Procena ekološkog i zdravstvenog rizika od teških metala u zemljištu u okolini termoelektrane „Nikola Tesla A“

Ecological and health hazards were assessed based on the concentrations of selected heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in thirty surface soil samples taken from the sites around the largest Serbian thermal power plant. Ecological risk caused by heavy metals was estimated through pollution indices whose values indicated low to moderate ecological risks. Health hazard associated with residents’ exposure to heavy metals in soil was calculated applying the U.S. EPA model. The ingestion of soil was the most important exposure pathway. The risk assessment showed that exposure to Co, Fe, and Mn would result in an unacceptable non-carcinogenic risk for children. Cr and Pb were reported to significantly contribute to a carcinogenic risk, while total carcinogenic risk remained within the acceptable non-hazardous range.Ekološki i zdravstveni rizik su procenjeni u odnosu na koncentracije odabranih teških metala (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb i Zn) u trideset površinskih uzoraka zemljišta iz okoline najveće termoelektrane u Srbiji. Ekološki rizik je procenjen putem različitih pokazatelja zagađenja i njihove vrednosti pokazuju niski do srednji ekološki rizik. Rizik po zdravlje usled izlaganja stanovništva teškim metalima u zemljištu je izračunat primenom modela Agencije za zaštitu životne sredine Sjedinjenih Američkih Država. Ingestija zemljišta je identifikovana kao najvažniji put izlaganja. Procena rizika je pokazala da ekspozicija Co, Fe i Mn rezultuje neprihvatljivim nekancerogenim rizikom za decu. Cr i Pb su bili jedini elementi koji su doprinosili u većem obimu kancerogenom riziku, ali je ukupan kancerogeni rizik bio u granicama tolerantnog

Urban agriculture as a keystone contribution towards securing sustainable and healthy development for cities in the future

esearch and practice during the last 20 years has shown that urban agriculture can contribute to minimising the effects of climate change by, at the same time, improving quality of life in urban areas. In order to do so most effectively, land use and spatial planning are crucial so as to obtain and maintain a supportive green infrastructure and to secure citizens' healthy living conditions. As people today trend more towards living in green and sustainable city centres that can offer fresh and locally produced food, cities become again places for growing food. The scope of urban agriculture thereby is to establish food production sites within the city's sphere; for example, through building-integrated agriculture including concepts such as aquaponics, indoor agriculture, vertical farming, rooftop production, edible walls, as well as through urban farms, edible landscapes, school gardens and community gardens. Embedded in changing urban food systems, the contribution of urban agriculture to creating sustainable and climate-friendly cities is pivotal as it has the capacity to integrate other resource streams such as water, waste and energy. This article describes some of the current aspects of the circular city debate where urban agriculture is pushing forward the development of material and resource cycling in cities.European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST): CA17133; EU Horizon 2020 Programmeinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Reduction of anxiety-like and depression-like behaviors in rats after one month of drinking Aronia melanocarpa berry juice

The treatment of mood and anxiety disorders by nutraceuticals is gaining growing awareness. Berries of Aronia melanocarpa (Black chokeberry) and their extracts, exceptionally abundant in diverse phenolic compounds, have become famous for the highest in vitro antioxidant activity among fruits and notable health benefits (e.g. anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective). This study was designed to investigate the behavioral effects of month-long unlimited consumption of Aronia master juice (AJ) and/or juice reconstruct without polyphenols (RJ), in young male rats. AJ was initially evaluated for its content of phenolic compounds by spectrophotometric assays and HPLC-DAD. Rats that were supplied with three various water concentrations of AJ and RJ, respectively: 20% + 0% (ARO group), 5% + 15% (RAJ) and 0 + 20% (PLC), were compared with those which consumed only water (CTL). Daily drinking of AJ solution was significantly elevated from the second or third week onward, which was most expressed in the ARO group. Only this group displayed behavioral variations, manifested by certain hyperactivity in open field tests and prominent reductions of anxiety-like behaviors in the elevated plus maze. The ARO rats also expressed an alleviation of depression-like behavior in forced swimming tests. These findings demonstrate the beneficial behavioral effects of the one-month-long free drinking of phenolic-rich AJ in rats ( gt 20 ml per kg b. mass daily) that may be recognized as stimulating, anxiolytic-like and antidepressant-like. The in vitro assays suggested that MAO-A/MAO-B inhibitions by the phenolic compounds of AJ might be the possible in vivo mechanisms for such behavioral actions

PROCENA EKOLOŠKOG I ZDRAVSTVENOG RIZIKA OD TEŠKIH METALA U ZEMLJIŠTU U OKOLINI TERMOELEKTRANE „NIKOLA TESLA A“

Ecological and health hazards were assessed based on the concentrations of selected heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in thirty surface soil samples taken from the sites around the largest Serbian thermal power plant. Ecological risk caused by heavy metals was estimated through pollution indices whose values indicated low to moderate ecological risks. Health hazard associated with residents’ exposure to heavy metals in soil was calculated applying the U.S. EPA model. The ingestion of soil was the most important exposure pathway. The risk assessment showed that exposure to Co, Fe, and Mn would result in an unacceptable non-carcinogenic risk for children. Cr and Pb were reported to significantly contribute to a carcinogenic risk, while total carcinogenic risk remained within the acceptable non-hazardous range.Ekološki i zdravstveni rizik su procenjeni u odnosu na koncentracije odabranih teških metala (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb i Zn) u trideset površinskih uzoraka zemljišta iz okoline najveće termoelektrane u Srbiji. Ekološki rizik je procenjen putem različitih pokazatelja zagađenja i njihove vrednosti pokazuju niski do srednji ekološki rizik. Rizik po zdravlje usled izlaganja stanovništva teškim metalima u zemljištu je izračunat primenom modela Agencije za zaštitu životne sredine Sjedinjenih Američkih Država. Ingestija zemljišta je identifikovana kao najvažniji put izlaganja. Procena rizika je pokazala da ekspozicija Co, Fe i Mn rezultuje neprihvatljivim nekancerogenim rizikom za decu. Cr i Pb su bili jedini elementi koji su doprinosili u većem obimu kancerogenom riziku, ali je ukupan kancerogeni rizik bio u granicama tolerantnog

Occurrence, Source Apportionment, and Health Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Soil of Urban Parks in a Mid-Sized City

Public parks and open playgrounds are the most important compartments of the urban environment due to their role in sustaining the well-being of city residents, primarily through relaxation and recreation. To determine the occurrence, levels, and sources of 16 US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and consequent human health risk, soil samples from 18 parks and playgrounds from Kruševac, a mid-sized city in Serbia, were collected and analyzed. The concentrations of PAHs were determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The total concentration of selected PAHs ranged from 14 to 121 µg kg−1, with a mean of 55 µg kg−1. The measured concentrations of individual PAHs were well below limits set by national legislation and were much lower than reported values for cities worldwide. Principal component analyses and positive matrix factorization were employed to identify possible PAH sources. Traffic emissions and coal, firewood, and natural gas combustion were identified as the main sources of PAHs in the analyzed soil. The most polluted soil samples were found in parks and playgrounds near busy roads and in the most densely populated city districts. A risk assessment procedure established by the US EPA showed no significant risk, either carcinogenic or non-carcinogenic, associated with exposure to PAHs in the soil for adults and children who use parks and open playgrounds for recreational purposes