Yearly Archives: 2016

Abstract:
Nutrient pollution originated from agricultural or household activities, is one of the main issues our modern world has to deal with. Due to the specific aspects this type of pollution implies – the uncertain nature of pollution source, the relative continuous character of the pollution process, the complex environment system implied (soil, surface and ground waters), these issues are difficult to manage and presume an integrated approach and a strategic perspective. Another aspect that gives this phenomenon a special status is the transborders pollution character. Romania, as an EU member, has committed to accomplish the compelling liabilities derived from European Directives. Integrating the two directives in Romanian legislation – 2000/60/CE and 91/676/CEE – was achieved by amending the Law 107/1996 and elaboration of GD 964/2000. These obligations regard achieving a balanced ecological and chemical status of waters through measures that concern important water management issues: organic substances, nutrients and hazardous substances pollution. In a specific approach included in the process of implementing the 91/676/CEE Directive, Romania has been initially assigned nitrate vulnerable areas (NVZ) for 255 regions, representing 8.64% of the total surface of the country and, respectively, 13.93% of the total agricultural surface. Meeting the aforementioned Directives requirements imply technical, administrative and social proceedings. These arise from the main targets drafted in the project mainframe „Integrated Control of Nutrient Pollution”, as follows: (i) reducing nutrients discharge in water bodies; (ii) promoting behavior shifts at regional level; (iii) providing support in strengthening regulation and institutional capacity. Theoretically, the educational segment – formative and promoting, objectified in the project through component 3, defined as “Strategy for public informing and replication of project interventions”, is designed to provide the necessary set of knowledge in the field, according to specific particularities of a complex target group – authorities, population from the rural environment, of different ages and occupations. The public awareness program, as part of the „Integrated Control of Nutrient Pollution” project, is structured in two major directions: providing of appropriate training services for target audience sections and media coverage – promoting shows, materials, and press appearances. By combining these instruments, the knowledge delivered directly to the targeted audience becomes nationally available.

Abstract:
The results of determination of total and mobile forms of Mn, Cu, Zn, Pb in soils and plants near the traffic routes has been present. Research has highlighted the influence of emissions on the accumulation degree in the soils (0-10 cm) and plants of Mn, Cu, Zn, Pb in south direction in the interval of 5-15 m and 50-100 m distance from the road. Forest in the neighborhood serves as a barrier to accumulation of trace elements, depositing them in high concentrations in the litter. Accumulation of trace elements is more intense in vegetables cultivated near the highways; with high concentrations in leaves (cabbage, tomatoes).The cereals straw accumulate trace elements below the maximum allowed.

Abstract:
The chronology and the extent to which Republic of Bulgaria laws in the water protection field correspond to EU legislation is presented in the paper. The key issues and opportunities for prevention, quality control and river waters protection from different types of contaminants are analyzed.

Abstract:
In an economy increasingly globalized a country’s energy strategy is done in the context of changes and developments taking place worldwide. Due to increasing energy demand, energy has developed rapidly without the problem of environmental protection. [1]. Energy sector is the largest sector in the emissions of greenhouse gases, responsible for 66,44% of total emissions of greenhouse gases generated nationwide in 2009. Total energy demand in 2030 will be around 50% higher than in 2003 [1]. European Commission proposes a set of documents representing the new energy policy of the EU, increase emissions of greenhouse gases by 20% by 2020 compared to 1990. [2; 3]. Monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas (GHG) is the basis for the (EU ETS) Romania, has undergone two phases of the EU ETS, first phase was performed in 2005-2007 in accordance with the Order of 1175/2006 and in the second first phase, in 2008-2012 in accordance with Decision 589/2007.[4; 5]. In the third phase of monitoring, starting on 01.01.2013 in all EU Member States nr.601/21.06.2012 rules apply. The paper proposes an application in the energy sector, for the evaluation of CO2 emissions using both calculation data from analytical laboratory investigations and those determined by direct measurement of the source. From research carried out it was determined the method for assessing CO2 is direct measurement and for reporting and monitoring that both methods can be used (direct measurement and calculation), the results being comparable, the differences in uncertainty margin were under 10%, acceptable for automatic measurements [5; 6] .

Abstract:
The good coordination between all Danube countries, environmental understanding between them and their joint efforts in the global European policy for the river Danube will help to restore the purity of the river. Danube catchment is extremely large and diverse. It supports a variety of eco-systems (karst caves, alpine steppe lakes, floodplain forests, delta) and various wetlands of European significance.

Abstract:
The noise is a complex of sounds without a periodical character that affect the biological and psychological health of humans and other organism from nature. Noise pollution represents the human or animal exposure to sounds at disturbing, stressful or harmful levels. This paper aims to introduce new systems for absorption and attenuation of noise from industry or from urban and extra-urban transport based on composite materials made from recycled solid waste. Compared to conventional materials this new type of composites incorporates various wastes that can harm the environment. The absorption coefficient is used to express the capacity of a material to absorb the sound waves – to transform the kinetic energy of the sound waves into thermal energy. It is expressed in percents and represents the proportion between the total sum of energy that is transmitted and absorbed by the material and the total incidence energy of sound waves. This paper presents several types of composites produced using waste matrix binder. Absorbing capacity of sound for the new composites varies depending on the proportion of waste used. Also, are presented correlations between the grading of the reinforcing material that is used, the density and porosity of the resulted composite and the absorption sound waves coefficient for composite material samples which are reinforced with different wastes.

Abstract:
The aim of this paper is to show the using of numerical software in order to improve the wastewater treatment plants efficiency from the design phase. The use of computer simulation programs to evaluate and design wastewater treatment plants is becoming more prevalent; design engineers often implement models without adequate influent characterization and calibration. In this paper the STOAT (Sewage Treatment Operation and Analysis over Time) software is considered to simulate a real wastewater treatment plant, to analyze the solids retention time and the nutrients (N and P compounds) in the effluent taking into account different activated sludge models.

Abstract:
In this paper we studied operating parameters to determine the optimal conditions for separation and concentration of organochlorine pesticides in aqueous samples using solid phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography – mass spectrometry. Several parameters affecting extraction, viz. extraction mode, incubation time and temperature, stirring speed, extraction time, desorption time, bake out time and temperature, vial penetration were investigated. In our experiments we used polydimethylsiloxane 100 µm fibers at the extraction temperature of 85 °C for 10 minutes and desorption temperature of 250 °C for 3 minutes. Under these optimal conditions, the proposed solid phase microextraction method provided good linearity in the ranges of 0.5-1000 ng/mL organochlorine pesticides. The recoveries of pesticides in water samples exceeded 85%.

Abstract:
Systemic toxic pollutants such as heavy metals, exerts its actions on different organs and human body systems, the effect being specific to this substance. Their spread in the environment is increasing and their accumulation in the environment and in the human body is important for the pathological changes that occur. Beryllium is an important component of nuclear reactors as a neutron source with low neutron-absorbing capacity. Beryllium oxide is used in insulators, resistors, spark plugs and microwave tubes from the electronics industry. Little information about atmospheric input of beryllium (Be) into ecosystems is known, despite its highly toxic behavior. Beryllium is a toxic material and an inhalation risk causing sensitization and chronic beryllium disease (CBD) to receptors. Beryllium and its compounds are included in Class I carcinogens’’ according to Order 462/1993, and the emission limit value is 0.1 mg/m3 at a mass flow greater that 0.5g/h. Beryllium emissions are isokinetically sampled from the source. The particulated emissions are collected in a probe and on heated filters and the gaseous emissions are collected in a series of chilled absorbes with absorption solutions. This paper presents the results obtained by optimizing the beryllium determination method from stationary sources emissions using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) and at also presents the performance characteristics of the method. The limit of detection (LOD) was 0.0018 µg/m3, the linearity range under optimized condition was 0.05 -2 µg/L and the limit of quantification (LOQ) was 0.0027 µg/m3.

Abstract:
In the present work, an analytical method for the simultaneous determination of six β-lactam antibiotics (ampicillin, amoxicillin, penicillin V, penicillin G, oxacillin and cephalexin) is proposed for the determination of these compounds in wastewater treatment plants (WWPTs) influents and effluents. The β-lactams were extracted from water samples using Oasis HLB cartridges with preconcentration factors up to 250. The compounds have been separated using a Zorbax SB-C18 (50 mm x 2.1 mm, 1.8 µm) HPLC column and gradient elution with mobile phase consisting of aqueous formic acid and acetonitrile. Detection was performed by mass spectrometry with a triple quadrupole using an electrospray interface. The linear range of the standard curve was from 1.0 to 600 ngmL-1 (R2 >0.99). Average recoveries of β-lactams in fortified samples were generally above 74% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) lower than 11 %. Limits of detection were in the range 20-150 ngL-1 and 8-60 ngL-1 for influent and effluent wastewater samples, respectively. The described method was applied to the determination of the β-lactams in wastewater samples from a municipal WWTP.

Abstract:
In everyday life, the concept of thermal energy is associated, in outlook, with areas or facilities which are distinguished by relatively high temperatures. In the shadow of this perception, we are tempted to not see the quantities of heat that benefits all of us, for personal convenience or for carrying some activities. The reason for this negligence is that the heat enter our lives at relatively low temperatures, which is not perceived as dangerous. Required amount of heat at low temperature are huge and are largely obtained on account of adequate fossil fuels quantity burning. This conduct can not be considered environmentally friendly because, on the one hand, leads to high rates of diminishing fuel reserves and, on the other hand, increase the rates in which terrestrial atmosphere is loaded with fossil carbon. However, “Mother Nature” is generous and gives us the opportunity to obtain large amounts of heat through smart exploitation of local resources present practically in any area. This work aims to analyze the thermal energy at low temperature consumption under three aspects. The first of these concerns the structure and dimensions of the particular market. The second issue concerns the “supply” of available heat in the environment. Finally, the third aspect concerns the technical possibilities available for an intelligent exploitation of natural heat supply to cover a portion of alleged market.

Abstract:
A simple and reliable method was developed for the determination of bentazon and azinphos-methyl in water using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) at 254 nm. Chromatographic separation was carried out on a BDS Hypersil C8 column (15 0mm x 4mm, 5 µm particles) at 200C and 0.8 ml/min flow rate with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile – ultrapure water (80 : 20, v/v). Satisfactory separation of two pesticides was obtained in 7 minutes by injecting 10µl standard solution. The linearity ranges of the calibration curves ranged from 0.27 µg/ml to 2.47 µg/ml for bentazon and from 0.34 µg/ml to 3.1 µg/ml for azinphos-methyl. The selectivity of the method was tested by injecting standard solution containing a mixture of azinphos-methyl, bentazon, atrazine, simazine and propazin. These compounds were separated at differents retention times, this showing the selectivity of method. The recovery rate was tested using two SPE cartridges: Strata X (Phenomenex) and LiCrholut EN (Merck). The Strata X cartridges were found to be more suitable for extracting the two organophosphorus pesticides from surface water samples. The average recoveries were 95.8% for azinphos-methyl and 105.6% for bentazon.

Abstract:
Environmental Management Systems (EMS) and Energy Management System (EnMS) are two of the tools which, implicitly or explicitly, are promoted by the EU in order to achieve the targeted goals and objectives identified in the cross frontier legislation for environmental protection. Both management systems have requirements set by international standards (such as ISO 14001 and ISO 50001), by which an organization (or other “organizational entity”) may establish and implement Policies and Objectives for environment or energy, with the assumption of compliance with legal requirements and other requirements to which the organization subscribes. The European Directives were evolving over time, both in structure and in the form of expression. In the beginning of the last decade the key-concepts used were Policies, Community objectives and Action Programmes – all these being the principal elements of the Management systems, too. Later on, the European Directives started to promote equivalent terms for preventive actions, corrections and corrective actions for the noncompliance with critical limits stated by the relevant legislation. Moreover, we can find wording like: environmental aspects and impact analysis, emission monitoring and compliance with legal requirements, specific actions of the operational control, emergency plans and public communication. In some cases (e.g. waste management and energy efficiency), the European Directives have become very explicit in the recommendations they make regarding the utility of EMS and EnMS implementation, based on ISO 14001 and ISO 50001 international standards. Although the implementation of EMS and EnMS is a voluntary decision, the fact they are subject of recent recommendations of the European Directives shows the conviction that these Management systems represent effective tools in achieving commitments regarding environmental protection and pollution prevention or energy performance (energy efficiency, energy usage and energy consumption).

Abstract:
The present study investigates the influence of in-house installation systems to the tap water quality in Brasov Municipality in order to get an overview of the current contamination levels of drinking water at the consumer’s tap. In a sampling campaign organized in March 2013, the samples were collected from customer’s cold line pipe with first draw (1st liter taken in the morning from kitchen without previous flush of the tap) and fully flushed sampling (after flushing five minutes same tap) procedures. In the monitoring program were included samples from Tarlung Water Plant, drinking water samples from storage tanks situated in different Brasov areas, 34 samples from customer’s tap and 12 samples from branch pipes. The investigated parameters (metals, organic compounds and microbiological parameters) were those included in Romania Legislation in accordance with European Drinking Water Directive 98/83/EC. The metallic element Al, As, Cd, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, Sb and Zn were analyzed in tap water samples using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy technique. The monitoring data show an influence of the material used in the internal distribution system within the customer buildings to the tap waters quality. Around 18% of first draw samples indicated a pollution of drinking water with Ni (two samples) and Pb (two samples). The metal concentrations recorded in tap waters collected with tap flushing procedure and also the samples collected from branch pipe were situated in the limit values in all studied cases.It was notice a decrease of free chlorine concentration in stagnated water (in most samples, below the limit of detection for the test method) compared with branch pipe and fully flushed samples. This permits the development of microorganisms, the stagnated water being unprotected from the bacteriological point of view. The present study demonstrate that materials used in water supply domestic installations have a major contribution in deterioration of water quality provided by the local distribution network, due to the processes of water stagnation and lack of maintenance of the internal distribution materials.

Abstract:
A semi-quantitative method has been developed for the determination of typical profiles of PASHs to identify the main sources of soil pollution. PASHs compounds selected in this study were 2,3-dimethylbenzothiophene, 6,7- dimethylbenzothiophene, naphto[1,2-b]thiophene, phenanthro[3,4-b]thiophene, 3-phenylbenzothiophene and 3-(naphthyl)benzothiophene. Extraction of soil samples was carried out by ultrasonication using a mixture of n-hexane and dichloromethane. Final analysis was performed by gas chromatography using a non-polar capillary column TR-5ms (60 m, 0.25 mm, 0.25 µm) and the detection by high resolution mass spectrometer with magnetic and electric sector using electronic impact ionization. The linear range of the standard curve prepared from contaminated soil was from 1.0 to 8.0 ngKg-1 (R2 >0.97). Limits of detection ranged from 0.13 ngKg-1 to 2.50 ngKg-1 . The developed analytical method was successfully applied to study the soil profiling polluted by mobile and fixed sources.

Abstract:
The heavy metal pollution is among the most disseminated environmental contamination, at least in some regions of Romania, having a particularly adverse effect on surface water and sediments in affected areas. This type of contamination could be directly linked to some industrial activities like smelting and mining. The main task of this study is to assess the heavy metal outflow from the contaminated sediment to the aquatic environment, with its subsequent toxic effect on the living organisms in water. In this paper we study the distribution and mobility of nickel and lead in sediment samples taken from a highly heavy metals polluted area, the principal anthropologic input being from existing and former mining activities. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the ecological pollution degree by determining the mobility and distribution of nickel and lead in sediments of rivers polluted by industrial human activities. In order to determine the mobile fraction of nickel and lead in sediment samples we used BCR extraction method that separates three fractions which differ in the mobility of existing metal chemical species and a method of leachable extraction fraction by cold extraction method using certified reference material. Our results show that by applying BCR sequential extraction method on sediment, it is found that nickel due to its higher mobility than lead, induce a significant degree of pollution by its migration from sediment to surface water.

Abstract:
The paper presents the use of Rough Set Theory (acronym RST) as a new emerging instrument to support the environmental decision in uncertainty conditions. New developed methodologies for environmental pollution diagnosis and prediction and their use in environmental impact/risk assessment are presented. Those methodologies can be successfully used to make prediction regarding pollution phenomena and seems to be a promising simple instrument to be implemented in order to adapt the measures to be taken in adequate time during incidental/accidental discharge so that pollution plume concentration (regardless the pollution type) to be estimated.

Abstract:
The investigation of the geological environment is absolutely necessary in the case of pollution and more so in the case of the accidental pollution in order to determine environmental damages and in order to take the appropriate measures necessary to restore it to bring it to the acceptable quality conditions in accordance with the requirements of the legislation. This article presents the results of investigating the geological environment in two case studies, which allows a concrete analysis of the factors involved in oil pollution case. Distinguish a number of important factors such as the lithology and geomorphology of the land, mainly slope, the meteorological factors (rainfall, soil frost), depth of the underground water table level, land drainage, etc. The analytical results obtained are presented in details and the quantitative estimation of the soil affected by oil pollution related to land surfaces analyzed in the two specific cases studied.

Abstract:
The presented contribution focuses on the complex study of the pilot-scale photochemical H2O2/UVC system arranged as the ex-situ decontamination cell for heavily polluted waters (contamination with organic substances. The method principle comprises the rational decomposition of hydrogen peroxide induced by UV-C (254 nm). The produced OH radicals are very efficient oxidation species enabling the direct destruction of wide spectrum of organic compounds (polyaromatic hydrocarbons, chlorinated hydrocarbons, aniline, nitrobenzene etc.). Concentrations mentioned compounds in groundwater were very effectively reduced by photochemical oxidation H2O2/UVC (efficiency up 95%). This contribution also brings details on the feasibility of the designed processes in comparison with traditional approaches.

Abstract:
The instruments meant to implement the 2020 EU Strategy must be better structured compared with those used for the implementation of Lisbon Strategy. The sustainable development strategies implemented at local, regional level must be continuously updated in order to respond to the real needs of local communities. The present paper presents the results obtained within a pilot project carried in 2012 in the Suceava County, Romania, which tried to rebuild the local sustainable development strategy based on the capabilities and expertise of local specialists. The strategy was modeled using the Balanced Scorecard tool and for the first time a strategic map was created for the pilot region.

Abstract:
The phytostabilization of the slag and fly ash dumps was studied in an experimental block consisting of variants fertilized with different organic fertilizing agents, sewage sludge or biological sludge resulting from a slaughter house in the absence/presence of an organic stimulus. The organic stimulus was used during the sowing stage and subsequently through regular foliar applications on the grown crop. The organic stimulus Biocomplex 900 is based on a marine brown algae extract and comes from SC EKO GEA EAST SRL, Romania. The germination degree of Lolium perenne seeds was studied at the same time with the coverage degree of sown areas during different phenophases. The plant development and the amount of biomass harvested were monitored. The slaughter house sludge used (0.5 kg·m-2) with the addition of Biocomplex 900 organic stimulus determined a rapid vegetation in the fertilized slag and fly ash variant along with green biomass harvests which was 2-3 times higher than in other experimental variants.

Abstract:
A preliminary acute evaluation of toxicity in Danube River – Danube Delta Romanian sector (1075 – 0 km) was proposed including surface-water and sediment. The conventional classification of natural waters is based primarily on chemical and physical parameters. Recently the hazard classification have include the use of selected microbiotests based on organisms sensitivity. The spatial (11 control points) and temporal (in winter and spring of 2013) toxicity effects have been assessed using a biotests battery with representative species of producers (grean algae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata) and consumers (rotifers – Brachionus calyciflorus, crustaceeans – Daphnia magna, Heterocypris incongruent). The physical, chemical, biological and microbiological characteristics of water and sediment also have been performed. The preliminary tests results revealed no acute to slightly toxic effect, respectively Class I and II of hazard. The sediment samples were more toxic than water. The toxicity results were directly influenced by organisms sensitivity, sampling locations, season and climate change issues. The water quality according to hazard classification was related to pollution classification and biological determinations (macrozoobenthos, phytoplankton and zooplankton).

Abstract:
A method for simultaneous analysis of Fe, Mn, Al, Ca, Mg, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Zn and As from mine water treatment sludge was developed using an NEX CG – Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer. The XRF analysis results were verified with other consecrated method such AAS and ICP-MS using standardized methodologies, including pretreatment of samples. Good correlation of results between methods was achieved (usually 0.93-0.98). Minimum sample preparation (drying, sieving and prolene cup preparation) is needed, and up to 4 samples can be analyzed per hour. Usual limit of detection for analyzed elements was between 3 and 30 mg/Kg dw, with higher limits for light elements as Mg (384 mg/Kg dw) Al(162 mg/Kg dw). XRF analysis method was successfully used for analysis of some precipitates obtained from mine waters using various precipitation methods. Mine water was sourced from some closed Romanian mines.