Economic,ecological, and health aspects of β-diketonate application in the process of water purification

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Water pollution is a constant challenge for humanity. Sustainable economic development and environmental protection through a green economy structure...     

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...     

Mapping of environmental and technological performance of food and beverage sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The objective of this paper is to discuss the mapping methodology implemented in the selection of BAT candidates and to present the results of the mapping of B&H food and beverage sector, prepared as a baseline for the development of national reference documents on Best Available Techniques. The subsectors subject to analysis were: dairy, fish farming, fish processing, fruit and vegetable processing, meat processing, breweries, and slaughterhouses.The sector was mapped from several aspects, including socio-economic, legal, and environmental point of view. The socio-economic aspect focused on understanding the sector’s structure and financial capabilities, pricing for water, energy, and solid waste consumption, as well as employee profiles, in order to better assess the sustainability of decisions taken. Legal mapping focused on relevant regulations, including policies from the following sectors: environment, water use and protection, food safety, agriculture, and veterinary, in order to determine legal requirements from an environmental protection aspect set in the various sector policies. Environmental performance indicators were calculated in order to assess present resource efficiencies and relevant environmental impacts. In addition, the mapping process also addressed the existing level of BAT implementation in the subsectors under consideration.The paper presents a rationale for methodology selection, offers a review of the mapping methodology used, discusses mapping results and provides conclusions in regards to that methodology used and discusses issues that need to be considered in the selection of BAT candidates.     

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.