ORGANOCHLORINE CONTAMINATION IN SEDIMENTS COLLECTED FROM A RURAL-, URBAN- AND INDUSTRIAL-IMPACTED AQUATIC SYSTEM (DANUBE, SERBIA)

The spatial distribution of various organochlorinated compounds (PCBs and ОCPs (DDTs, HCB, and HCHs)) were investigated in sediments of Serbia\u27s stretch of the Danube River. The obtained concentrations appeared to be relatively low in comparison with other river sediments worldwide. The results demonstrated a wide range of concentrations (µg/kg dry weight) with the following decreasing order: Σ6DDTs (0.70 - 16.65) > Σ 7PCBs (0.25 - 3.54) > Σ 5HCH (0.04 - 2.28) > HCB (0.06 - 0.62), with a dominance of o,p’ -DDT. Relatively higher ΣDDT concentrations and high DDT/DDE + DDD ratios in two sampling locations near the industrial cities indicates a current DDT usage, probably linked to public health concerns. Compositional analyses indicated that hexa- and hepta-PCBs were dominant for PCBs. Our results indicated that the contamination with PCBs came from nonpoint deposition, such as atmospheric contribution and surface runoff, for lightly chlorinated congeners and point source deposition, such as the industrial sources along river flow, for highly chlorinated congeners, whereas OCPs originate mainly from old residues and new usage of pesticides in agriculture and aquaculture. These results contribute to the sparse regional database for organochlorinated compounds in the Danube basin

Mobility of selected pesticides in groundwater

The use of pesticides in plant protection products could result in their occurrence in all environmental mediums. Due to the concern about their environmental impact, the presence of pesticides is monitored in air, soil, water, and also in food and tissues. Jaroslav Černi Institute for the Development of Water Resources has conducted surface and groundwater sampling campaigns, in order to monitor fifteen different pesticides from priority and emerging substances lists. This paper is focused on the results of the groundwater sampling, where the most frequently detected pesticides were herbicide atrazine, fungicide carbendazim and insecticide carbofuran. In this paper, the fact that these pesticides were most frequently detected in groundwater was used for further research of their mobility. The most important process that influences the mobility of pesticides in the environment is the sorption. Therefore, sorption process was observed in the terms of linear sorption coefficient. Multiple linear regressions were used to establish the relationship between the linear sorption coefficient of each pesticide and various soil parameters, that have the highest impact on the sorption process. A thorough understanding of pesticides sorption behavior is crucial for predicting the movement rate of the pesticide in the environment. Information based on these processes will help with predicting the fate of pesticides in the groundwater, but also in the surface waters

Pollution from meat processing factories

A basic understanding of the nature of meat plant wastewaters and factors that influence these wastewaters is essential for the control of wastewater volume and waste loads. Analyzing waste characteristics of the meatpacking industry is not a simple matter. It is difficult to characterize a “typical” plant and its associated wastes, owing to the many procedures and facets of meat-processing operations. However, some similarities have emerged during extensive study and research

Pseudo-persistent pollutant in the environment : emerging substances

In the recent time, considerable interest has grown concerning the presence of the emerging substances, EmS. These are contaminants that have been recently detected in the environment due to their long-term, pseudo-persistent and increased use. Most of EmS are wide spread and applied in different fields using as pharmaceuticals, for both human and animal uses, household chemicals, personal care products, nanomaterial, anticorrosive and agriculture chemicals and others. European legislation did not regulate the status and the maximum allowed concentration of most EmS. EmS might jeopardize surface water and ground water resources, particularly, drinking water production. The preliminary results of Danube surface water in vicinity of Novi Sad show presence of benzotriasole and caffeine. These newly recognized contaminants represent a shift in traditional thinking of protection scenario and eco status of environment and water bodies

Wastewater characterisation of screen printing

The paper presents a preliminary investigation of wastewater quality in screen printing facilities in Novi Sad. The experimental research includes two selected parameters: pH value and BOD. The measured pH values were in the range of maximum allowed values, but very high BOD values indicate dominant organic pollution. Determined BOD values of collected samples were in the range from 36 - 206 mg/1. These BOD values show great organic pollution of wastewater from screen printing facilities with biodegradable organic matter

Qualitative determination of key emerging xenobiotics in mixed wastewater discharge

Nowdays, it is unattainable to follow, detect or identify all the chemicals that are excreted into the environmental aquatic bodies. The number of chemicals introduced into the environment in modified structures, as metabolites or as mixtures of chemical cocktails, is growing progressively. Illicit drugs and endocrine disruptive substances (EDCs) (emerging xenobiotics) are not excluded from this fate. Illicit drugs are xenobiotics with psychoactive effects and influences onto the human body and mind, and are excreted into the environment mostly in forms of metabolites. In sense of these facts, a high level off importance is appointed on an optimal and effective analytical practices and high performing equipment, but far more important is a good detection model for emerging substances, especially for detection of emerging xenobiotics in a highly polluted sample, as wastewater. This paper will show the results of qualitativeanalyses for complex sample matrix of mixed wastewater and results of detection for selected xenobiotics with endocrine disruptive and psychoactive effects

Topological maps of Kohonen self-organization (som) applied to the study of sediments contaminated with PBDEs : support for climate extremes risk assessment

Riverine sediments, collected during 2012 from ten sites in a mixed land use region of the Serbian were analysed for seven emergent PBDE congeners. All PBDEs were detected in sediments with the total concentrations range from 0.52 µg/kg (Ratno Ostrvo) to 31.19 µg/kg (Neštin) with mean levels of 8.08 µg/kg and median of 3.14 µg/kg. The classification of data by Kohonen's self-organizing maps (SOM) allowed understanding and visualizing the spatial distribution of samples. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used for validating the obtained results. Correlations and relationships between the samples and the variables can be easily visualized using the viewing of SOM planes of components. The results have highlighted the dependencies between the different PBDEs and the classification of studied sediments into three classes into function of ten stations coring and their pollution levels

Monitoring of chlorine by new method based on FOS in water bodies

Fibre optic sensor (FOS) is used to measure the concentration of total chlorine in samples of surface water, swimming pool water and leachate from MSW landfill. FOS represents new original method which is based on the color of the sample for measurement ofanalyteconcentration. Color sensor converts RGB (Red-Green-Blue) color model to HSV (Hue-Saturation-Value) color model. S and V parameters were used for determination of chlorineconcentrations in selected water bodies. H parameter was used for the calculation of wavelength at which applied sensor measures the concentration of total chlorine. Research was carried out to validate the effectiveness and repeatability of the results obtained with FOS and confirms the capability to use sensor in laboratory controlled conditions. Results obtained with FOS are compared with standard analytical methods (UV-Vis spectrophotometer) to confirm the possibility of using FOS as replacement for standard analytical expensive equipment

Preparation, surface and porous characterization of ecofriendly activated carbon produced from apricot stones

This work presents a thermochemical approach toward controlled preparation of powdered activated carbons from lignocellulosic raw materials (apricot stones), as industrial byproducts and components of organic solid waste. The physicochemical changes of the biomass during thermochemical activation with H3PO4 obtained after carbonization at 500 C for 2 h have been investigated by means of Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectra, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) technique. The BET surface area and total pore volume were as high as 1098.78 m2 /g and 0.5 cm3 /g, respectively. The experimental results indicated that the use of apricot stones as a precursor material for the preparation of activated carbon (AC) was feasible

Drinking water quality in city of Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina : case study

The paper presents the situation of system for public drinking water facilities “Waterworks” of Banja Luka city, including the current situation and new projects and facilities. The goal of the case study is to analyse and evaluate the results of basic physicochemical parameters of drinking water produced during the period of two years – 2013 and 2014. The data includes the seasonal sampling champagnes of two years, during the months January, April, Jul and October. It is important to have continual and controlled monitoring and evaluation of the wells, raw water wells and drinking water quality therefore it can be affected under negative impact of the dynamic natural change and anthropogenic activities. According to basic physicochemical parameters the population of Banja Luka is drinking water of good quality. During the research correlation and covariance of basic physicochemical parameters was evaluated