Uptake and biotransformation of arsenate in the lichen Hypogymnia physodes (L.) Nyl

The uptake and metabolism of arsenate, As(V), as a function of time and concentration were examined in the lichen Hypogymnia physodes (L.) Nyl. Lichen thalli were exposed to As(V) in the form of a solution. Exponential uptake of As(V) from 4 microg mL(-1) As(V) solution was accompanied by constant arsenite, As(III), excretion back into the solution. Arsenate taken up into the lichens from 0, 0.1, 1, 10 microg mL(-1) As(V) solutions was partially transformed into As(III), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) and (mono)methylarsonic acid (MA). 48 h after exposure, the main arsenic compound in the lichens was DMA in 0.1, As(III) in 1 and As(V) in 10 microg mL(-1) treatment. The proportion of methylated arsenic compounds decreased with increasing arsenate concentration in the exposure solution. These results suggest that at least two types of As(V) detoxification exist in lichens; arsenite excretion and methylation.     

The Pollution Load by Nitrogen and Phosphorus IN the Jadro River

The objective of the investigations of the Jadro River, located in Croatia, was to estimate the nitrogen and phosphorus loads in the Jadro River spring and its streamflow by calculating the load in kg/day or tons/year and to compare this with the load for the maximum allowed concentrations (MAC) for drinking water (Official Bulletin, No 46/94) expressed in kg/day or tons/year.Daily pollution loads at the Jadro River spring for total N ranged from 0 to 304 kg, for NH₃-N from 0 to 38 kg, for NO₃-N from 0–1321 kg and for PO₄-P from 0–92 kg in the period from September 1993 to September 2003. When compared with MAC loads the results prove that the Jadro River spring is not polluted by nitrogen compounds and phosphorus.The average annual load for total N ranged from 10 to 33 t, for NH₃-N from 0.25 to 5.15 t, for NO₃-N from 40 to 190 t, and for PO₄-P from 0.3 to 11.5 t. The nitrogen compounds and phosphorus loads vary from one year to another without any constant decreasing or increasing trends. The annual average loads compared with the average annual MAC loads (especially for NH₃-N and PO₄-P) show that there were no threats of constant pollution of the spring.The loads for total N and PO₄-P along the Jadro River flow from the spring to the fishpond entrance were monitored over a five year period from September 1999 to September 2004. The results show no regularities. The highest annual total nitrogen load of 45 t was recorded at the entrance to the fishpond during the 2002/2003 period. The highest annual PO₄-P load of 10 t was measured at the Vidović Bridge during the 2003/2004 period; however, the concentrations of N and P did not exceed the MAC concentrations which are prescribed for drinking water.According to the investigation results of the daily and average annual loads compared with MAC loads for drinking water, it can be concluded that the Jadro River spring and its streamflow are not polluted by nitrogen and phosphorus.     

Utilization of municipal solid waste bottom ash and recycled aggregate in concrete

In the combustion process of municipal solid waste (MSW), bottom ash (BA) represents the major portion of the solid residue. Since BA is composed of oxides, especially SiO(2) and CaO, the feasibility of its application in concrete as a substitute for cement was tested. It was found that at the age of 28 days, the flexural and compressive strengths of the binder linearly decrease at the rate of 0.03 and 0.02 MPa per wt% of BA in the binder, respectively. According to the results it may be recommended to replace up to 15 wt% of cement by BA and to use such binder where a low strength of concrete elements is required. Furthermore, the aggregate used for low strength concrete need not be of a very good quality. Therefore, gravel aggregate was partially replaced by recycled aggregate (RA). Consistency measured by slump was significantly reduced (>50%) when BA or/and RA were introduced into the mixture. However, concrete density and compressive strength were not affected and were approximately 2300 kg/m(3) and approximately 40 MPa, respectively.     

The Quality of Water Resources in Dalmatia

The purpose of this study was to monitor and record the specific characteristics and properties of most of the important water resources in Dalmatia located in Southern Croatia for a period of 5 years (1998–2002) according to established standards for drinking water. The paper presents a detailed account of their chemical content, the classification and the concentration of salts. The bacteriological pollution levels are indicated by the total coliform bacterial levels (MPN coli/100 mL). The water characteristics are expressed by coefficients, which represent the ratios between water ingredients. The Ca/Mg eq ratio, SO₄/Cl eq ratio and K₁, K₂ for bicarbonate hardness were calculated. The hygienic characteristics of the water samples were expressed by the total coliform bacteria estimation (MPN coli/100 mL), the permanganate consumption (KMnO₄) and biological oxygen demand (BOD₅). Karst waters in Dalmatia are moderately hard, the SO₄/Cl ratio is 0.38–1.6, non-corrosive (K₁ lower than 0.2) and not significantly mineralised (< 500 mg/L minerals). Sulphate waters are generally hard, the SO₄/Cl ratio is higher than 1.6, K₁ is 0.2–0.65. Marine waters are quite hard or hard, particularly at the river estuaries, the SO₄/Cl ratio is lower than 0.38, and K₁ is higher than 0.65. The groundwater and springs in Dalmatia are less polluted than surface waters. A majority of these have a geometric average value of MPN coli < 150/100 mL of water observed in 24 of 42 locations studied. The highest bacteriological pollution was found in nine locations where MPN coli > 1000/100 mL and moderate pollution was found in nine locations where MPN coli is between 150 and 1000/100 mL of water. The physical and chemical parameters determined for the most sources in Dalmatia are safe below the international permissible limits.     

Mercury and other elements in lichens near the INA Naftaplin gas treatment plant, Molve, Croatia

This paper describes the use of epiphytic lichens as bioindicators for spatial monitoring of mercury and other elements in air near the natural gas treatment facilities at Molve, Croatia. It is well known that at this location the concentration of mercury in natural gas is very high and therefore it has to be removed from natural gas before further processing in order to prevent technological and environmental problems. In order to monitor the efficiency of an industrial facility for removal of mercury from natural gas, mercury measurements in air and lichens were performed during 9 months in 1997/1998. In situ lichens Parmelia sulcata, Xantoria parientina and Hypogymnia physodes and transplanted lichen species Hypogymnia physodes were used. A good correlation between mercury concentrations in air and lichens was found. The concentrations of barium and bromium were also significantly elevated in transplanted lichens, most probably related to technological process at the gas treatment plant and/or other geological factors. It was confirmed that lichens can successfully be used as bioindicators, provided a careful experiment is designed, particularly the amount of lichens transplanted, the duration of exposure and the initial levels and homogeneity of transplanted lichens.     

Evaluating forest management practices using a GIS-based cellular automata modeling approach with multispectral imagery

The objective of this study was to develop an integrated geographic information system (GIS) cellular automata (CA) model for simulating insect-induced tree mortality patterns in order to evaluate the influence of different forest management activities to control insect outbreaks. High-resolution multispectral images were used to determine susceptibility of trees to attack, whereas the GIS-based CA model simulated the effectiveness of clear-cuts and thinning practices for reducing insect-induced tree mortality. The results indicate that thinning susceptible forests should be more effective than clear-cutting for reducing tree loss to insect outbreaks. This study demonstrates the benefits of an integrated approach for understanding and evaluating forest management activities and expresses the need for spatial analysis and modeling for improving forest management practices.     

Arsenic removal from water by chemisorption filters

The concept of multiple separation by chemisorptive filters was applied and investigated in the process of arsenic removal from water. Chemisorption filters were made by the paper manufacturing method and consisted of cellulose, cationic and anionic ion exchangers, activated carbon and a corresponding chemical agent. In this work chemisorption filters were activated with Ag+, Mg2+, Cu2+, Al3+ and Fe3+ ions, and their chemical contribution to total arsenic removal from the water was analyzed. It was concluded that Cu2+ ions exhibited the best removal effect. Using a chromatographic continuous system with multifunctional filters, which combines the effects of adsorption, ion exchange and filtration, a decrease in the arsenic concentration was determined; for an active layer of 8 mm and a contact time of 2 s it was more than 1000-fold. All processes were performed in batch and chromatographic continuous systems under equilibrium or dynamic conditions. The results of the investigations have shown that arsenic removal is valence dependent (the removal of pentavalent arsenic was more effective). The initial concentration, pH and pollutants in anionic forms, which affected the selectivity, were important for all the processes investigated. The mechanisms of pollutant removal were determined on the basis of measurements of active Cu2+ ion propagation inside the filter structure. By correlating the front propagation of active ions and the pollutant output concentration a more exact model for the removal process was obtained.     

Genotoxic consequences of occupational exposure to ethylene oxide and formaldehyde ‐ a pilot study

The study evaluates chromosome damage caused by simultaneous occupational exposure to ethylene oxide (EtO) and formaldehyde (FA). To determine the extent of chromosome damage, eleven workers were analyzed using chromosome aberration (CA) assay, sister chromatid exchange (SCE) frequencies, micronucleus (MN) assay, and mitotic activity (MA). The results show significant deviations in subjects exposed to EtO and FA from control values in all four assays. The study shows a complex mode of action of EtO and FA on human genome and confirms the need for further research of cytogenetic risk which should be obtained through several assays.