Gabriela Vasile

The Influence of the Air-Drying Pretreatment of Sediment Samples for Metallic Element Mobilities

Chemical analysis of sediments provides an efficient tool for water quality management. Ten sediment samples collected in 2008 from two locations situated in the Danube Delta Biosphere were analyzed in a comparative study of mobile metallic elements via two different pre-treatment techniques: air-drying followed by sieving and wet sieving. The experimental data proved that air-drying procedure produces drastic changes in mobility of the metallic elements from the sediments which were studied as an effect of the oxidizing conditions. Wet sediment or oxygen-free dried sediment is recommended to be used in environmental studies regarding determination of mobile fractions from sediment samples.

Comparison Study of Physicochemical Parameters Evaluation between Danube River Delta and AXIOS- VARDAR River Valley (2003–2009)

The main objective of this paper is to provide data on the Danube River Delta Biosphere (Romania) aquatic ecosystem quality and Vardar – Axios River Valley (FYR Macedonia – Greece) on comparison basis from on the long-term analytical investigation for specific indicators. In particular this paper is focused on the quality assessment of surface water, sediment and biota of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reservation. Information is presented on water and sediment quality variations in heavy metals over a seven-year period (2003 and 2009), from April to October. Samples have been collected monthly from two different locations (Murghiol and Uzlina) situated on St. Gheorghe branch. The presence of some toxic metals was noticed in surface waters and sediments. In both locations in different periods of time high concentrations of Fe, Mn, heptachlor, Lindane, PCBs, phenols, mineral oil in surface water represent an acute problem for the inhabitants of the Danube Delta which use water for household consumption directly from the Danube, without any treatment. This presents a series of disadvantages, such as a high risk of disease for the population, mostly for children and old people. The evolution of the pollution levels of Danube waters was compared with that of Axios/Vardar River, another major transboundary river in the Balkan area.

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.

IDENTIFICATION AND ANALYSIS OF BIOPOLYMERS FROM CRUSTACEANS DECAPOD OF THE ROMANIAN BLACK SEA WATERS

The using of marine resources for the industrial, biomedical applications and human consumption has got a quickly growth in previous decade in the world. The Romanian Black Sea environment, containing lots of organisms, which have considerable ecological and biological properties, is one of the most unstudied biological resources. In this paper, we have identified three species of crustaceans on Romanian sea waters of the Black Sea, as possible sources of chitin and chitosan. Because these species constitute a rich source of value-added products, as chitin, protein pigments and flavour componds, the full exploitation of this easily accesible resource has attracted much interest. Chitin and chitosan, the naturally renewable polymers have excellent properties such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, non-toxicity and adsorption. The extraction and characterization of these biopolymers have been studied by optical microscopy and FTIR/ATR spectroscopy. Results of the preliminary studies revealed from: FTIR/ATR „fingerprint spectra”, intensities and stretching, characteristic functional groups of bands, the presence of chitin and chitosan in the samples. Spectra samples were compared with those of chitin and chitosan standards. By optical microscopy and FTIR/ATR coupled analytical methods the results have been checked and also, indicated morphological differences between the chitin and chitosan standards. The material (crustacean shell) was dried, milled and sieved (dimensions of the particles less than 150 μm) and than digested in a mixture of peroxide, nitric acid and hydrochloric acid. Metallic elements, such as As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, Zn, V, Al, Ca, Mg, Na, K, were analyzed using inductively coupled plama optical emission spectrometry. High contents of Ca, Mg, Na and K were recorded.

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.

Evaluation of Drinking Water Quality in Three Municipalities of Romania: The Influence of Municipal and Customer's Distribution Systems Concerning Trace Metals

When drinking water is distributed through pipelines, biofilms will grow on the inner surface of the pipes and soft deposits (organic and inorganic matter) and several metals will accumulate to the pipelines (Lehtola & al, 2004a). Discoloration of drinking water is one of the main reasons customers complain to their water company. An elevated concentration of iron or increased turbidity, affect taste, odor and color in drinking water. Unlined iron pipes in drinking water distribution networks develop extensive internal corrosion scales as the time of use increases. These corrosion scale deposits reduce the hydraulic capacity of the pipes and more energy is required to deliver water at a desire flow rate (Sarin et al., 2004).

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.

Characterization of the chemical composition of atmospheric deposition

Atmospheric deposition means the total mass of pollutants which is transferred from the atmosphere to surfaces (e.g. soil, vegetation, water, buildings, etc.) in a given area within a given time. Is considered to be a major process that removes pollutants from the atmosphere and an important source of nutrients and contaminants for ecosystems. Trace elements, especially toxic metals deposited on plants and into soil or water, can cause substantial damage to the environment and human health due to their transfer and accumulation in food chains. This study aimed to determine the amount and the composition of dry deposition in a residential area in Bucharest, organized in summer of 2016, according toDirective 2004/107/EC transposed into Romanian legislation by Law No. 104/2011 regarding the ambient air quality. The dry deposition samples were collected in accordance with SR EN 15841-2010 Standard. The major elements ( Ca, K, Mg) and trace metals (Zn, Fe, Al, Ni, Mn, Cr, Cu, Pb and Cd) were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry equipped with a in graphite furnace and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), after acid digestion. Al and Fe were recorded as the dominant metallic elementsin dry deposition followed by Zn, Ni, Cu, Pb, and Cr. This study suggests that earth crust and anthropogenic activities such as motor vehicles were the main sources of dust fall in the study area.

Improved aqua regia metal extraction using a loam soil CRM ERC-CC141 and a performant microwave oven

In this study a digestion method for determination of metals (Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) in soil aqua regia extracts was performed using a microwave digestion technique combined with ICP-EOS and FAAS techniques. Improved digestion program was applied in three steps at 220oC maximum temperature for 35 minutes to 1 g of soil with a mixture of HCl and HNO3 (report 6 mL to 2 mL). In experimental studies was used a Certified Reference Material CRM ERC-CC141 loam soil. The recovery percentages in CRM standard were situated for all metals in the range 93.5% to 105% for ICP-EOS determinations and 92% to 107% for FAAS determinations.