Correlation of main physicochemical parameters of some groundwater in northern Serbia

The geothermal waters of the first and the shallowest groundwater system of the Province of Vojvodina in northern Serbia, south part of the Pannonian Basin, are characterized by elevated temperatures (between 25 and 85 °C) and elevated gas content (above 1 Nm³/m³) with a high methane content (average about 94% of total gases). These methane-containing waters are particularly abundant in the Central part of the province between Danube and Tisa rivers. Dominant ions in these waters are sodium and bicarbonate, but the waters also contain significant amounts of calcium, magnesium, potassium, chloride, and ammonium. Components that are of balneological significance include iodine, bromine, fluorine, strontium, lithium, barium, and metasilicic and metaboric acids. Based on statistical analysis, a strong positive correlation is generally observed in about 9.2% cases. A slightly lower correlation appears in about 42.2%, and negative correlation coefficient appears in about 48.6% cases. The dendrogram of the cluster analysis built on the wells shows three main groups. There is the cluster of (Na⁺)_aq, (Cl⁻)_aq and (HCO₃⁻)_aq. The second aggregation is (NH₄⁺)_aq/(NH₃)_aq. The third group includes (Mg²⁺)_aq, (Ca²⁺)_aq, (Fe³⁺)_aq, (Sr²⁺)_aq, (Pb²⁺)_aq, and (Zn²⁺)_aq.     

Multistage alkaline permanganate degradation of a type II kerogen

The products of a 27-step alkaline permanganate degradation of a type II kerogen from a sample of Toarcian shale, Paris Basin, have been studied. The high yield of oxidation products consisted of 1.86% neutrals and bases, 24.48% ether-soluble acids, and 45.95% precipitated, ether-insoluble acids, based on weight of original kerogen. The ether-soluble acids and the soluble products of further permanganate degradation of precipitated acids were found to consist mostly of saturated unbranched C₆–C₂₂ α,ω-dicarboxylic and C₉–C₂₅ monocarboxylic acids. Significant amounts of aromatic monocarboxylic, dicarboxylic and tricarboxylic acids were also found. Alkane tri- and tetracarboxylic acids were obtained in small concentration.     

Changes in Hydra vulgaris PALLAS (Cnidaria) Caused by the Effect of Torak EC 24 Insecticide

Within 24 h time, Torak EC 24 in 10 mg/l and 30 mg/l concentrations causes the worst damage immediately after treatment. In the treated hydras, a considerable state of contraction, a damage of tentacles and the hypostome as well as a damage of intracellular membranes and cellular organelles was observed. Besides, during the experiment, the treated hydras in both concentrations used were budding more intensely than the control.     

Emission sources and health risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in ambient air during heating and non-heating periods in the city of Novi Sad,Serbia

The paper presents the assessment of emission sources and health risk of 16 PAHs in the city of Novi Sad, Serbia, with developed oil, food, chemical and cement industry. Although the observed region has been previously studied with regard to the occurrence of PAHs in ambient air, the sources of emission and health risk using multivariate statistical methods have never been studied before. The research was conducted during the heating and non-heating periods at three sampling sites located in industrial, residential and high-traffic area. The samples were collected by high-volume air sampler and analysed using the GC/MS system. The data were processed using the positive matrix factorization (PMF) and cluster analysis. To assess the cancer-risk of PAHs, potency equivalency factor approach was used. The results of PMF analysis have indicated that significant sources of PAH emissions are industrial processes and diesel combustion during the non-heating, and coal combustion, heating plants and diesel combustion during the heating season. Cluster analysis of experimental data has confirmed the results obtained using the PMF method. Estimated values of lifetime lung cancer risk were higher than those set by the World Health Organization and US Environmental Protection Agency which indicates that cancer risk due to exposure to PAHs in ambient air exists in both time periods on the territory of Novi Sad.     

Content of the potentially harmful elements in soil around the major coal-fired power plant in Serbia: relation to soil characteristics,evaluation of spatial distribution and source apportionment

The concentrations and spatial distribution of nine potentially harmful elements (PHEs), namely Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn, and their relation to soil properties were investigated in thirty soil profiles (0–50 cm depth) sampled around the largest Serbian coal-fired power plant (CFPP) “Nikola Tesla A.” Soil properties were determined following standard procedures, and total contents of PHEs were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometer. Concentrations of Cd, Co, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn were the highest in soil profiles sampled 1 km away from the CFPP, concentrations of Ni and Cu gradually increased up to 4 km, and the highest Cr concentrations were measured in samples taken 6 km away from the CFPP. The highest concentration of PHEs analyzed, except Mn, corresponded with predominant wind directions. Depth did not show significant impact on distribution of any PHEs investigated. Among soil properties, the total organic carbon showed the closest relationship with the PHEs. Data were processed by a principal component analysis which enabled distinguishing anthropogenic from natural influences on soil properties and PHE contents. Although the impact of CFPP operations is obvious, assets of principal component analysis did not allow clear distinction of CFPP’s contribution from parent material in enrichment of PHE contents in the soil in the study area.     

Factors influencing fatty acid and hydrocarbon composition of sedimenting particles in the northeastern Adriatic Sea

Fatty acids and hydrocarbons of sedimenting particles were investigated in the northeastern Adriatic Sea from November 1988 to December 1989. Particles were collected at approximately monthly intervals, using sediment traps deployed at 30 m depth (2 m above bottom). Seasonal changes in sedimentation of particulate matter were very pronounced. Hydrocarbon fluxes and concentrations were found to vary significantly depending on the season. They averaged 2.69 ± 1.44 mg m⁻² day⁻¹ and 232.4 ± 90.93 μg g⁻¹ in winter, respectively. In late spring-early summer the corresponding values amounted to 0.045 ± 0.015 mg m⁻² day⁻¹ and 13.72 ± 5.56 μg g⁻¹, and they increased towards autumn, when mean values of 0.517 ± 0.228 mg m⁻² day⁻¹ and 98.86 ± 48.72 μg g⁻¹ were obtained. In contrast, fatty acid fluxes and concentrations were low during winter (0.26 ± 0.08 mg m⁻² day⁻¹ and 21.95 ± 3.35 μg g⁻¹), increased slightly towards the summer (0.48 ± 0.12 mg m⁻² day⁻¹ and 139.9 ± 44.6 μ g⁻¹) and reached maximum rate and concentration in autumn, when average values were 1.98 ± 1.30 mg m² day⁻¹ and 489.1 ± 186.7 μg g⁻¹, respectively. The differences in composition, concentrations and fluxes of the fatty acids and hydrocarbons were related to the sources of sedimenting material, reflecting the influence of resuspension of bottom sediments during winter and the appearance of mucus aggregates during summer and their subsequent deposition in autumn.     

Suitability of linden and elder in the assessment of environmental pollution of Brestovac spa and Bor lake (Serbia)

The suitability of linden and elder as biomonitors was evaluated in the tourist zone of the Bor region well known for pyrometallurgical copper production. The concentrations of As, Cu, Pb and Zn in the soil, washed and unwashed leaves and roots of linden and elder were determined. The absorption of As, Cu, Pb and Zn from soil to roots and leaves, as well as the translocation of the studied elements from roots to leaves, was analysed. It was observed that the soil in the tourist zone of Bor (Bor lake and Brestovac spa) was greatly polluted with Cu and As. Linden and elder leaves can be used as a low-cost material for detection of As, Cu, Pb and Zn in the atmospheric deposition, which was concluded due to the amounts of these elements removed after a washing treatment. Thus, canopies of linden and elder might have an important role in the removal of the polluting substances from the air. The elder leaves were more suitable to be used for indication of environmental pollution with As, Cu and Pb than the linden leaves. The area of the Bor lake sampling site had higher air pollution with As and Pb than Brestovac spa, since greater amounts of As and Pb were washed off the linden and elder leaves from the Bor lake sampling site. The linden and elder used different adaptation strategies in conditions of the increased soil and air pollution. These strategies were based on different efficiencies of element absorption from the soil and on limited or efficient translocation of the studied elements from roots to leaves, and therefore, they have an important role in the biogeochemical cycling of the examined elements in the environment.