Evaluation of heavy metals and radionuclides in fish and seafood products

Despite the existence of a legislation regarding food contaminants, food safety control in Serbia is a matter of great concern. This study investigates the radioactivity levels and heavy metal concentrations in fish and seafood commercially available in Serbian markets. Domestic fish species (caught in the Danube River)and fishery products imported from Europe, Asia and America were analyzed. The content of natural radionuclides and 137 Cs were investigated by gamma spectrometry. Activity concentration of 40 K was measured in the range of 44–165 Bq kg −1 ; low levels of 137 Cs were detected in two samples (2.8 and 3.0 Bq kg −1 ), while concentrations of 226 Ra and 232 Th were below minimal detectable values. Concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Hg and Pb)were determined using ICP-OES method. Cd concentration ranged from 0.01 to 0.81 mg kg −1 in sea fish and from 0.01 to 0.03 mg kg −1 in freshwater fish. Hg concentrations were in the range of 0.01–1.47 mg kg −1 ; the highest value was measured in the predator fish - shark. The highest level of Pb (6.56 mg kg −1 )was detected in a blue sea fish (Atlantic mackerel). The health risks associated with the intake of heavy metals and radionuclides via fish consumption were evaluated. The results indicate that fish and seafood consumption do not pose a significant health concern in the case of the usual consumption rate which is typical for the population of Serbia. However, a highly frequent consumption of fishery products can have adverse health effects, especially due to Hg and Pb contamination.Peer-reviewed version: [http://cer.ihtm.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/2944

Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in soil samples from forty different locations in Vojvodina. The samples were Soxhlet extracted cleaned-up and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in the selected ion monitoring mode (SIM). Each PAH was separately quantified using an eight-point calibration of mixed standard solutions in the range between 0.25 and 10 μg/cm3. The sum of the 16 US Environmental Protection Agency PAHs analyzed in the soil samples varied from 0.043 to 1.362 mg/kg of dry soil

Degradation of linuron in soil by two fungal strains

Two fungal strains were applied to soil polluted with herbicide in order to determine their degradation potential. Three experimental setups were used. In the first setup, the soil in pots was contaminated by linuron in final concentration of 1 ppm. Suspensions of Phanerocheate chrysosporium and Trichoderma asperellum were applied sepa­rately or in combination. Tomato plantlets were transplanted and chlorophyll content in their leaves was determined at two time points during plant growth. In the second setup in pots, the final concentration of linuron was lower, 0.45 ppm. In the third setup 0.1 ppm of linuron was applied in the field plot. Plantlets of lettuce were transplanted and chlorophyll content was measured as indicator of plant stress. The content of linuron in soil was determined by HPLC. The applied fungal strains significantly reduced toxic effect of 0.45 ppm linuron on plants, which was not the case for 1 ppm linuron. Both fungi, applied separately or in combination, were effective in decreasing the linuron content in the soil. However, in field conditions the combination of both fungi was the most effective. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. III43010

Evaluation of potential human health risks from exposure to volatile organic compounds in contaminated urban groundwater in the Sava river aquifer, Belgrade, Serbia

The oil pollutant in the Sava River aquifer in the residential area of Belgrade, Serbia was investigated in order to analyze the extent, origin and spatial distribution of the pollution, with the aim to estimate potential human health risks from exposure to the compounds detected. Analytical methods indicated that the dominant compounds in this oil pollutant were gasoline range organic compounds. Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX) were identified as compounds of concern and quantified by headspace gas chromatography. The concentrations of benzene measured at all sampling points were higher than the remediation value while the maximum concentrations of BTEX quantified were among the highest concentrations of these compounds reported in the petroleum-contaminated aquifers in the world. The assessment of the human health risks from exposure to BTEX-covered industrial scenario for adult receptors and residential scenario for adult receptors and children. The exposure routes analyzed were dermal contact with and ingestion of contaminated water, considering both cancer and non-cancer effects. The analysis of the lifetime incremental cancer risk indicated the potential for adverse health effects for human exposure at the investigated location, and because of that it was interpreted as an unacceptable risk level or risks of high priority which required immediate consideration for remedial measures at this location. A complete set of mitigation measures was proposed including: groundwater decontamination treatment, installation of filters for tap water, development of the system for monitoring of BTEX in the groundwater and development of the emergency response capacities at this location

Kontrola kvaliteta poljoprivrednog zemljišta i vode za navodnjavanje Vojvodine

The first global estimate of the fertility status and levels of hazardous and harmful substances in the soils of Vojvodina was made in 1992-1993. A total of 1,600 samples were analyzed, each representing an area of 1,000 ha. The study showed Vojvodina to be a very suitable area for the production of safe foods. However, a series of unfavorable circumstances that befell our country in the last 10 years (absent or inadequate fertilizer and pesticide use, 1999 spillage of hazardous and harmful substances in Pančevo and Novi Sad and Novi Sad oil refinery fires) made it necessary to re-test all 1,600 of these samples throughout Vojvodina. The Executive Council of the Province of Vojvodina funded the analysis of 50 soil samples and 10 irrigation water samples from the province. This repeated study involved all the parameters included in the 1992-1993 one, but devastation caused by the 1999 NATO bombardment made it imperative to put special emphasis on testing for the presence in the soil of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as by-products of combustion of oil and oil derivatives. Based on the results of analyses carried out thus far to obtain an initial overall picture of the fertility status and possible soil degradation of the soils of Vojvodina resulting from inadequate fertilizer use and potential soil damage by organic pollutants (pesticides and by-products of burning oil and oil derivatives), we can conclude that the province of Vojvodina is a suitable area for the production of high-value, high-quality safe food by domestic and EU standards.Prva globalna procena stanja plodnosti i sadržaja opasnih i štetnih materija u zemljištima Vojvodine izvršena je tokom 1992-1993. godine. Stanje plodnosti pokazalo je da Vojvodina predstavlja veoma pogodno područje za proizvodnju zdravstveno bezbedne hrane. Međutim, niz nepovoljnih okolnosti u poslednjih deset godina (izostavljanje ili neadekvatna primena đubriva i pesticida, izlivanje opasnih i štetnih materija tokom 1999. godine u Pančevu i Novom Sadu, gorenje rafinerije nafte u Novom Sadu), uslovile su potrebu da se ponovno ispitaju zemljišta Vojvodine. Izvršno Veće Vojvodine je finansiralo analizu 50 uzoraka zemljišta i 10 uzoraka vode za navodnjavanje sa teritorije Vojvodine. Na osnovu sprovedenih istraživanja, koja su imala za cilj dobijanje početne slike o stanju plodnosti i eventualnoj degradaciji zemljišta u Vojvodini, usled izostavljanja primene đubriva i eventualnog oštećenja zemljišta u pogledu sadržaja organskih zagađivača pesticida i produkata gorenja nafte i naftnih derivata, možemo zaključiti da Vojvodina predstavlja pogodno područje za proizvodnju visoko vredne, kvalitetne i zdravstveno bezbedne hrane