Monthly Archives: September 2018

Abstract:

The article deals with the approaches for predicting the impact on the Atmospheric
Air component in the approved reports (Environmental Impact Assessment Reports
EIAR) for the expansion of active industrial sites on the territory of the Republic of
Bulgaria for the period 2013-2016. Different approaches used by independent
environment experts have been identified as incoming forecasting data – using
approved Inventory Methodologies, established emission limit values for the
respective production under regulatory acts etc.
The purpose of the study is to compare the different approaches for predicting the
impacts on the component Ambient air for a particular site and to draw a conclusion
on the approach with the least variance. The need for a single methodology for
assessing the Atmospheric Air component in the EIAR is reflecting the planned
investment – an extension of an existing site. This need is studied and commented in
the paper.

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Abstract:

After the Conference for Environment in Stockholm in 1972 and after the release in
the same year of the first report to the Club of Rome, „The Limits to Growth“, was
understood that the wish of increasing our life quality by using new technological
applications could have beside desired effects, also undesired ones. Worldwide
began debates on scientific, political and social levels in order to find solutions for
these problems. The concept of sustainable development, defined for the first time
1987 in the Brundtland Report, largely discussed 1992 during the so-called “Rio”-
Conference as well as 2012 during the “Rio+20”- Conference, was worldwide
accepted as a possible solution for the global complex ecological, economic and
social problems. On a local level best strategies have to be found for developing
sustainable cities as well as most appropriate assessment terms. Newly debated
strategies for sustainable urban development have at their base the concept of
“Decoupling” firstly developed 2013 in the Club of Rome. Using new transportation
possibilities, other than cars as well as rehabilitating residential urban buildings and
constructing green buildings are as well in the discussions. These aspects are related
to mindset changes and to a new type of education of the young generation, a socalled Holistic Education for Sustainable Development. Presently it is still not very
clear what a sustainable city should be and what components should be included,
getting a ”general methodology” for sustainable cities represents a big progress in
this field.

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Abstract:

This study present the results of the physico-chemical, microbiological and hydrochemical characterization obtained for the mineral water samples taken from 14 mineral springs located in the Buila-Vinturarita National Park area.
For this study, has been conducted three sampling campaigns, in November 2017, March 2018 and June 2018, for each mineral spring.
The physico-chemical quality indicators analyzed for each source were: pH, chlorides, sulfates, bicarbonates, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, total silica and sulfides and hydrogen sulfide. In parallel with the physico-chemical indicators, microbiological indicators were also determined, namely: total number of
bacteria at 22˚C, total number of bacteria at 37˚C, total coliform bacteria, Escherichia coli, enterococci and Pseudomona aeruginosa.
The results of the physico-chemical and microbiological analyzes obtained for the studied mineral springs were compared with the provisions of the Romanian legislation in force GD 1020/2005, which transposes into the national legislation the European Directive 2009/54 / EC.
Also in the present study, along with the physico-chemical and microbiological characterization of the mineral water samples, studies were carried out on the hydrochemical characterization of these springs. These hydrochemical characterization studies were done by plotting the “Piper Diagrams”. With the help of the Piper Diagrams, we could have a more detailed view of the mineral springs studied, from the analytical point of view and from the
point of view of the typology of these springs.

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Abstract:

The current study tackles the issue of excavating alluvial deposits in protected areas included in the Natura 2000 network, which was expanded in 2016 to 23% of
Romania’s territory. A significant percent of the Natura 2000 areas in Romania directly target or are connected to fluvial elements where machinery for alluvial deposits is used. The Natura 2000 ROSCI 0103 Lunca Buzaului following along the Buzau River had an initial length of 110 km and a surface of 6987 ha; subsequent to
the 2016 expansion it now has a length of 140 km and a surface of 9575 ha. In the studied area there are 62 perimeters leased for exploitation with a total area of
594.39 ha (6.2% of the site surface). For data analysis and management both GIS techniques and specific methods for interpreting remote sensing data were used.
For this study, the following resources are used: Pleiades panchromatic and multispectral images at 0.5 and 2 m spatial resolution, orthophotos at 2.5 m spatial
resolution, Digital Terrain Model (DTM) based on a 20m network. Thematic vectors: ROSCI 0103 limits, road network, geology. Data is processed and interpreted using specific software – ENVI EX for remote sensing data processing and QGIS for the development of the GIS database. Following the assessment, maps were drawn up highlighting the details of exploitations, the risk elements associated with the spatial-temporal evolution.
These are key elements in the process of assessing the environmental impact and the risk for the population in affected areas.

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Abstract:

According to European Commission studies, poor quality air causes the premature death of more people than the road accidents each year. Fine particulate matter (PM10) is mainly a result of human activities – transport, industry and domestic heating and causes respiratory problems, asthma, lung cancer and premature death. At present in Bulgaria, sources of pollution are mainly old cars and solid fuel stoves
used for domestic heating. The environmental situation can be improved by building more green areas. In cities it is difficult to separate areas where green areas are to be built. This problem can be solved by using the roofs of buildings. Many plant species are resistant to pollutants and have the property of purifying the air from them. Properly designed roof gardens and the appropriate choice of plant species
could significantly improve urban conditions.
The purpose of this article is to explore the possibilities for purification and improvement of air quality in urban zones using roofing landscaping. A study of literature on this problem has been made and presented in the paper. Also how to solve the problem with PM air pollution using green roofs in Bulgaria was commented. In the paper we estimate two simulations done by the software PLUME for annual average dust concentrations before and after construction of green roofs in the Industrial zone of the city of Ruse, Bulgaria. The maximum annual average concentration of dust after the building of green roofs is more than two times less
than the one without green roofs.

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Abstract:

Climatic changes represent one of the main preoccupations of our century – a complex domain in which the knowledge must be continuously improved and understood in order to efficiently approach the challenges from this field. Climatic
changes determined by a multitude of natural and anthropic causes (for example: atmospheric pollution, soil erosion, afforestation and field degradation) lead to an intensification of negative processes. Amongst these, we mention the intensification of climatic changes, the increase of afforestation surfaces, reducing biodiversity,
degrading soils and the apparition of desertification processes, as well as population migration, depletion of resources and the occurrence of social conflicts. On their own end, climatic changes induce an aggravation of abiotic and biotic threats posed on forests such as: fires, droughts, storms, atmospheric pollution, forest fragmentation as consequence of transport and infrastructure constructions etc. During the last couple of years, Romanian forests and fields destined for afforestation were negatively affected by: torrential phenomenon, landslides and river breaches, surface erosions, surface rocks, depth erosion, floods or freezing rain. Climate represents one of the main natural factors both in ensuring viticultural
growth and development conditions, as well as in establishing and scaling management works for peaks and irrigations. The main climatic and stress factors that have affected the viticultural ecosystem in the last period of time are: temperature, precipitations, atmospheric humidity, average global, active and useful temperatures, night humidity index and the Huglin index.

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Abstract:

As global renewable energy demand grows, sludge from urban waste water
treatment plants could be one of the available renewable energy resources. Thermal
treatment of sludge is becoming more and more attractive due to the destruction of
dangerous constituents and the reduction of their volume.
The article presents a correlation equation based on the volatile matter content,
which allows calculating the low heating value of sludge samples from a city
wastewater treatment plant. The equation was developed by evaluating the
characteristics of more than 40 sludge samples analysed in the laboratory.
Validation of the equation revealed that the heating value deviation from the
experimental one was below 3.5%.
The estimation of the low heating value of sludge samples based on the
determination of volatile matter content is important where the experimental
determination of the low heating value involves time and the use of high-tech
laboratory equipment.

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Abstract:

This paper presents some synthetic information regarding preliminary data obtained
along a multiple objective research project in which the principal objective was new
approaches regarding the implementation of pollutant air emissions -Directive
2010/75/UE, with the necessity coming to adopt the European Commission’s
decisions on BAT Conclusions. In that study are presented the novelty elements
becoming from both important National Economy domains, such as Large
Combustion Plants and Intensive pig and chicken farming; beside these theoretical
aspects are presented in the paper also the first air emissions results such as HCl, HF
and Hg resulting from charcoal combustion related with an experimental model that
could be used in the Smell Management Plan development in the field of Intensive
Animal farming, required by the BAT conclusions.

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Abstract:

In Romania on Bistrita and Siret Rivers were realized between 1960-1970, 15 hydropower plants, some of them being today Natural Reservations. Due to improper management of the water quantity, the capacity of the lakes was reduced, mostly due to excessive, invasive development of vegetation. A specific problem appears in the Vaduri Lake, which is Natural Reservation. Part of the water is used for human necessities for more than 200 localities, and part for electric energy. The lake represents an ecologic environmental for more than 30 species of birds which nest here and for another 78 species who are passing during migration. For them is necessary a clean surface of the lake and a good quality of the water. It was realized a prototype using renewable resources, as to collect and partially dry the collected vegetation for future utilization in a biomass power plant. This new solution
activated by solar panels is efficient, optimal, and ecologic, being tested in the lake in the last two years. First are briefly analyzed the local conditions responsible for the ecological changes, affecting the entire environment. First are mentioned the previously tested solutions, without any effect. Some bird species decreased as a number, and some of them disappeared, due to the improper conditions for nesting. This new solution is realized on a mobile pontoon, which moves constantly with a small velocity, without perturbing the ecosystem. It has the possibility of displacement into the affected area, without noise, which could perturb the bird life.
Finally, some conclusions and references are presented.

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Abstract:

During the last decades, important areas of the Romanian agricultural lands are confronted with some specific problems. In South, due to an inefficient system of irrigation, appears the salting effect. In drought years, entire surfaces are covered
with white phosphates (used in excess thirty-forty years ago), destroying the agricultural plant’s roots. Contrary, in East, due to improper management of riverbeds, after floods, appear surfaces confronted with excess quantities of water deposition (sometimes even for one entire month), destroying also the agricultural
plant’s roots. In the present paper, a solution for estimation the necessary level of the water table is presented, assuming a correct correlation between the irrigation during the vegetation period and the drainage during the rest of the year. An agricultural land irrigated by gravity, from the Jiu River basin, is considered, long
enough and extended between two emissaries with low topographic incidence. The computational scheme, for unsteady flow with the initial level of groundwater, corresponding to a stationary regime of drainage or injection is adopted. The
boundary conditions consist of imposed groundwater levels at areas extremities, in accordance with the known levels of the emissaries. The objective function is defined as a sum of cumulated rates for standard deviations, between the groundwater flow and the water table level, during two years. Some major coefficient’s penalties for the waiting time intervals are assumed, to limit the excessive water during the vegetation. A detailed analysis of the underground flow, the numerical model, the obtained results, conclusions, and references are also mentioned

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Abstract:

Water was considered an inexhaustible natural resource until reality has proven its reverse. Climatic changes increase the pressure on surface runoff and groundwater, amplifying regional differences. As such, the necessity to adapt to climatic changes implies applying certain biologic/silvicultural works for protecting water resources. Water is strongly connected with forests so that forests fulfil an exceptional hydrological purpose. In this paper we presents some types of silvotechnical works realized in the past for improving degraded lands from Vrancea area, as well as the results of investigations concerning the efficiency of this kind of works in protecting water resources. The investigations were realized in Caciu-Barsesti torrential watershed, an affluent of Putna River (pilot area in CAMARO-D project) situated in the Curvature Subcarpathians. The investigations have targeted forest ecosystem installed on degraded lands mainly comprised of Scots pine and European black pine, as well as the management/consolidation technologies used for eroded lands and their effects in reducing soil and leakage erosions. Forest ecosystems realized through the afforestation of degraded land have an important role in retaining, filtering water and in regulating the course of surface waters, as well as in reducing soil erosion and transporting alluvium. All these roles have an effect in protecting water resources, in maintaining their quality and ensuring a permanent water flux. Amongst the most important effects exerted by forest plantations from degraded lands we mention: reducing soil erosion, improving pedostational conditions, and regulating surface and depth leakages. In comparison with unafforested lands, degraded afforested lands present surface leakages of 4 up to 10 times lower as well as a much more reduced specific erosion (0.06 t.ha-1year-1, in comparison with 50-300 t.ha-1year-1).

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Abstract:

The current article includes a quantitative model which was developed based on the natural conditions of a specific site and it proposes an easily applicable methodology which allows estimates for: the quantity of rainwater collected by surface runoff; the quantity of rainwater collected by groundwater flow, due to the
infiltration in aquifers; the quantity of rainwater collected by sewerage systems.
The case study was developed for a site located in the Pantelimon area (in eastern Bucharest) and it compares the results of the standardised model and quantitative model. Additionally, the article provides an interpretation of the differences obtained between the natural and anthropic site conditions.

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Abstract:

The objective of this study was to investigate the spatial and temporal distribution of
annual precipitation erosivity in Bucharest (Romania). The analyzed period was
2009-2016, 1961 -1990, using the indices: Fournier (IF), Fournier Modified (IFM),
adapted to pluviometric recordings obtained from the meteorological station at the
Polytechnic University of Bucharest, Faculty of Biotechnical Systems Engineering.
Given the abundant rainfall in the summer months with implications for the soil, it is
important to know the mathematical equations that can be quickly applied to assess
soil erosion. The indices Fournier and Fournier modified obtained fall largely under
the moderate aggressiveness class, but there have been years when the precipitation
aggressiveness was moderate (2012, 2014). Erosion calculated according to Silva
and Rufino is low throughout the analyzed period. This knowledge is very important
to avoid the negative effects of pluvial erosion on agricultural crops.

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Abstract:

In National Research and Development Institute for Industrial Ecology has been developed a methodology for the transition of quality and environmental management systems to the requirements of ISO 9001 and ISO 114001 revised in
2015. The proposed methodology includes eight steps: organizational preparation,
coordination team design, changes analysis, organizing courses, change management, risk assessment and system documentation, internal audit and management analysis. This methodology was applied for the transition of the quality
and environmental integrated system (SIMCM) implemented in the institute and certified according to the requirements of the ISO 9001:2008 revisions and ISO 114001:2004 revision. The methodology has been successfully applied, the management analysis proposed the transition of the system to the requirements of the revised standards. Following the audit of the certification body, the system has
been certified according to ISO 9001: 2015 and ISO 114001:2015, respectively.

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Abstract:

There are several hundreds of water bodies within the territory of Kyiv city. The biggest river is the Dnipro with many small urban rivers, lakes and ponds. Upstream of the city on the Dnipro river the Kyivske reservoir was constructed. Near the city another big river Desna flows into the Dnipro river. The ecological states of these water bodies differ greatly and it is worthy to note that the routine monitoring of
these objects is irregular and limited. This resulted in the need of applying a new approach to the investigation of their ecological states. The investigation included field studies, using and processing of high-quality satelite images as well as
analysing some hydrometeorological data. The field studies were carried simultaneously with the satellite survey. This enabled to get some dependences
between measured and calculated data. Some patterns regarding water temperature, ice regime, water transparency, algal bloom as well as the ecological state of water objects in a whole were obtained. The Kyivske reservoir located upstream is an essential factor impacting on the Dnipro river and its gulfs. Another important factor which has a great effect on the ecological states of water objects is water exchange in them. In general, the ecological state of water bodies, connected with the Dnipro river is much better, than those without that connection.

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Abstract:

The present study assessed the spatial water quality variation of physical and chemical variables. The water quality data were collected during May 2018 from several sampling stations distributed between Ceatal Izmail and Sf. Gheorghe branch and up to the Dunavat Canal, as well as Razim and Golovita lakes. The sampling stations were selected on the basis of their contamination susceptibility, i.e., the station located along the above-mentioned sector of the Danube River were tended to be more impaired by the human related activities. Instead, the stations downstream to the Danube River (the lower course – deltaic area), i.e., Razim and Golovita lakes were supposed to be less impaired by the urban and rural contamination. The investigated sites are of particular interest since they belong to the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (DDBR). The following water quality parameters were measured: depth (m), temperature (oC), pH (units), dissolved oxygen content (mg/l), electrical conductivity (µS/cm), total dissolved solids (mg/l), sulphates (mg/l), nitrite-nitrogen (mg/l), nitrate-nitrogen (mg/l), orthophosphates
(mg/l), chlorophyll ”a” (µg/l), turbidity (NTU), total suspended solids (mg/l), Secchi visibility (m), silica content (mg/l) etc. Overall, the results indicated that some variables presented comparable values that have not exceeded those limits recommended by the reference standard. Instead, the fall in the quality of water (any
abnormal values encountered in a few situations) may be related to a wide range of local natural environmental circumstances, as well as anthropic factors. The
outcomes obtained from the present study shall be useful in the future environmental assessment of the aquatic ecosystems in DDBR area.

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