Active biomonitoring of the air quality in Belgrade, Serbia, was performed using the moss Sphagnumgirgensohnii. Moss bags were exposed in parallel with and without irrigation for 3 and 6 months, respectively, at three different sites.
Twenty-nine elements were determined in the exposed moss samples by INAA. For all exposure periods, higher uptake in the irrigated
moss bags was evident for Al, Cr, Fe, Zn and Sr. Elements such as Cl, K, Rb and Cs were depleted in the moss tissue during
the time of exposure. For most of the elements the accumulation after 6 months exceeded that observed after 3 months. 相似文献
Objective: This study examined the risk factors of driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) among drivers of specific vehicle categories (DSC). On the basis of this research, the variables related to DUI and involvement in traffic crashes were defined. The analysis was conducted for car drivers, bicyclists, motorcyclists, bus drivers, and truck drivers.
Method: The research sample included drivers involved in traffic crashes on the territory of Serbia in 2016 (60,666). Two types of analyses were conducted in this study. Logistic regression established the correlation between DUI and DSC and the The Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (Multi-criteria decision making) method was applied to consider the scoring and explore the potential for the prevalence of DUI on the basis of 2 data sets (DUI and non DUI).
Results: The study results showed that driver error and male drivers were the 2 most significant risk factors for DUI, with the highest scores and potential for prevalence. The nonuse of restraint systems, driver experience, and driver age are the factors with a significant prediction of involvement in an accident and an insignificant prediction of DUI.
Conclusions: Following the development of the logistic prediction models for DUI drivers, testing of the model was conducted for 3 control driver groups: Car, motorcycle, and bicycle. The prediction model with a probability greater than 50% showed that 77% of car drivers were under the influence of alcohol. Similarly, the prediction percentage for motorcyclists and bicyclists amounted to 71 and 67%, respectively. The recommendation of the study is that drivers whose DUI probability is above 50% should be potentially suspected of DUI. The results of this study can help to understand the problem of DUI among specific driver categories and detect DUI drivers, with the aim of creating successful traffic safety policy. 相似文献
The aim of this study is to test the applicability of snow surveying in the collection and detailed characterization of vehicle-derived magnetic particles. Road dust extracted from snow, collected near a busy urban highway and a low traffic road in a rural environment (southern Finland), was studied using magnetic, geochemical and micro-morphological analyses. Significant differences in horizontal distribution of mass specific magnetic susceptibility (χ) were noticed for both roads. Multi-domain (MD) magnetite was identified as the primary magnetic mineral. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analyses of road dust from both roads revealed: (1) angular-shaped particles (diameter ∼1-300 μm) mostly composed of Fe, Cr and Ni, derived from circulation of motor vehicles and (2) iron-rich spherules (d ∼ 2-70 μm). Tungsten-rich particles (d < 2 μm), derived from tyre stud abrasion were also identified. Additionally, a decreasing trend in χ and selected trace elements was observed with increasing distance from the road edge. 相似文献
The paper reports unforeseen results of increased toxicity of water, subsequent to interactions between CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs), phenol and toluene under UV irradiation. The consistent pattern of changes in measured toxicity (TU) was observed and correlated with degradation of phenol and/or toluene. Spearman rank coefficients (SRCs) for data pairs sum-parameters vs. TU were calculated. The highest correlation between toxicity and degradation by-products was observed for hydroquinone (0.86) and catechol (0.89). The presence of QDs in tested concentration range in the absence of UV has shown low toxicity and no interactions with phenol and/or toluene. The leak of constituent core and shell metal ions was observed. The minor differences in physical characteristics of tested QDs of the same chemical composition led to rather different degradation patterns of phenol and toluene, and the amount of leak of the metal ions as well. 相似文献
Background, aim, and scope Selenium (Se) has been shown to reduce mercury (Hg) bioavailability and trophic transfer in aquatic ecosystems. The study
of methylmercury (MeHg) and Se bioaccumulation by plankton is therefore of great significance in order to obtain a better
understanding of the estuarine processes concerning Hg and Se accumulation and biomagnification throughout the food web. In
the western South Atlantic, few studies have documented trace element and MeHg in fish tissues. No previous study about trace
elements and MeHg in plankton has been conducted concerning tropical marine food webs. Se, Hg, and MeHg were determined in
two size classes of plankton, microplankton (70–290 μm) and mesoplankton (≥290 μm), and also in muscle tissues and livers
of four fish species of different trophic levels (Mugil liza, a planktivorous fish; Bagre spp., an omnivorous fish; Micropogonias furnieri, a benthic carnivorous fish; and Centropomus undecimalis, a pelagic carnivorous fish) from a polluted estuary in the Brazilian Southeast coast, Guanabara Bay. Biological and ecological
factors such as body length, feeding habits, and trophic transfer were considered in order to outline the relationships between
these two elements. The differences in trace element levels among the different trophic levels were investigated.
Materials and methods Fish were collected from July 2004 to August 2005 at Guanabara Bay. Plankton was collected from six locations within the bay
in August 2005. Total mercury (THg) was determined by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CV-AAS) with sodium borohydride
as a reducing agent. MeHg analysis was conducted by digesting samples with an alcoholic potassium hydroxide solution followed
by dithizone-toluene extraction. MeHg was then identified and quantified in the toluene layer by gas chromatography with an
electron capture detector (GC-ECD). Se was determined by AAS using graphite tube with Pin platform and Zeeman background correction.
Results and discussion Total mercury, MeHg, and Se increased with plankton size class. THg and Se values were below 2.0 and 4.8 μg g−1 dry wt in microplankton and mesoplankton, respectively. A large excess of molar concentrations of Se in relation to THg was
observed in both plankton size class and both fish tissues. Plankton presented the lowest concentrations of this element.
In fish, the liver showed the highest THg and Se concentrations. THg and Se in muscle were higher in Centropomus undecimalis (3.4 and 25.5 nmol g−1) than in Micropogonias furnieri (2.9 and 15.3 nmol g−1), Bagre spp (1.3 and 3.4 nmol g−1) and Mugil liza (0.3 and 5.1 nmol g−1), respectively. The trophic transfer of THg and Se was observed between trophic levels from prey (considering microplankton
and mesoplankton) to top predator (fish). The top predators in this ecosystem, Centropomus undecimalis and Micropogonias furnieri, presented similar MeHg concentrations in muscles and liver. Microplankton presented lower ratios of methylmercury to total
mercury concentration (MeHg/THg) (34%) than those found in mesoplankton (69%) and in the muscle of planktivorous fish, Mugil liza (56%). The other fish species presented similar MeHg/THg in muscle tissue (of around 100%). M. liza showed lower MeHg/THg in the liver than C. undecimalis (35%), M. furnieri (31%) and Bagre spp. (22%). Significant positive linear relationships were observed between the molar concentrations of THg and Se in the
muscle tissue of M. furnieri and M. liza. These fish species also showed significant inverse linear relationships between hepatic MeHg and Se, suggesting a strong
antagonistic effect of Se on MeHg assimilation and accumulation.
Conclusions Differences found among the concentrations THg, MeHg, and Se in microplankton, mesozooplankton, and fishes were probably related
to the preferred prey and bioavailability of these elements in the marine environment. The increasing concentration of MeHg
and Se at successively higher trophic levels of the food web of Guanabara Bay corresponds to a transfer between trophic levels
from the lower trophic level to the top-level predator, suggesting that MeHg and Se were biomagnified throughout the food
web. Hg and Se were positively correlated with the fish standard length, suggesting that larger and older fish bioaccumulated
more of these trace elements. THg, MeHg, and Se were a function of the plankton size.
Recommendations and perspectives There is a need to assess the role of selenium in mercury accumulation in tropical ecosystems. Without further studies of
the speciation of selenium in livers of fishes from this region, the precise role of this element, if any, cannot be verified
in positively affecting mercury accumulation. Further studies of this element in the study of marine species should include
liver samples containing relatively high concentrations of mercury. A basin-wide survey of selenium in fishes is also recommended. 相似文献
The degradation of 4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (4-CPA), 4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid (MCPA), 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T) as chlorophenoxy herbicides, as well as of 3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid (dicamba) as chlorobenzoic herbicide, has been studied by peroxi-coagulation. This electrochemical method yields a very effective depollution of all compounds in acidic aqueous medium of pH 3.0 working under pH regulation, since they are oxidized with hydroxyl radicals produced from Fenton's reaction between Fe(2+) and H(2)O(2) generated by the corresponding Fe anode and O(2)-diffusion cathode. Their products can then be removed by mineralization or coagulation with the Fe(OH)(3) precipitate formed. Both degradative paths compete at low currents, but coagulation predominates at high currents. The peroxi-coagulation process of dicamba at I>or=300 mA leads to more than 90% of coagulation, being much more efficient than its comparative electro-Fenton treatment with a Pt anode and 1 mM Fe(2+), where only mineralization takes place. For the chlorophenoxy compounds, electro-Fenton gives a slightly lower depollution than peroxi-coagulation, because more easily oxidable products are produced. Oxidation of chlorinated products during peroxi-coagulation is accompanied by the release of chloride ion to the solution. The efficiency of this method decreases with increasing electrolysis time and current. The decay of all herbicides follows a pseudo-first-order reaction, with a similar constant rate for 4-CPA, MCPA, 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T, and a higher value for dicamba. 相似文献
To assess the effect of changes in traffic density and fuels used for heating at the beginning of the 1990s, 1992–2005 monthly
averages of PM10, SO2, NO2, NO, CO and O3 from Prague, the Czech capital, were analyzed together with long term trends in emissions of major pollutants, fuel consumption
and number of vehicles registered in Prague. The data from all monitoring stations were retrieved from the database of the
state automated monitoring system. Correlation coefficients between ambient monthly averaged temperature and all pollutants
of concern showed distinct seasonal trends. The results showed that while SO2 and to some extent also CO concentrations dropped namely in the first half of the analyzed period (1992–1997) as a result
decreased fossil fuel consumption for local heating, the behaviour of other pollutant concentrations followed a different
pattern. PM10 concentrations decreased during the beginning of the 1990s but showed a sign of increase after 2000. Concentrations of ozone
and NO2 did not reveal any significant change throughout the whole studied period. It can be concluded that during the studied period
traditional urban sources of pollution, such as coal and oil combustion, lost their importance but were simultaneously substituted
by pollutants from automotive transport (namely PM and NO2) making the problem of air quality even worse. 相似文献
- Goal, Scope, Background. Lake Skadar is the largest lake in Balkan Peninsula, located on the Montenegro-Albanian border. The
unique features of the lake and wide range of endemic and rare or endangered plant and animal species resulted in the classification
of the Skadar as a wetland site of international significance. In spite of its importance the Lake is influenced by inflowing
waters from river Morača and other regional rivers contaminated by the industry, municipal and agricultural activities in
the area. Therefore, the Lake has been subject of various physical, chemical, biological and toxicological examinations. However,
community-level analyses are most relevant to assess the effect of stressors on aquatic ecosystems. In the present study bacterial
community structure among differently polluted sites of the lake was compared by genetic fingerprinting technique.
Methods Water and sediment samples were collected from five differently polluted sampling sites on the Lake Skadar in spring and
autumn of the same year. The bacterial community structure in the samples was characterized and compared by temporal temperature
gel electrophoresis (TTGE) analysis of polymerase chain reaction-amplified bacterial 16S rRNA genes.
Results and Discussion The TTGE analysis resulted in many distinguishable and reproducible band patterns, allowing reliable comparison of bacterial
communities among sampling sites. Results on the bacterial community structure revealed that three of the selected locations
can be considered as sites that have not shown any pollution degradation determined by our method, due to similar structure
of bacterial community in the sediment samples. On the other hand, significant shifts in bacterial community structure in
the mouth of the river Morača and Plavnica were shown. Since the results coincide with some of the bioassays and chemical
analysis performed previously, the changes in bacterial community structure are explained as an effect of antropogenic pollution
on the lake ecosystem by waters of river Morača and stream Plavnica.
Conclusion The TTGE has proven to be an efficient and reliable method to monitor bacterial dynamics and community shifts in aquatic
environment, especially in the sediments. Within the variety of environmental quality assessments the use of TTGE analyses
of bacterial community is strongly recommended, particularly as an initial investigation. However, in any conclusion on the
state of the environment, the TTGE results should be combined to some other biological, chemical and hydrological data.
Recommendation and Outlook Since prokaryotes are a crucial group of organisms in the biosphere, the ecosystem function studies are largely based on
bacterial communities. Therefore, bacterial community structure analysis should be a part of an integrated weight of evidence
approach in pollution assessment. In case of Triad approach, consisting of chemical analyses, bioassays, and community studies
in the field, the TTGE bacterial community structure analyses should be placed in the later Triad leg. In comparison to other
community studies, based on various biotic indices, the TTGE bacterial community analysis has proven to be very sensitive,
reliable and less time consuming. 相似文献