Radiological risks from 40 K, 226Ra and 232Th in urbanised and industrialised karstic coastal area (Kaštela Bay,Croatia)

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Radiological risks associated with 40 K, 226Ra and 232Th massic activities in limestones, marls, stream sediments and soils of the...     

The strategy for conservation non-renewable natural resources through producing and application solid recovery fuel in the cement industry: a case study for Lithuania

This pilot study aimed to develop a production line for SRF production from RDF by extracting prohibited materials, grinding, and drying, and the energy potential for using SRF in the cement industry as an alternative fuel was evaluated. This paper defined the main characteristics of RDF, which were obtained after the separation of the biological fraction from MSW at an MBT plant. According to its characteristics, RDF can only be used for incineration in the CPP to obtain heat and energy. The produced SRF meets the requirements for fuel from waste and can be used as an alternative fuel for clinker firing. A technological process line for SRF production from RDF has been developed by adding technical units to the existing MBT line. The SRF production line yield was calculated as 4.47 t/h. At the end of the SRF production process, the moisture content of the finished product decreased by 85%, and the volume decreased by 18%. The obtained SRF had a high calorific value, low moisture content, and a permissible value of chlorine and mercury. It was proposed that the produced SRF and sewage sludge (already used during the clinker firing process) be utilized as alternative fuels since they correspond to the oxide composition of the finished clinker in elemental and oxide composition. A calculation to assess the economic and environmental efficiency of the use of SRF in the cement kiln was conducted. The result showed that using 10% SRF as a substitute fuel for coal used in clinker roasting at 1.92 t/h would save 601.7 USD/h coal costs. This use of SRF will emit 3.7 t/h CO₂ and achieve net savings of 754.7 USD/h.

     

Levels and distribution of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in humans and environmental compartments: a comprehensive review of the last five years of research

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are a class of brominated flame retardants (BFRs), present in the environment, animals, and humans. Their...     

Application of Static Critical Load Models for Acidity to High Mountain Lakes in Europe

Critical load models for acidityprovide a measure of the sensitivity of surfacewaters to acid deposition, and can be used todetermine critical load exceedance and potentiallong-term harmful effects. Three static models,the Steady-State Water Chemistry model, diatommodel and First-order Acidity Balance model, arehere applied to 11 high mountain lakes in Norway,Scotland, the Alps, the Pyrenees and the Tatras.Between five and seven of the lakes show criticalload exceedance, depending on the model used.Nitrogen as well as sulphur deposition isimportant in causing exceedance. Since soil andvegetation cover are generally sparse, geologyand lake retention time appear to be key factorsin the determination of critical load. Retentionof nitrogen is observed, but it is unclearwhether this occurs within the lake or theterrestrial part of the catchment.     

Spontaneous expression of magnetic compass orientation in an epigeic rodent: the bank vole,Clethrionomys glareolus

Magnetoreception has been convincingly demonstrated in only a few mammalian species. Among rodents, magnetic compass orientation has been documented in four species of subterranean mole rats and two epigeic (i.e. active above ground) species—the Siberian hamster and the C57BL/6J mouse. The mole rats use the magnetic field azimuth to determine compass heading; their directional preference is spontaneous and unimodal, and their magnetic compass is magnetite-mediated. By contrast, the primary component of orientation response is learned in the hamster and the mouse, but both species also exhibit a weak spontaneous bimodal preference in the natural magnetic field. To determine whether the magnetic compass of wild epigeic rodents features the same functional properties as that of laboratory rodents, we investigated magnetic compass orientation in the bank vole Clethrionomys glareolus (Cricetidae, Rodentia). The voles exhibited a robust spontaneous bimodal directional preference, i.e. built nests and slept preferentially along the north-south axis, and deflected their directional preference according to a shift in the direction of magnetic north, clearly indicating that they were deriving directional information from the magnetic field. Thus, bimodal, axially symmetrical directional choice seems to be a common feature shared by epigeic rodents. However, spontaneous directional preference in the bank vole appeared to be more pronounced than that reported in the hamster and the mouse. These findings suggest that bank voles are well suited for future studies investigating the adaptive significance and mechanisms of magnetic orientation in epigeic rodents.     

Implications of oxidative stress in occupational exposure to lead on a cellular level

The aim of this study was to determine oxidative alterations leading to cellular dysfunctions in Pb-exposed subjects by evaluating damage to all major classes of biomolecules in the cell, lipid peroxidation, protein and DNA damage and determine relationships between parameters of Pb toxicity and specific biomarkers of oxidative damage.

Analysis was conducted of smelter workers with high blood Pb and urine aminolevulinic acid levels and slightly elevated values of coproporphyrin and erythrocyte protoporphyrin IX. Significant decreases of thiol groups and increases in carbonyl groups as protein degradation end products, and of nitrite were detected. Elevated rates of lipid peroxidation and rises in the activities of the antioxidant enzymes Cu–Zn superoxide dismutase and catalase were also observed. Both enzymes showed positive correlations with the blood lead levels and urine coproporphyrin, while thiol groups correlated negatively with the same indices. The genotoxic potential of lead was manifested through an increased number of DNA-damaged cells. Increased activities of serum lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes indicated cellular damage in the lungs, kidneys, and liver. These lead-induced impairments should be taken into consideration in the assessment of Pb-related health hazards.     

Pollution status and health risk caused by heavy elements in the flooded soil and vegetables from typical agricultural region in Vojvodina Province,Serbia

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The investigation conducted in the Vojvodina Province, as a typical European and one of the biggest agricultural regions in the Balkans, offers the...     

Effect of triazole pesticide formulation on bovine culture cells

To date, most data about the possible genotoxic effect of triazole pesticides are focused on laboratory animals resulting in limited information on further non-target organisms such as cattle. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of triazole (tebuconazole/prothioconazole) fungicide formulation on the induction of chromosomal aberrations (CAs), sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) and DNA fragmentation in bovine cultured lymphocytes. Our results showed that the fungicide formulation did not induce significant number of CAs in bovine cells after 24 h treatment. Nevertheless, the dose-dependent reduction of mitotic division was observed, with the strongest effect at 30.0 μg mL^?1 in both donors (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively). Prolonged 48 h exposure caused the increased level of breaks in treated cultures (3.0?15.0 μg mL^?1; P < 0.05) and significant decrease in mitotic index (MI). The tested fungicide failed to produce any statistical changes in the SCE frequency neither after 24 h nor 48 h treatment. However, the significant decline of the proliferation index (PI) was observed after 24 h indicating the fungicide influence on cell cycle kinetics. Prolonged 48 h exposure caused cytotoxicity reflecting in lower PI value relative to control mainly at the highest fungicide concentrations (30.0 μg mL^?1, P < 0.001). Using painting probes for bovine chromosomes 1, 5 and 7 (BTA1, BTA5 and BTA7) only low levels of aneuploidies were detected. Significant increase of polyploidy cells (P < 0.05) was induced by a 3.0 μg mL^?1 dose of the fungicide after 48 h. DNA fragmentation assay didn't reveal the presence of DNA nucleosome ladder in cell cultures at any time (24 h and 48 h) and fungicide concentration.     

Comparing carbon fluxes between different stages of secondary succession of a karst grassland

Abandonment of marginal agricultural areas with subsequent secondary succession is a widespread type of land use change in Mediterranean and mountain areas of Europe, leading to important environmental consequences such as change in the water balance, carbon cycling, and regional climate. Paired eddy flux measurement design with grassland site and tree/shrub encroached site has been set-up in the Slovenian Karst (submediterranean climate region) to investigate the effects of secondary succession on ecosystem carbon cycling. The invasion of woody plant species was found to significantly change carbon balance shifting annual NEE from source to an evident sink. According to one year of data succession site stored ?126 ± 14 g C m^?2 y^?1 while grassland site emitted 353 ± 72 g C m^?2 y^?1. In addition, the seasonal course of CO₂ exchange differed between both succession stages, which can be related to differences in phenology, i.e. activity of prevailing plant species, and modified environmental conditions within forest fragments of the invaded site. Negligible effect of instrument heating was observed which proves the Burba correction in our ecosystems unnecessary. Unexpectedly high CO₂ emissions and large disagreement with soil respiration especially on the grassland site in late autumn indicate additional sources of carbon which cannot be biologically processes, such as degassing of soil pores and caves after rain events.