Zdravstvena ekologija i nadzor okoliša u Estoniji

An assessment of environmental health and monitoring in Estonia after the dissolution of the Soviet Union has shown that the country suffered from neglect during the "cold war" after World War II, and efforts to improve the status quo have been slow since independence was gained in 1991. Conditions in Estonia are affected by the fifty-year long occupation. Industrial, military and agricultural activities have left a legacy of pollution and obsolete installations. The regulatory framework and life style attitudes from the Soviet era interfere with reform efforts. The current transition period holds risks that derive from a run-down infrastructure, a weak economy, and disruptions, inherent in the reorganization itself. Over the past few years a recession has further complicated the situation and the public health status has worsened. International assistance progiammes as well as efforts by Estonians have led to some change and progress in environmental management since 1991, and lately ambitious environmental and public health sector programmes have been initiated by the government. Much work, however, still needs to be done. An examination of the recent history of this small country provides examples of environmental neglect and consequences, as well as recommended corrective measures.Zdravstveno-ekološka ocjena situacije u Estoniji nakon raspada Sovjetskog Saveza pokazala je da je država zanemarivana tijekom razdoblja hladnog rata nakon II. svjetskog rata i da su od proglašenja nezavisnosti godine 1991. bili spori napori za poboljšanje postojećeg stanja. Na stanje u Estoniji utječe pedesetogodišnje razdoblje okupacije. Industrijske, vojne i poljoprivredne djelatnosti ostavile su u nasljeđe onečišćenost i zastarjela postrojenja. Zakonski okviri i stavovi o načinu života iz sovjetske ere ometaju reformske napore. U sadašnjem prijelaznom razdoblju prisutne su opasnosti koje proizlaze iz upropaštene infrastrukture, slabe ekonomije i poremećaja usko povezanih s reorganizacijom. Tijekom posljednjih pet godina ekonomska kriza još je više otežala ove okolnosti, a stanje u javnom zdravstvu se pogoršalo. Nakon 1991. međunarodni programi pomoći kao i napori samih Estonaca doveli su do nekih promjena i napretka u nadzoru okoliša, a nedavno je vlada potaknula veoma nadobudne programe u područjima okoliša i javnog zdravstva. Međutim, potrebno je obaviti još puno posla. Pregled nedavne povijesti ove malene države pruža primjere sustavnog zanemarivanja i nagomilanih posljedica te preporučene korektivne mjere za njihovo razrješavanje

Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in oil shale processing wastes: Current practice and new trends.

In the present study a critical evaluation of analytical methods for the determination of PAHs in wastes originating from fossil fuel processing in general, and particularly from combustion and retorting of Estonian oil shale is presented. The analysis for PAHs in solid matrices includes several procedures, i.e. separation, cleanup and final determination. Classical and modern separation methods are characterized and examples of their use for oil shale wastes are demonstrated. For the final determination of PAHs in oil shale matrices chromatographic methods are used. A new approach involving the use of fluorinated PAHs as internal standards is introduced and discussed