Determination of inorganic compounds in drinking water on the basis of house water heater scale, part 1: Determination of heavy metals and uranium

The analysis of scale originated from drinking water on the house water heater, showed that scale is basically calcium carbonate that crystallizes hexagonally in the form of calcite. Scale taken as a sample from different spots in Belgrade – upper town of Zemun (sample 1) and Pančevo (sample 2) showed different configuration although it came from the same waterworks. That indicates either that the water flowing through waterworks pipes in different parts of the city is not the same or the waterworks net is not the same (age, maintaining, etc). All the elements which are dominant in drinking water (Ca, Mg, K, and Na), and which could be found in water by natural processes, are by their content far below the values regulated by law. The analysis also showed the presence of many metals: Ti, Pb, Zn, Cu Li, Sr, Cd, and Cr in the first sample, which are not found in the scale taken near Pančevo. The results obtained by calculating the mass concentration in drinking water on the basis of scale content, showed that both waters belonged to the category of low mineral waters. Contents of inorganic substances in these waters (117.85 mg/dm3 for sample 1 or 80.83 mg/dm3 for sample 2) are twice lower than the values predicted by the legislation. Gammaspectrometric analysis indicates the presence of radioactive elements – uranium and strontium which can influence human health

238U, 226Ra, 232Th and 40K distribution with soil depth in agricultural soil rigosol type and its relation with main soil properties

Distributions of natural gamma emitting radionuclides 238U, 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were determined in two soil profiles rigosol type under the peach-tree field: one from and second out of the peach-tree root zone. Radioisotope activities (Bq/kg) lie in the range of normal terrestrial gamma-radiation in soil [1]. It is found that variation in natural radionuclides activities along a soil depth of 0-80 cm is due to differences in main soil properties: pH-reaction, carbonates, humus, clay and sand contents confirmed by high correlation between them.Physical chemistry 2008 : 9th international conference on fundamental and applied aspects of physical chemistry; Belgrade (Serbia); 24-28 September 200

Дистрибуција Cs137 у обрадивом земљишту

Usled padavina koje su usledile nakon Černobilskog akcidenta 1986. godine, proizvedeni radionuklid 137Cs je deponovan u zemljištu. S obzirom na njegovo dovoljno dugo vreme poluraspada (30,05 godina), posebno je važna radiološka zaštita kultivisanog (obradivog) zemljišta jer se postavlja pitanje da li se ovaj radionuklid zadržava u površinskim slojevima zemljišta, da li biva usvojen od strane biljaka ili se spušta u dublje slojeve zemljišta. U ovom radu prikazani su rezultati merenja specifične aktivnosti 137Cs metodom gama-spektrometrije u zemljištu 15 godina starog voćnjaka pod zasadom breskvi. Priprema zemljišta za sadnju bresaka izvršena je rigolovanjem, posle čega je usledila 12 godina duga nega voćnjaka, a zatim uzorkovanje zemljišta je izvršeno tri godine nakon prestanka svih poljoprivrednih tretmana. U radu je prikazan pregled rezultata analize uticaja dugogodišnje kultivacije (obrađivanja) zemljišta na preraspodelu 137Cs duž profila dubine 0-80 cm. Linearna i višestruka regresiona analiza primenjene su da bi se procenilo u kojoj meri su nivoi radioizotopa cezijuma povezani sa: nivoima izotopa kalijuma 40K detektovanim u zemljištu; zatim, osnovnim osobinama koje karakterišu zemljište (pH, sadržaj humusa, sadržaj karbonata, granulometrijski sastav, sadržaj higroskopske vlage); mineralnim sastavom glinovite frakcije zemljišta i dostupnim sadržajima mikroelemenata (Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe). Obrasci distribucije 137Cs sa dubinom ukazivali su da je cezijum bio mehanički prenesen iz površinskih ka nižim slojevima zemljišta tokom kultivacije. Rezultati analiza su pokazali da na zatečenu distribuciju izotopa cezijuma sa dubinom glavni uticaj imaju varijacije sadržaja humusa i minerala glinovite frakcije zemljišta, vermikulita, ilita i smektita.Due to the fallout followed by Chernobyl accident in 1986 anthropogenic radionuclide 137Cs was deposited in the soil. Given long half-life of 137Cs (30.05 years), cultivated soils in particular are subject of radiological protection because the question is whether this radionuclide would be retained in the surface layers of the soil, adopted by plants or transferred to the deeper soil layers. This paper presents an overview of the results of 137Cs specific activity measurements by gamma-spectrometry method in cultivated anthrosol soil of a 15-year old peach tree plantation at the experimental field “Radmilovac”. Preparing the land for planting peach trees deep ploughing was conducted followed by 12-year-long cultivation, and soil sampling was carried out three years after the termination of all agricultural treatments. Overview of the analyzes of the long-term cultivation impact on 137Cs redistribution in the soil along the 0-80 cm profile depth is presented. Linear and multiple regression analysis was applied to assess to what extent the levels of cesium radioisotopes are associated with a) levels of potassium isotope 40K detected in the soil; b) the basic features that characterize the soil (pH, humus content, carbonate content, grain size distribution, moisture content of hygroscopic); c) mineral composition of the clay fraction of soil and d) available DTPA-extracted microelements Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe. Patterns of 137Cs distribution with depth indicated that radiocesium was mechanically transferred from the surface to the lower layers of soil during the cultivation. The results of the statistical analysis showed that on radiocesium variations with depth a major impact had the contents of humus and the main minerals of the clay fraction of soil – vermiculite, illite, and smectite.Article is part of: [http://vinar.vin.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/8230

Дистрибуција Cs137 у обрадивом земљишту

Usled padavina koje su usledile nakon Černobilskog akcidenta 1986. godine, proizvedeni radionuklid 137Cs je deponovan u zemljištu. S obzirom na njegovo dovoljno dugo vreme poluraspada (30,05 godina), posebno je važna radiološka zaštita kultivisanog (obradivog) zemljišta jer se postavlja pitanje da li se ovaj radionuklid zadržava u površinskim slojevima zemljišta, da li biva usvojen od strane biljaka ili se spušta u dublje slojeve zemljišta. U ovom radu prikazani su rezultati merenja specifične aktivnosti 137Cs metodom gama-spektrometrije u zemljištu 15 godina starog voćnjaka pod zasadom breskvi. Priprema zemljišta za sadnju bresaka izvršena je rigolovanjem, posle čega je usledila 12 godina duga nega voćnjaka, a zatim uzorkovanje zemljišta je izvršeno tri godine nakon prestanka svih poljoprivrednih tretmana. U radu je prikazan pregled rezultata analize uticaja dugogodišnje kultivacije (obrađivanja) zemljišta na preraspodelu 137Cs duž profila dubine 0-80 cm. Linearna i višestruka regresiona analiza primenjene su da bi se procenilo u kojoj meri su nivoi radioizotopa cezijuma povezani sa: nivoima izotopa kalijuma 40K detektovanim u zemljištu; zatim, osnovnim osobinama koje karakterišu zemljište (pH, sadržaj humusa, sadržaj karbonata, granulometrijski sastav, sadržaj higroskopske vlage); mineralnim sastavom glinovite frakcije zemljišta i dostupnim sadržajima mikroelemenata (Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe). Obrasci distribucije 137Cs sa dubinom ukazivali su da je cezijum bio mehanički prenesen iz površinskih ka nižim slojevima zemljišta tokom kultivacije. Rezultati analiza su pokazali da na zatečenu distribuciju izotopa cezijuma sa dubinom glavni uticaj imaju varijacije sadržaja humusa i minerala glinovite frakcije zemljišta, vermikulita, ilita i smektita.Due to the fallout followed by Chernobyl accident in 1986 anthropogenic radionuclide 137Cs was deposited in the soil. Given long half-life of 137Cs (30.05 years), cultivated soils in particular are subject of radiological protection because the question is whether this radionuclide would be retained in the surface layers of the soil, adopted by plants or transferred to the deeper soil layers. This paper presents an overview of the results of 137Cs specific activity measurements by gamma-spectrometry method in cultivated anthrosol soil of a 15-year old peach tree plantation at the experimental field “Radmilovac”. Preparing the land for planting peach trees deep ploughing was conducted followed by 12-year-long cultivation, and soil sampling was carried out three years after the termination of all agricultural treatments. Overview of the analyzes of the long-term cultivation impact on 137Cs redistribution in the soil along the 0-80 cm profile depth is presented. Linear and multiple regression analysis was applied to assess to what extent the levels of cesium radioisotopes are associated with a) levels of potassium isotope 40K detected in the soil; b) the basic features that characterize the soil (pH, humus content, carbonate content, grain size distribution, moisture content of hygroscopic); c) mineral composition of the clay fraction of soil and d) available DTPA-extracted microelements Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe. Patterns of 137Cs distribution with depth indicated that radiocesium was mechanically transferred from the surface to the lower layers of soil during the cultivation. The results of the statistical analysis showed that on radiocesium variations with depth a major impact had the contents of humus and the main minerals of the clay fraction of soil – vermiculite, illite, and smectite.Article is part of: [http://vinar.vin.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/8230

Raspodjela 137Cs u antrosolu oglednog poljoprivrednog dobra “Radmilovac” kod Beograda

This is a preliminary study of the depth distribution of 137Cs radionuclides in cultivated anthrosol soil of a 15-year old peach tree plantation at the experimental field “Radmilovac” near Belgrade. Before planting, the soil was ploughed at the depth of 1 m. The soil had not been annually ploughed, irrigated and treated with mineral fertilizers for three years before sampling. Activity concentration for 137Cs ranged from 1.8 Bq kg-1 to 35 Bq kg-1. Along the soil depth it varied highly, reaching as high a total variation coefficient as 83 %. Radiocaesium distribution patterns depended on the extent of soil mixing in the plough layer, as it was mechanically transferred from the surface to the lower soil layers during cultivation. 137Cs was associated with humus content and fixation to clay fractions in the soil. Our results single out soil’s hygroscopic water as a valuable parameter for 137Cs behaviour that could be used commonly if the measurement is standardised.Ovo je preliminarno istraživanje dubinske raspodjele radionuklida 137Cs u kultiviranome zemljištu tipa Antrosol 15 godina starog voćnjaka pod zasadom breskvi koje pripada oglednom poljoprivrednom dobru “Radmilovac” u blizini Beograda. Dubokim oranjem do dubine od 1 m zemljište je pripremljeno za postavljanje zasada breskvi. Tri godine prije uzorkovanja zemljišta prekinuta je obrada voćnjaka odnosno godišnje oranje (do 40 cm dubine), navodnjavanje i unos mineralnoga gnojiva. Koncentracija aktivnosti 137Cs kretala se od 1,8 Bq kg-1 do 35 Bq kg-1 i bitno varirala s povećanjem dubine zemljišta te dostigla ukupni koeficijent varijacije od 83 %. Obrasci raspodjele radiocezija po dubini zavisili su od stupnja obrade zemljišta u prethodnom razdoblju, s obzirom na to da je mehanička manipulacija zemljišta dovela do njegove prisutnosti i u nižim slojevima. 137Cs izravno je korelirao sa sadržajem humusa i bio je fiksiran za glinovitu frakciju zemljišta, što upućuje na njegovu povezanost s česticama zemlje. Unatoč tome što se sadržaj higroskopske vlage u zemljištu pokazao korisnim parametrom za opis ponašanja cezija, za njezino određivanje još uvijek nije utvrđena standardna metoda mjerenja

Tracking changes of contents of uranium in water from Belgrade plumbing during multi-year period

Uran je prisutan u površinskoj i podzemnoj vodi u rasponu koncentracija od 0,01 µg/dm3 do 1500 µg/dm3. Zbog mobilnosti njegovih rastvorenih jedinjenja, može se u povišenoj koncentraciji naći i u čovekovom organizmu u kome mu je glavna meta napada bubreg. Iz tih razloga je vršeno praćenje koncentracije urana u vodi za piće koja se koristi u beogradskom vodovodu tokom vremenskog perioda od 2008-2015. godine. Za ispitivanje je korišćena indirektna metoda određivanja sadržaja teških metala i urana u vodi za piće. Ispitivanja vrste izotopa pokazala su da se uran u vodi za piće nalazi u obliku izotopa 238U, dok je izotop 235U zastupljen u konstantnoj koncentraciji, što konsekventno dovodi do smanjivanje izotopskog odnosa 238U/235U usled smanjenja koncentracije izotopa 238U u vodi za piće u ispitivanom periodu. Rezultati ispitivanja su pokazali da se koncentracija urana u vodi za piće kreće od 0,42 µg/dm3 do 0,71 µg/dm3, što je ispod predložene dozvoljene koncentracije od 2 µg/dm3. Dokazano je da je uran u vodi za piće antropogenog porekla i da ne postoji kratkoročni rizik po zdravlje ljudi od njegovog prisustva. Međutim, kontinuirana ingestija urana može prouzrokovati u dužem vremenskom intervalu uticaj na zdravlje ljudi. Proračunati, potencijalni kancerogeni, rizik po zdravlje ljudi ukazao je na realnu opasnost za prosečno 20 od 1000 stanovnika koji stalno konzumiraju ovu vodu za piće.Uranium is present in surface and underground water in the concentration range from 0.01 µg/dm3 to 1500 µg/dm3 . Due to mobility of its dissolved compounds, uranium can be found in human body in elevated concentration, while kidneys are main target of the attack. Because of these reasons, during time period from 2008 to 2015 monitoring of uranium concentration in drinking water used in Belgrade water supply was performed. An indirect method was used for determination of heavy metals content and uranium in drinking water. An examination of isotope type gave result that uranium in drinking water is in form of isotope 238U, while isotope 235U is present in a constant concentration, which consequently leads to a reduction of isotopic ratio 238U/235U due to the reduction of concentration of isotope 238U in the drinking water in the exanimated period. Test results showed that the concentration of uranium in drinking water ranges from 0.42 µg/dm3 to 0.71 µg/dm3 which is under proposed and permitted concentration of 2 µg/dm3 . It is proven that uranium in drinking water has anthropogenic origin and its presence has no short-term risk to human health. However, continuous ingestion of uranium in long-term interval can have an impact on human health. Calculated potentially carcinogenic risk to human health highlighted to the real danger for the average 20 out of 1,000 people which constantly consume this water for drink

Tracking changes of contents of uranium in water from Belgrade plumbing during multi-year period

Uran je prisutan u površinskoj i podzemnoj vodi u rasponu koncentracija od 0,01 µg/dm3 do 1500 µg/dm3. Zbog mobilnosti njegovih rastvorenih jedinjenja, može se u povišenoj koncentraciji naći i u čovekovom organizmu u kome mu je glavna meta napada bubreg. Iz tih razloga je vršeno praćenje koncentracije urana u vodi za piće koja se koristi u beogradskom vodovodu tokom vremenskog perioda od 2008-2015. godine. Za ispitivanje je korišćena indirektna metoda određivanja sadržaja teških metala i urana u vodi za piće. Ispitivanja vrste izotopa pokazala su da se uran u vodi za piće nalazi u obliku izotopa 238U, dok je izotop 235U zastupljen u konstantnoj koncentraciji, što konsekventno dovodi do smanjivanje izotopskog odnosa 238U/235U usled smanjenja koncentracije izotopa 238U u vodi za piće u ispitivanom periodu. Rezultati ispitivanja su pokazali da se koncentracija urana u vodi za piće kreće od 0,42 µg/dm3 do 0,71 µg/dm3, što je ispod predložene dozvoljene koncentracije od 2 µg/dm3. Dokazano je da je uran u vodi za piće antropogenog porekla i da ne postoji kratkoročni rizik po zdravlje ljudi od njegovog prisustva. Međutim, kontinuirana ingestija urana može prouzrokovati u dužem vremenskom intervalu uticaj na zdravlje ljudi. Proračunati, potencijalni kancerogeni, rizik po zdravlje ljudi ukazao je na realnu opasnost za prosečno 20 od 1000 stanovnika koji stalno konzumiraju ovu vodu za piće.Uranium is present in surface and underground water in the concentration range from 0.01 µg/dm3 to 1500 µg/dm3 . Due to mobility of its dissolved compounds, uranium can be found in human body in elevated concentration, while kidneys are main target of the attack. Because of these reasons, during time period from 2008 to 2015 monitoring of uranium concentration in drinking water used in Belgrade water supply was performed. An indirect method was used for determination of heavy metals content and uranium in drinking water. An examination of isotope type gave result that uranium in drinking water is in form of isotope 238U, while isotope 235U is present in a constant concentration, which consequently leads to a reduction of isotopic ratio 238U/235U due to the reduction of concentration of isotope 238U in the drinking water in the exanimated period. Test results showed that the concentration of uranium in drinking water ranges from 0.42 µg/dm3 to 0.71 µg/dm3 which is under proposed and permitted concentration of 2 µg/dm3 . It is proven that uranium in drinking water has anthropogenic origin and its presence has no short-term risk to human health. However, continuous ingestion of uranium in long-term interval can have an impact on human health. Calculated potentially carcinogenic risk to human health highlighted to the real danger for the average 20 out of 1,000 people which constantly consume this water for drink

[Testing the effects of the presence of uranium in drinking water from individual wells in the village of Dubravica in the Braničevo District on public health] [Ispitivanje posledica prisustva urana u vodi za piće iz individualnih bunara u selu dubravica u braničevskom okrugu po zdravlje stanovništva]

The village of Dubravica is partially located over the western lignite deposits of the Kostolac basin. The examination of the dry residue obtained from drinking water from two individual wells by X-ray diffraction analysis, based on a typical peak, showed the presence of uranium in drinking water. The indirect method by Rajković and associates showed that, in sample I, the concentration of uranium in drinking water was 85.5 percent higher (3.71 μg/L) and that the concentration of uranium in sample II was only 22 percent lower (1.56 μg/L) than the Maximum Allowable Concentration (MAC) values required by the Regulations (2 μg/L). Analysis of the result of the introduction of uranium in the human body has shown that this way brings 0.84 to 2 mg of uranium in the human organism per annum or 0.09 to 0.22 mg of uranium is deposited annually in the kidney. Assessment of the potential health risk due to the presence of uranium in drinking water indicated that the population using drinking water from wells will be threatened by uranium in a short time interval. Regarding the long-term risk, the calculation has indicated that in the first sample of drinking water, about 25 inhabitants, and in the case of the second sample of drinking water, 10 inhabitants out of 1000 inhabitants are endangered. As the kidney is the organ in which uranium is deposited (accumulated) to the greatest extent, its presence causes weakening and failure of kidney function, which can destroy 75 percent of kidney function until the manifestation of the first clinical symptoms. This phenomenon is observed among the population along the rivers the Kolubara, the Drina, the Sava and the Morava and is called endemic nephropathy. The elements found in trace amounts (Pb, Cd, Si), live agents (bacteria and viruses), fungal plant toxins, genetic factors and immune mechanism can be listed as possible causes. However, uranium in drinking water has not been listed so far. The tests performed in this study clearly show the role of uranium in the epidemic, endemic nephropathy, which is growing and which is not at the acute phase of the disease but has already progressed to renal failure and end-stage kidney disease. Official data on the rise of endemic nephropathy and diabetes and increasing their share in diseases, as well as overall mortality rates, which amount to 18.19%, clearly indicate that the role of uranium in the Braničevo district environment should not be ignored. Since there are settlements on the terrain to be investigated, uranium and its migration through the environment must be monitored as all conditions for its migration are unfortunately favourable

Is There a Possibility to Involve the Hormesis Effect on the Soybean with Glyphosate Sub-Lethal Amounts Used to Control Weed Species Amaranthus retroflexus L.?

Sub-lethal doses of herbicides can promote plant growth and have a positive effect on an organism this is called hormesis. The purpose of this study was to test the effects of sub-lethal doses of glyphosate on soybean (Glycine max(L.) Merr.) (1.8, 3.6, 7.2, 36, 180, and 720 g ha(-1)) and Amaranthus retroflexus L. (7.2, 36, 180, 720, 1440, and 2880 g ha(-1)). Different biological parameters, such as phytotoxicity, fresh weight, root length, content of photosynthetic pigments, and shikimate concentration, were measured. Glyphosate in doses of 1440 and 2880 g ha(-1) destroyed A. retroflexus plants. A fresh weight of A. retroflexus at a dose of 36 g ha(-1) was reduced by 76.31%, while for the soybean it was reduced by 19.26%. At the highest dose, the shikimate concentration was 145% in the soybean, while in A. retroflexus, the concentration increased by 58.80% compared to the control plants. All doses of glyphosate were statistically significantly different in terms of chlorophyll a content, while higher doses in A. retroflexus caused chlorophyll b to decrease. The change in the production of carotenoids was not statistically significant. The results showed that sub-lethal amounts of glyphosate did not lead to stimulation of measured parameters of soybean

Determination of residues of sulfonylurea herbicides in soil by using microwave-assisted extraction and high performance liquid chromatographic method

A modified method for the analysis of nicosulfuron, rimsulfuron and prosulfuron was developed and validated by using microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection in the ultraviolet region (HPLC-UV-DAD). The most important experimental parameters of extraction procedure and HPLC-UV-DAD technique were optimised in respect to those sulfonylurea herbicides. High recoveries of the microwave-assisted extraction were obtained by using a dichloromethane-acetonitrile mixture (2:1 volume ratio) acidified with acetic acid (0.8 vol.%) with the addition of urea. The mean recoveries at three spiking levels ranged from 97.47 to 98.76% for nicosulfuron, 97.88 to 99.17% for rimsulfuron and from 97.91 to 99.83% for prosulfuron. The limits of detection of nicosulfuron, rimsulfuron and prosulfuron were 0.95, 0.91 and 0.89 mu g kg(-1), respectively. The accuracy of the developed method was confirmed by HPLC coupled with tandem mass spectrometry parallel analyses. The developed method was used to investigate the dissipation dynamics of sulfonylurea herbicides in the real field trials in Vojvodina Province, Serbia. The obtained half-lives were 0.05, 0.23 and 0.15 days for recommended dose application of nicosulfuron, rimsulfuron and prosulfuron, respectively. Low residues and short half-life in soil suggested that the risk to sensitive rotational crops after application of those sulfonylurea herbicides is low when they are used in the appropriate dosages