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

Identification of Banned Pesticide Residues in Municipal Solid Waste Landfills Leachate from Vojvodina Region

Pesticides are widely used in agriculture and forestry, and in other plant production such as in greenhouses and gardens. As a consequence of the above mentioned, they occur frequently in -domestic and organic waste. The handling and unselective application of pesticides may create an important waste fraction going to landfills, with the potential for transferring its residues into the environment, thus causing contamination

Investigating MSW Landfill Leachate as a Source of Pharmaceuticals

Pharmaceuticals are compounds of low molecular mass and specific properties with pronounced lipophilicity. This property enables significant bioavailability and activity of pharmaceuticals, due to which various effects and consequences on biota have been recorded. The introduction of pharmaceuticals into the environmental medium is possible in many ways. The primary pathways are inadequate disposal of pharmaceutical products, the use of supplements and drugs, ineffective treatment of municipal and industrial wastewater (i.e. concentration within activated sludge), and discharge of the effluent. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of landfill leachate at the global level identified the most commonly detected pharmaceuticals: Propyphenazone, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Gemfibrozil, and Carbamazepine. Qualitative analysis of leachate from unsanitary and sanitary landfill sites of solid municipal waste in the region of Vojvodina, Republic of Serbia, conducted during the winter period of 2019, determined the presence of 39 and 54 organic compounds, respectively. Propyphenazone, Gabapentin, and Benzenesulfonamide are the primary pharmaceuticals detected in the leachate of both landfill sites. The long-lasting release of pharmaceuticals into the environment, even in small concentrations, contributes to the formation of highly toxic compounds with a potentially adverse impact on the environment and human health

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

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

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

Potential impact of engineered nanomaterials release into environment

Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) are defined as a materials with at least one dimension between 1 nm to 100 nm. They have large surface area and specific electronic, optoelectronic, thermal and catalytic properties in comparison to their bulk counterparts, which make them particularly useful. ENMs that are found in different products (paints, cosmetics, medicines, food, sun tan lotions, remediation treatments, etc.) are usually designed to achieve desired properties. Those materials can be released into the environment throughout their entire life cycle and their extensive usage nowdays could led to their accumulation into environment. Over the last twenty years, ENMs have significantly increased in quantity produced, thus their presence in environment could have significant impact. However, understanding the effects that engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) have on environment through these applications is still limited. The aim of this paper is to point out issues releated to release of ENMs into the environment

Highly efficient removal of pharmaceuticals from aqueous wastes : evaluation of optimal process parameters

This study investigates the competitive adsorption potential of activated carbon prepared from cherry kernels (CScPA) to remove sulfamethoxazole, carbamazepine, ketoprofen, naproxen, diclofenac and ibuprofen from aqueous solution. The effect of operational parameters including initial pH, adsorbent dose, contact time and initial pharmaceutical concentration were studied in batch adsorption experiments. The results indicate that CScPA can be used as an alternative, effective and low-cost adsorbent that presents basis of sustainable technology for efficient pharmaceuticals wastewater remediation and decontamination

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

Engine carbon cleaning as the way of environmental protection

The paper points out the negative impact of air pollution on human health and the environment, caused by the emission of exhaust gases of motor vehicles. According to recent estimations published by the European Environment Agency, estimated traffic in Europe would be contributing more than 64% to air pollution (NOx, NO2, PM). Combustion chamber deposits are listed as one of the dominant causes of deterioration of the emission characteristics of motor vehicles. The primary reason for carbon deposits forming is a complex reaction that occurs between components, fuel, blow-by gas, and lubricant oil. Carbon deposit also has a negative impact on the heat transfer process in the combustion chamber, emissions, combustion and maintenance costs. The paper points out the possibility and importance of removing carbon deposits using H2E engine carbon cleaning (H2E ECC) system. The results of testing the emission characteristics of the engines on four randomly selected vehicles Euro 3 and Euro 4 classes before and after the treatment of vehicles using the H2E ECC indicate that the concentration levels of the toxic components in the mixture of exhaust gases are reduced. In this way, the emission characteristics of the treated vehicles have been improved