study heavy metals accumulation by the selected plants in both laboratory and field conditions. Within the experiments the aspen (Populus tremula × tremuloides), sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and corn (Zea mays) plants were studied. The reasons for this selection were: a fast growth of these plants, an accumulation capacity and an ability to survive in different types of soils. The study was carried out on the aspen plantlets grown in vitro. The plants were exposed to the aqueous solutions having concentrations 0.1 mM, 0.5 mM of Pb²⁺ or Ni²⁺, respectively. The accumulation capacityfor aspen, was about 70% of Pb²⁺ originally present in the solution. The starting concentration of Pb²⁺ (0.5 mM) exhibited no negative impact on the growth. Besides in vitro expositions, a pilot-scale phytoremediation experiment was carried out at the polluted industrial area (Zn – 75000 mg/kg), (Pb – 16000 mg/kg), (Cr – 590 mg/kg), (Cd – 90 mg/kg) and (Cu – 1700 mg/kg).     

Occurrence of aflatoxin M1 in human milk samples in Vojvodina,Serbia: Estimation of average daily intake by babies

The objectives of the study were to determine the aflatoxin M1 content in human milk samples in Vojvodina, Serbia, and to assess the risk of infants' exposure to aflatoxins food contamination. The growth of Aspergillus flavus and production of aflatoxin B1 in corn samples resulted in higher concentrations of AFM1 in milk and dairy products in 2013, indicating higher concentrations of AFM1 in human milk samples in 2013 and 2014 in Serbia. A total number of 60 samples of human milk (colostrum and breast milk collected 4–8 months after delivery) were analyzed for the presence of AFM1 using the Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay method. The estimated daily intake of AFM1 through breastfeeding was calculated for the colostrum samples using an average intake of 60 mL/kg body weight (b.w.)/day on the third day of lactation. All breast milk collected 4–8 months after delivery and 36.4% of colostrum samples were contaminated with AFM1. The greatest percentage of contaminated colostrum (85%) and all samples of breast milk collected 4–8 months after delivery had AFM1 concentration above maximum allowable concentration according to the Regulation on health safety of dietetic products. The mean daily intake of AFM1 in colostrum was 2.65 ng/kg bw/day. Results of our study indicate the high risk of infants' exposure, who are at the early stage of development and vulnerable to toxic contaminants.