Bioavailability of metals occurring in polluted soil and its accumulation in plant food

Bioavailability of metals occurring in soil is the basic source of its accumulation in plant food. The impact of soil pollution (due to urban and mining areas) on the food chain presents a challenge for many investigations. Bioavailability of metals in a potentially polluted soil and their possible transfer and bioaccumulation in several vegetable species and herbs was examined. Three extraction methods were implemented for determination of bioavailable metals in the soil. Microwave digestion was applied for total digestion of the plant tissues, while on the soil samples open wet digestion with a mixture of acids was applied. Atomic emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma was used for determination of total elements contents. Significant enrichments in agricultural soil for As, Pb and Zn (in urban area), Cd, Cu and Ni (in a copper mine area), compared with the respective values from European standards were detected. On the basis of three different extraction methods, higher availability was assumed for both lithogenic and anthropogenic elements. Translocation factors higher than 1 were obtained for As, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn. Higher root to shoot translocation of these metals indicated that plants species have vital characteristics to be used for phytoextraction of these metals. The obtained data also suggested that S. oleracea and R. acetosa were singled out to have a phytostabilization potential for Cd, Cu, Ni and Pb, while U. dioica only for Cu. Rumex acetosa has a potential for phytoextraction of Cd in urban and copper polluted areas

Multi-isotope characterization of plant food

Authenticity is a quality criterion for food and food ingredients, and is required more and more worldwide, as a result of legislative protection for regional foods. Reviews of analytical methods for the determination of geographical origin of food and beverages have been published. Organic components of a food-crop production depend on various conditions (e.g., fertilization, history of the field, climatic conditions in the year of cultivation, geographic location and soil composition), so it is not always possible to determine the origin of a product by analyzing the organic components. Methods based on elemental composition have been reviewed as have methods based on isotope ratios. Over the past decade, with the development of new advanced analytical techniques we can successfully retrieve elemental and isotopic compositions of any given food sample and determine the geographic origin successfully. The growing concern of the consumers stimulated scientific research and publications in recent years, including multi-element and isotope-ratio methods of analysis in food authentication after statistical evaluation of the results

Heavy metals air pollution study in mines environments. Case study Bregalnica river basin, Republic of Macedonia

Application of several moss species and attic dust for monitoring of anthropogenic impact on heavy metals air pollution in Bregalnica River Basin, Republic of Macedonia, was studied. Moss samples were reviewed for their potential to reflect heavy metals air pollution. The attention was focused on their quantification ability, underlying the metal accumulation within moss plant tissue and attic dust “historical archiving”. Potential “hot spots” were selected in areas of copper mine (Bučim mine) and lead and zinc mines (Zletovo mine and Sasa mine) as main metal pollution sources in the Eastern part of the Republic of Macedonia. Continuously, dust distribution from ore and flotation tailings occurs. This results with air-introduction and deposition of higher contents of certain metals. Several moss species (Hypnum cupressiforme, Homalothecium lutescens and Scleropodium purum) were used as plant sampling media. Determination of chemical elements was conducted by using both instrumental techniques: atomic emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-AES) and mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-MS). Combination of multivariate techniques (PCA, FA and CA) was applied for data processing and identification of elements association with lithogenic or anthropogenic origin. Spatial distribution maps were constructed for determination and localizing of narrower areas with higher contents of certain anthropogenic elements. In this way influences of selected human activities in local (small scale) air pollution can be determined. Summarized data reveal real quantification of the elements distribution not only in order determination of hazardously elements distribution, but also present complete characterization for elements deposition in mines environs

Soybean phytoremediation of cadmium polluted agricultured soil

Soil pollution with cadmium is due to strengthened industrial development, especially in the areas of drilling, exploitation and processing of mineral raw materials. Many investigation have shown that in Republic of Macedonia there are several areas with significant higher content of cadmium in the soil, including the vicinity of the mine lead and zinc “Zletovo” near the town of Probištip. Phytoremediation is one of the most convenient techniques for remediation of heavy metals from contaminated soils. Previously conducted studies are proposing a several plant species that can be used for efficient phytoremediation. The main issue of the present study was to determine the effectiveness of soybean varieties for phytoremediation of agricultural soils with higher content of cadmium. For that purpose, three soybean varieties with short vegetation were used: Pella, Avigea and OW in association with rhyzobacterium Bradyrhizobium japonicum. Physical-chemical analyses of soil were made, such as: pH, CEC, EC, organic matter, soil texture, available potassium and phosphorus, total and available Cd. The total content of Cd was determined in l the separate parts of the plant (root, stem, leaf, seed and pod). The analysis determined that the varieties Pella and OW shows high potential for phytostabilization/ phytoextraction of cadmium from soil (BAF>1 and TF>1)

Variability assessment of metals distributions due to anthropogenic and geogenic impact in the lead-zinc mine and flotation „Zletovo” environs (moss biomonitoring)

Moss species (Hypnum cupressiforme, Scleropodium purum and Campthotecium lutescens) wereused as suitable sampling media for biomonitoring the origin of heavy metal pollution in the lead–zinc mine and flotationenviron near the town of Probištip. The 21 metals contents were determined by atomic emission spectrometrywith inductively coupled plasma (ICP–AES). Data processing was applied with combinations of multivariate statisticalmethods: factor analysis, principal component analysis and cluster analysis. The main anthropogenic markersin the investigated area were Pb and Zn (maximal values of 200 and 186 mg kg–1, respectively). The factor analysissingled out (in the increasing scale) the following associations: F1/D1: Fe < Mo < Pb < Na < Cd < Mg < Zn < Ag <Cu and F2/D2: Mn < Ni < K < P < Ba < Sr < Ca < As < Cr < Al < V < Li. The anthropogenic elements contents varyindependent from the moss species, but depending on the distancing from the pollution source, there are positive correlation.Long distance distribution from the emission source doesn’t occur

Карактеризација на минералниот профил на разни производи на функционална храна

Функционалната храна се однесува на производи кои со долгорочно консумирање може превентивно или терапевтски да влијаат врз одредени аспекти на човековото здравје. Функционалната храна претставува богат извор на биоактивни компоненти. Кога овие материи се внесуваат со исхраната во доволни, дефинирани и безбедни (нетоксични) количини обезбедуваат научно потврдена и евидентирана нутритивна корист, во превенција, контрола и/или третманот на одредени хронични болести. Посебно значаен аспект на функционалната храна е содржината на минералните елементи. Минералите имаат ефективна улога во метаболизмот и хомеостазата. Карактеризацијата на содржината на минералите во производи на функционална храна може да обезбеди корисни информации за механизмите на апсорпцијата и биорасположливоста на истите. Утврдувањето на достапните и вкупните содржини на минералните елементи претставува корисна алатка во хемиската карактеризација на функционалната храна, со примена на софистицирани аналитички изотопски методи. Аналитички лидер во идентификацијата на содржината на минералните елементи претставува индуктивно спрегната плазма со масена спектрометрија (ICP-MS). Оваа инструментална техника обезбедува определување на минералниот профил со повеќе од 50 изотопи, вклучувајќи ги и елементите во траги

Isotopic lead measurements in wine and edible oil using inductively coupled plasma with mass spectrometry

Lead isotope ratios provide analytical information related to the source of lead contamination in naturally occurring samples. On the other hand, these measurements can provide useful information for routine means of “fingerprinting” the components grown in different habitats. Studies of the isotopic composition of lead are therefore commonly used in the environmental science as well as geological and anthropological studies. Among all the naturally occurring lead isotopes, only 204Pb is non-radiogenic, whereas, 206Pb, 207Pb and 208Pb are the daughter products from the radioactive decay of  238U, 235U and 232Th, respectively. As a consequence, small Pb isotope abundance variation occurs in nature and the isotopic composition of lead in the environment is dependent on the local pollution sources. Being able to accurately measure all of the Pb isotopes is important for a number of investigations. In this study, inductively coupled plasma with mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to investigate whether this chemical application can offer a reliable and practical solution to the problem of the polyatomic overlap in the presence of organic based matrix samples. The study summarizes the instrument optimization procedure for Pb isotope measurements in wine and edible oil samples. Also, the isotopic ratios were presented for samples from same and from different geographical region

The influence of colagenaza enzyme upon structural mechanical properties of meat cans

The investigations been done by using enzyme preparation and collagenaze activity, obtained on the basic of Steptomyces candidus 91 enzyme complex. The influence of the collagenase enzyme preparation upon technological and organoleptic propreties of meat cans beef and pork has been studied. The changes in elasticity, structure and plasticity, as well and organoloptic propreties have been investigate. Is has been established that the collagenase enzyme preparation improves the structural-mechanical propreties and the organoleptic characteristics of the ready product

Method for determination of 35 elements content in various samples with application of microwave digestion and inductively coupled plasma with mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)

Inductively coupled plasma with mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and microwave digestion system were used as working techniques for determining the content of 35 elements (Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Ga, Ge, Hg, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, Sb, Se, Sn, Sr, Ti, V and Zn) in varios samples: edible oils, fruits, vegetables and alcoholic beverages. This paper includes optimization and validation of the conditions for  measurement of the elements isotopes in prepared samples. Method validation was done using calculation of the limit of detection and quantification, lineary, measurement range and measurement uncertainty, as well as the accuracy and precision of the measurements. The examined parameters indicated that the method meets the requirements for the intended use

CARBONICA - Carbon initiative for climate-resilient agriculture

The Carbonica Excellence Hub will enhance the existing carbon farming ecosystems of Greece, North Macedonia and Cyprus, providing long term joint R&I strategies and investment plans, leading to excellent and sustainable place-based innovation ecosystems. The collaborative and knowledge exchange activities at the Carbonica Excellence Hub will connect high-level talents from all regions and promote brain circulation and intersectoral mobility for researchers to better tackle all aspects of carbon farming and increase the pool of strong consortiums able to participate in future Horizon Europe projects