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.     

The application of reliability models in traffic accident frequency analysis

Analysis of traffic accident frequency represents an important subject of research of many authors. From the aspect of temporal analysis of traffic accident occurrence, two approaches have been singled out in previous practice: the collective (analyzes traffic accidents over a longer period of time) and individual (analyzes traffic accidents in real time). The paper shows that the system reliability theory, with certain adjustments, can be largely used to analyze traffic accident frequency based on the individual approach. A certain similarity has been observed between the system reliability theory and the traffic safety theory, and conceptual adjustment of equivalent terms and states has been performed based on this. A model has been successfully tested on the basis of which, for the road and sections, we have determined the traffic accident frequency, the probability of the occurrence of a certain number of traffic accidents and the mean time between two consecutive traffic accidents.     

Headspace solid phase microextraction method for determination of triazine and organophosphorus pesticides in soil

A headspace solid phase microextraction method (HS-SPME) for simultaneous determination of five pesticides belonging to triazine and organophosphorus pesticide groups in soil samples was developed. Microextraction conditions, such as temperature, extraction time and sodium chloride (NaCl) content were investigated and optimized using 100 μ m polydimethyl-siloxane (PDMS) fiber. Detection and quantification were done by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Relative standard deviation (RSD) and recovery values for multiple analysis of soil samples fortified at 30 μ g kg^{? 1} of each pesticide were below 13 % and higher than 70 %, respectively. Limits of detection (LOD) for all the compounds studied were less than 3.2 μ g kg^{? 1}. The proposed method was applied in the analysis of some agricultural soil samples.     

Effect of a mixture of flufenacet and isoxaflutole on population numbers of soil-dwelling microorganisms,enzymatic activity of soil,and maize yield

Abstract

This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of a mixture of flufenacet?+?isoxaflutole on counts of microorganisms, ecophysiological diversity index (EP), colony development index (CD) and on the enzymatic activity of soil and maize growth. The experiment was conducted with sandy clay, to which the tested herbicide was administered in doses of: 0.25, 5.0, 10, 20, 40, 80 and 160?mg/kg. Soil without the addition of the mixture served as the control. Results demonstrated that the tested mixture contributed to a decrease in numbers of Azotobacter, organotrophic bacteria, actinobacteria and fungi. The negative effect of the herbicide could also be noticed in the case of the enzymatic activity of soil. Soil contamination contributed to suppressed activities of dehydrogenases, catalase, urease, alkaline phosphatase and arylsulfatase. In turn, the initial increase in the activity of β-glucosidase was followed by its decline observed with time. The flufenacet?+?isoxaflutole mixture affected also maize plant growth, reducing maize dry matter yield when used at doses from 5.0 to 160?mg/kg. In summary, it may be concluded that mixture evokes a negative effect on the microbiological and biochemical activity of soil and that their excess in the soil leads to plant decay as at the seeding stage.     

Simple and cost-effective measures for the improvement of paper mill effluent treatment – A case study

In this study, the performance and the efficiency of physico-chemical effluent treatment in a paper mill was investigated, with the aim of evaluating the treatment rationality and running stability. The effluent treatment plant (ETP) uses alum as a coagulant and polyacrylamide as a flocculant in multi-stage water purification. Inadequate efficiency and some operational problems were observed and their occurrences were investigated. Several simple measures inside the mill and some technical measures can prevent or postpone expensive end-of-pipe treatment investments, such as biological treatment. Chemically enhanced primary treatment under optimal operating conditions can be a stand-alone technique for achieving high quality effluent. Furthermore, reductions in wastewater generation in combination with fiber and filler recovery provide environmental benefits as well as significant economic savings in production. The advantages of the cleaner production approach in existing treatment units compared to expensive biological end-of-pipe technologies are obvious. This study demonstrated that the examined mill could easily and cost-effectively change its water system toward strict discharge limits by continuing to use the existing treatment units.     

Prenatal diagnosis of complete trisomy 19q

This communication presents the first case of complete trisomy 19q, prenatally detected by ultrasound investigation. Real-time high-resolution ultrasound examination was performed at 19 weeks of gestation. After termination of the pregnancy, autopsy investigation was done. GTG-banding, fluorescence in situ hybridization m-(FISH) analysis, and FISH analysis with a 19q subtelomeric specific probe were used for identification of the fetal karyotype. Sonographic examination revealed an enlarged cisterna magna, cerebellar hypoplasia and aplasia of the inferior part of the vermis, combined and bilateral kidney malformations, significant nuchal fold, absence of fetal nasal bones, and intracardial calcifications. Autopsy confirmed ultrasound findings, but also revealed situs viscerum inversus of the lungs. Fetal karyotype was defined as: 46,XY,der(21)t(19;21)(q11;p13)mat. Our ultrasound and autopsy findings will certainly contribute to better knowledge of phenotype characterization of this rare chromosomal disorder. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Relation Between Edaphic Factors and Vegetation Development on Copper Mine Wastes: A Case Study From Bor (Serbia,SE Europe)

The relationship between edaphic characteristics and vegetation growing on mine wastes in the Bor region (East Serbia, SE Europe) was studied using multivariate statistical analysis. The influence of edaphic factors on the composition of plant life-forms was also investigated, since it could reflect strategies for the avoidance of or tolerance to disturbances of ecosystems. The goal was to provide potential models for the restoration and management of this and similar mine waste areas. The results of this study imply that soil textures, nitrogen contents, reclamation technology and the presence of hydrothermally altered andesite as the type of bedrock significantly influenced plant colonization and vegetation composition of the Bor mine wastes. These edaphic factors explained 30.3 % of the total variation in the vegetation data set. It was also revealed that the pattern of plant life-forms found on the considered site groups corresponded to the soil texture. Based on their relative abundance on the investigated sites and relationships with soil properties it is concluded that therophytes and geophytes are unsuccessful primary colonizers of the Bor mine wastes. Hemicryptophytes of psammophytic character were the most successful primary colonizers and therefore potential candidates for anthropogenically-assisted natural recovery. This study suggested that an assessment of edaphic factors should be widely used in the characterization of mine wastes prior to reclamation. Estimation of their role in the development of existing mine vegetation should predate reclamation procedures. Thus, approaches based on adequate plant life-forms should have a more prominent role in future mine reclamation schemes.     

Speciations of trace metals in the Danube alluvial sediments within an oil refinery

A sequential extraction procedure was applied to identify forms of Ni, Zn, Pb and Cu with Fe- and Mn-oxides associated in alluvial sediments of the River Danube within Pancevo Oil Refinery (Serbia). The five steps of the sequential extraction procedure partitioned metals into: CH(3)COONH(4) extractable (S1); NH(2)OH.HCl carbonate extractable and easily reducible (S2); (NH(4))(2)C(2)O(2)/H(2)C(2)O(2) moderately reducible (S3); H(2)O(2)-HNO(3) organic extractable (S4); and HCl acid soluble residue (S5). Extracted concentrations of trace metals, analyzed after all five steps, were found to be (mg kg(-1)) for Mn: 656, Fe: 26734, Ni: 32.3, Zn: 72.8, Pb: 13.4 and Cu: 27.0. Most of the elements were found in acid soluble residue, characterizing stable compounds in sediments. Non-residual fractions of trace metals (sum of the first four fractions) were analyzed because they are more bioavailable than the residual amount. Correlation analysis and two multivariate analysis methods (principal component and cluster analysis) were used to understand and visualize the associations between the non-residual fractions of trace metals and certain forms, more or less crystalline of Fe- and Mn-oxides within the analyzed sediments, since Fe- and Mn-oxides play an important role in trace metal sorption within aquatic systems, especially within the Danube alluvium where the fluctuations of groundwater are very frequent and the level of groundwater could come close to surface.