ASSESSMENT OF POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS LOAD LEVEL IN SOILS COLLECTED FROM RESIDENTIAL AREAS

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are listed as a class of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) under the Stockholm Convention. PCBs represent a threat to human health and environment because of their toxicity, persistence, and tendency to bio-accumulate at the top of the food chain. Additionally, some PCBs are suspected carcinogens. Because of their chemical stability and their excellent electrical insulation and thermal conductive properties, PCBs have been used in widespread industrial, commercial and domestic applications. The aim of this study is to establish the load level of these compounds in soils from residential areas. The soil samples were collected from gardens, parks and households located in Bucharest. The interest compounds (PCB with IUPAC number 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153, 180) were extracted from soil with organic solvents (hexane: acetone = 1:1) and analysed by gas chromatography with electron capture detector. The analytical results show that the most abundant compounds were those with a high degree of chlorination. The total content of PCBs ranged between 0.0004 mg/kg and 0.028 mg/kg, so values of concentration that are not exceed the alert threshold (0.25 mg/kg)

ACCUMULATION OF HEAVY METALS IN RED BEETS (BETA VULGARIS L.) IN HOUSEHOLDS FROM THE COPȘA MICĂ AREA

This study shows the accumulation of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Zn and Cu) from the soil in the roots of beetroot (Beta Vulgaris L.) from individual gardens in the polluted area CopșaMică.The estimation of heavy metal accumulation in beetroot grown in the area affected by historical pollution was carried out based on a data set collected from 18 individual households. The content of heavy metals in the soil ranged for Cd between 0.52 mg/kg-1 and 19.52 mg/kg-1, Pb had values from 19 mg/kg-1 to 530 mg/kg-1, Zn ranged between 28 mg/kg-1 and 112 mg/kg-1 and Cu had values from 150 mg/kg-1 to 1136 mg/kg-1. The concentration of cadmium (Cd) in the root of red beet varied between 0.015 mg/kg-1 and 0.568 mg/kg-1. The content of lead (Pb) and copper (Cu) registered values between 0.019 mg/kg-1 and 0.198 mg/kg-1, respectively from 0.49 mg/kg-1and 2.01 mg/kg-1.Zinc content values was between 3.5 mg/kg-1 and 10.4 mg/kg-1. It is noted that for cadmium (r=0,839***), lead (r=0,667**) and zinc (r=0,624**) the values of the linear correlation coefficient differ significantly from zero indicating a close dependence between the considered variables. In the case of copper (r=0,213ns), the value of the linear correlation coefficient does not significantly differ from zero, which requires the use of another stochastic model to describe the accumulation of this metal in beetroot

HEAVY METALS ACCUMULATION IN SOIL AND CELERY ROOT (APIUM GRAVEOLENS L.) HARVESTED FROM THE POLLUTED AREAS IN SIBIU COUNTY, CENTRAL ROMANIA

Heavy metals are harmful environmental contaminants that are mostly the result of human activities. Vegetable roots may easily absorb heavy metals, which can then accumulate up to high levels in the edible sections. The celery root is a vegetable that is frequently cultivated in individual gardens and its production in polluted soil might provide a risk to the consumer's health, not necessarily due to the amount ingested but rather due to the cumulative effect of long-term usage. The present study is aimed to estimate the bioaccumulation of heavy metals (cadmium, lead, copper, and zinc) from the soil in the celery root, harvested from 26 households located in the polluted areas (Axente Sever, Agârbiciu, Bazna, CopșaMică, Micăsasa, Șoala, and Târnava). Total soil (0-20 cm)  and celery root heavy metals contents varied as follows: for Cd (soil = 0.10 mg/kg – 14.80 mg/kg; celery root = 0.058 mg/kg – 1.254 mg/kg); for Pb (soil = 28 mg/kg – 326 mg/kg; celery root = 0.022 mg/kg – 0.620 mg/kg); for Cu (soil = 25 mg/kg – 163  mg/kg; celery root = 0.60 mg/kg – 2.51 mg/kg); for Zn (soil = 117 mg/kg – 1076 mg/kg; celery root = 3.1 mg/kg – 11.7 mg/kg). The highest values of correlation coefficients were obtained for the regression curves established for the estimation of Cd, Pb, and Zn accumulation in celery root (r = 0.788 for Cd, r = 0.796 for Pb, and r = 0.656 for Zn). In the case of copper, the linear correlation coefficient is relatively low (r = 0.092)

Research on the heavy metal content in onion bulbs correlated with soil from private households located in the Copşa Mică area, Central Romania

Food safety and the high demand for food have represented worrisome problems worldwide in recent decades. It is well known that plants can accumulate metals from contaminated soil and through deposits from pollutant emissions released by contaminated sources. Cadmium, copper, zinc, and lead are poisonous elements. The accumulation of heavy metals in plants grown in polluted areas represents a major risk to human and animal health. Soil pollution with heavy metals is a global problem that has an unfavourable impact on the environment. For this study, data collected from 65 individual households located in the Copşa Mică area were used to estimate the bioaccumulation of four different heavy metals [cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu)] in onion bulbs in different scenarios, in correlation with the total metal content from the soil. The highest correlation coefficients were obtained for the regression curves established for the estimation of Cd (r = 0.648***), Zn (r = 0.592***), and Pb (r = 0.525***) in onion bulbs. In the case of copper (Cu), the linear correlation coefficient was insignificant (r = 0.088ns). The mean cadmium and lead values determined in the onion samples from the study area did not exceed the maximum stable levels for these contaminants in vegetables

RESEARCH ON THE HEAVY METAL CONTENT IN ONION BULBS CORRELATED WITH SOIL FROM PRIVATE HOUSEHOLDS LOCATED IN THE COPŞA MICĂ AREA, CENTRAL ROMANIA

Food safety and the high demand for food have represented worrisome problems worldwide in recent decades. It is well known that plants can accumulate metals from contaminated soil and through deposits from pollutant emissions released by contaminated sources. Cadmium, copper, zinc, and lead are poisonous elements. The accumulation of heavy metals in plants grown in polluted areas represents a major risk to human and animal health. Soil pollution with heavy metals is a global problem that has an unfavourable impact on the environment. For this study, data collected from 65 individual households located in the Copşa Mică area were used to estimate the bioaccumulation of four different heavy metals [cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu)] in onion bulbs in different scenarios, in correlation with the total metal content from the soil. The highest correlation coefficients were obtained for the regression curves established for the estimation of Cd (r = 0.648***), Zn (r = 0.592***), and Pb (r = 0.525***) in onion bulbs. In the case of copper (Cu), the linear correlation coefficient was insignificant (r = 0.088ns). The mean cadmium and lead values determined in the onion samples from the study area did not exceed the maximum stable levels for these contaminants in vegetables

BIOACCUMULATION OF HEAVY METALS IN GARLIC BULBS (ALLIUM SATIVUM L.) IN CORRELATION WITH SOIL FROM PRIVATE GARDENS IN THE COPȘA MICĂ AREA, ROMANIA

Heavy metal contamination of soil and plants is a worldwide concern. Copșa Mică in Romania is one of the areas in the country known to have a high level of pollution. Even if metallurgical activities have been reduced or stopped the soil is still polluted. This study aimed to estimate the bioaccumulation of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Zn and Cu) in soil from garlic bulbs (Allium sativum L.) from individual gardens in the Copșa Mică polluted area, Romania. The bioaccumulation of heavy metals in garlic bulbs was estimated based on a data set collected from 44 individual gardens. The value of the linear correlation coefficient between the total cadmium content in the soil and that in the plant was significantly different from zero, indicating a close correlation between the two variables (r = 0.775***). In addition, for zinc (r = 0.649***) and lead (r = 0.423**), simple power-type regressions were found to be best for estimating the bioaccumulation of these elements in garlic bulbs. Only for copper, the value of the linear correlation coefficient was not significantly different from zero (r = 0.274ns), indicating that the estimation of copper accumulation in garlic cannot be described by simple power-type regressions. The results of this study are important for estimating the accumulation of heavy metals in garlic bulbs (head), which are often consumed by the population

Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in garlic bulbs (Allium sativum L.) in correlation with soil from private gardens in the Copșa Mică area, Romania

Heavy metal contamination of soil and plants is a worldwide concern. Copșa Mică in Romania is one of the areas in the country known to have a high level of pollution. Even if metallurgical activities have been reduced or stopped the soil is still polluted. This study aimed to estimate the bioaccumulation of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Zn and Cu) in soil from garlic bulbs (Allium sativum L.) from individual gardens in the Copșa Mică polluted area, Romania. The bioaccumulation of heavy metals in garlic bulbs was estimated based on a data set collected from 44 individual gardens. The value of the linear correlation coefficient between the total cadmium content in the soil and that in the plant was significantly different from zero, indicating a close correlation between the two variables (r = 0.775***). In addition, for zinc (r = 0.649***) and lead (r = 0.423**), simple power-type regressions were found to be best for estimating the bioaccumulation of these elements in garlic bulbs. Only for copper, the value of the linear correlation coefficient was not significantly different from zero (r = 0.274ns), indicating that the estimation of copper accumulation in garlic cannot be described by simple power-type regressions. The results of this study are important for estimating the accumulation of heavy metals in garlic bulbs (head), which are often consumed by the population

Assessing impacts of soil management measures on ecosystem services

Only a few studies have quantified and measured ecosystem services (ES) specifically related to soil. To address this gap, we have developed and applied a methodology to assess changes in ecosystem services, based on measured or estimated soil property changes that were stimulated by soil management measures (e.g., mulching, terracing, no-till). We applied the ES assessment methodology in 16 case study sites across Europe representing a high diversity of soil threats and land use systems. Various prevention and remediation measures were trialled, and the changes in manageable soil and other natural capital properties were measured and quantified. An Excel tool facilitated data collection, calculation of changes in ecosystem services, and visualization of measured short-term changes and estimated long-term changes at plot level and for the wider area. With this methodology, we were able to successfully collect and compare data on the impact of land management on 15 different ecosystem services from 26 different measures. Overall, the results are positive in terms of the impacts of the trialled measures on ecosystem services, with 18 out of 26 measures having no decrease in any service at the plot level. Although methodological challenges remain, the ES assessment was shown to be a comprehensive evaluation of the impacts of the trialled measures, and also served as an input to a stakeholder valuation of ecosystem services at local and sub-national level