Catalina Stoica

Ecotoxicological Behavior of some Cationic and Amphoteric Surfactants (Biodegradation, Toxicity and Risk Assessment)

Detergents industry is a competitive industry, with a large opening to innovation and economical development. Although very good for sanitation, the big domestic and industrial detergents consumption has a significant contribution to surfactants concentrations increase in towns’ sewage and implicit to surface water and groundwater contamination [1] (Figure 1). The negative effects manifested by the presence of surfactants in surface water are mostly due to superficial – active proprieties – detergents surfactants characteristic, indifferently of class type. In accordance with molecule charge, the surfactants are grouped in four categories: anionic, cationic, nonionic and amphoteric [2].

Metals Toxic Effects in Aquatic Ecosystems: Modulators of Water Quality

The topic of this work was based on the assessment of aquatic systems quality related to the persistent metal pollution. The use of aquatic organisms as bioindicators of metal pollution allowed the obtaining of valuable information about the acute and chronic toxicity on common Romanian aquatic species and the estimation of the environment quality. Laboratory toxicity results showed that Cd, As, Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, Zr, and Ti have toxic to very toxic effects on Cyprinus carpio, and this observation could raise concerns because of its importance as a fishery resource. The benthic invertebrates’ analysis showed that bioaccumulation level depends on species, type of metals, and sampling sites. The metal analysis from the shells of three mollusk species showed that the metals involved in the metabolic processes (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, and Mg) were more accumulated than the toxic ones (Pb, Cd). The bioaccumulation factors of metals in benthic inverte‐ brates were subunitary, which indicated a slow bioaccumulation process in the studied aquatic ecosystems. The preliminary aquatic risk assessment of Ni, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, As, and Zn on C. carpio revealed insignificant to moderate risk considering the measured environmental concentrations, acute and long‐term effects and environmental compartment.

Structural Changes of Biological Compartments in Danube Delta Systems Due to Persistent Organic Pollutants and Toxic Metals

The main objective of this paper is to highlight the dynamics of biotic community in terms of spatial and temporal relationship. The biotic community dynamics in St. Gheorghe Branch were discussed based on existing data and the results of our own research during 2003–2009. Surface water and sediment samples have been collected monthly from two control sections, Murighiol and Uzlina. The analyzed parameters were according to the Norm concerning the reference objectives for the surface water quality classification (Romanian Order MEWM no. 161/2006) and also, to the EU Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC which established a framework for community action in the field of water policy. The variation of parameters during the investigated period along St. Gheorghe Branch was strongly influenced by the climatic conditions (drought, flood). Further studies need to be carried out in this area in order to accomplish a sustainable management and to evaluate the occurrence of persistent organic pollutants and toxic metals in tissues, and to assess the risk of these contaminants on the ecosystem and human health.

STUDY OF BACTERIA RESISTANCE MECHANISMS IN RESPONSE TO A STRESS INDUCED BY PHARMACEUTICALS COMPOUNDS

Three pharmaceutical compounds (Trimethoprim, Carbamazepine and Benzethonium chloride) were investigated to unveil possible toxic effects on two bacterial strains (Citrobacter freundii and Comamonas testosteroni). The pharmaceutical compounds stress triggered a bacterial defence mechanism which was evaluated at transcriptional and translational levels. In this study, potential bacterial biomarkers induced by the pharmaceutical stress were unraveled.

ECOLIB, LIBRARY OF NATIONAL R&D INSTITUTE FOR INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY, AN ON-LINE TOOL FOR ENVIRONMENTAL TOPICS AREA

Digital Repository of National Research and Development Institute for Industrial Ecology ECOIND, library was launched on the end of April 2017. ECOLIB Repository is structered in six communities, as follows: Ecology and Pollution Control; Environmental Assessment; Environmental Technologies; Environmental Management; Other Topics; SIMI Proceedings (International Symposium „The Environment and The Industry”: editions 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016). First four communities, representing the main research areas of ECOIND, contains articles authored by ECOIND researchers published in national and international journals, doctoral theses (abstract), conference papers, short description of the projects developed from 2006 till present, patents. The repository contains more than 800 documents, 850 author names, 1750 keywords. The research results presented within repository documents are related to development / implementation of the analytical control methods used to assess environmental pollution level (water, soil, sediments, air, waste products); ecotoxicological assessment studies for chemicals / polluted environmental samples regarding their biodegradability, acute and chronic toxicity on different aquatic organisms (fish, green algae, planktonic and benthic crustacean, rotifers, ciliates, plants and bacteria); modern procedures applied for advanced removal of dangerous compounds from water; technologies / biotechnologies applied for water treatment, clean technologies with low energy inputs, innovative biotechnologies presenting unconventional treatment processes; evaluation of the ecological risk determined on the environment (covering water, air, and soil components); industrial waste management– development of advanced methodologies for identification and assessment of the environmental risks caused by waste disposal; methodologies in the fields of quality management, environmental management, and health and occupational safety management.

The Impact of Chemical Compounds on Benthic Invertebrates from the Danube and Danube Delta Systems

The aim of this study is to assess freshwater sediment in terms of biological and preliminary toxicological control linked to a series of variables along the Danube River and Danube Delta systems. The research is focused on eight points of the Romanian sector in the summer to autumn of 2012. Results show a high concentration of metals, pesticides, and petroleum products in sediment samples in the monitored period. The survey is designed to gauge the total chemical pollution effects on the composition, living, and growth of benthic organisms. To assess the toxic hazard of contaminated sediment samples, a microbiotest with meiobenthic ostracods Heterocypris incongruens was performed with evaluation of mortality and growth-inhibition percentages. The preliminary results showed an increase of sediment toxicity, in terms of growth inhibition (>80%), especially at Murighiol and Ivancea. The chemical pressures alongside the temporal conditions were important variables which affected benthic communities. Low benthic diversity was found in the Isaccea–St. Gheorghe Branch sector of the Danube River. In terms of ecological status, the study reveals that the Danube and Danube Delta ecosystem are eutrophic systems equilibrated for good ecological status.