The effect of toxic metal As on the Matricaria Chamomilla L. medicinal plant

The paper presents an experimental laboratory study of the bioaccumulation of the toxic metal arsenic in the medicinal plant chamomile (Matricaria Chamomilla L.). The study makes a comparison regarding the bioaccumulation capacity of the chamomile plant in which arsenic is found as a unique contaminant, as well as in mixtures of 2, 3, or 4 toxic metals (Cd, Ni and Pb) on a natural soil enriched with metals, compared to the chamomile plant developed on an unpolluted substrate. The tests followed the effects of soil pollution with metals on the germination and development of chamomile. The experimental results indicated that arsenic does not bioaccumulate in the chamomile plant, remaining in the soil. The experiment that was an exception is the one with arsenic as the only contaminant (E1) in which at 90 days, the arsenic content in the chamomile plant was 3.58 mg/kg arsenic, the value that is within normal limits, below the phytotoxic value of 5 mg/kg, but was higher than that determined in the plant from the control test experiment (<0.75 mg/kg). The bioaccumulation factor (BCF) after 90 days, in all experiments, either by a combination of metals or a single contaminant had values lower than 1, indicating that the plant does not accumulate arsenic. The total chlorophyll from the results obtained indicates that the toxicity in the E1 experiment is higher than in the metal mixture.

Betula pendula Ssp. distribution and growth in the sub-Carpathian curvature

Birch ssp. in the sub-Carpathians curvature can be found in composition with beech and other resinous species, unevenly distributed from the mountain peaks at around 1200 m down to 500-600, mainly from high hills to depressions at 600m, rarely seen on plain sites, crossing different geomorphological structures and overall accounting for 3857.1 ha. The main objective of the paper was to analyze the site and stand characteristics of Betula pendula ssp. Roth. in the subCarpathians curvature as followed: stand structure, stand types and stand site types, soils and different metrics, from growth to yields and its connectivity.The ecological adaptability to climate and soil and early fast growth, makes silver birch fulfill the overall requirements as a pioneer species, mostly naturally regenerated. Birch distribution is highly influenced by stand structure having low proportion in compositions, mean height of 15 m at age 50, and a diameter of 20m. Regarding the site, characteristics are more commonly found on fertile soils, corrugated or fragmented site type with a slope of 20-50° and it is distributed as secondary species in stands, averaging 750m in attitude, ranging from 500 to 1200m, 90% being in mixtures with other species with a mean annual increment of approximately 7 m³/year/ha regardless of stand site type. As an early successional species, it serves as a first colonizer but secondary species and quite often as an ecological instrument to improve the soil characteristics, biodiversity and prevent landslides in certain sites, lacking economic value other than fuel wood or other non-wood products.

Short investigation on occurrence and removal of semivolatiles during wastewater treatment processes

The food industry wastewater is known to present a high organic matter content, due to specific raw materials and processing activities. Even if these compounds are not directly toxic to the environment, high concentrations in effluents could represent a source of pollution as discharges of high biological oxygen demand may impact receiving river's ecosystems. Identifying the main organic contaminants in wastewater samples represents the first step in establishing the optimum treatment method. The sample analysis for the non-target compounds through the GC-MS technique highlights, along with other analytical parameters, the efficiency of the main physical and biological treatment steps of the middle-size Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). Long-chain fatty acids and their esters were the main abundant classes of non-target identified compounds. The highest intensity detection signal was reached by n-hexadecanoic acid or palmitic acid, a component of palm oil, after the physical treatment processes with dissolved air flotation, and by 1-octadecanol after biological treatment.

Screening of cultivation media for LDPE biodegradation by Penicillium verrucosum CNM-FP-02

The paper’s aim was to select the optimal mineral medium for LDPE biodegradation by the strain Penicillium verrucosum CNM-FP-02. It was selected 5 mineral salt media (MSM), which differed in salt content and N/P ratio. After 40 days of submerged cultivation, the following parameters were determined: catalase activity and pH of cultural media, biomass accumulation, rate of LDPE degradation, optical microscopy and the tensile testing of polyethylene. It was observed that catalase activity on all media, except MSM 4, was higher in the presence of LDPE. The addition of polyethylene to the growth media stimulated the fungal biomass accumulation by 19.3-93.1% (4 media out of 5 tested). The percentage of degradation of LDPE films was different, depending on the culture medium, from 0.41% to 0.92%. The most active LDPE films were degraded on medium MSM 2. Visualization of plastic strips under an optical microscope revealed the immobilization of the microorganism and the damage on the polyethylene surface. The tensile test showed increased elasticity of the plastic in the variants treated with fungal strain. In conclusion, in order to stimulate the biodegradation of LDPE by the strain P. verrucosum CNM-FP-02, the medium MSM 2 (N/P ratio 1:1) was selected.

An overview of methods used for quantification of heavy metal contents in vegetal samples

Continuous monitoring of heavy metals content in vegetal products is a priority for food control and a risk assessment strategy for human health. Having in view the importance of heavy metals surveillance, the aim of this paper is to identify, on the basis of literature data, the most suitable procedures and techniques used for accurate determination of them in vegetal samples. In most cases, quantification of heavy metals in the vegetal matrix is preceded by digestion performed through different protocols chosen carefully because this is a critical step for obtaining accurate results. Among most used techniques for heavy metals’ assessment from vegetal products reported by literature it worth to be mentioned: atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), inductively coupled plasma - optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), neutron activation analysis (NAA), anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV).

Stoichiometry of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in wastewater from Romania

Water resources crisis can lead to a new concept of wastewater treatment. Wastewater cannot be considered waste but can be a renewable or non-renewable energy source. Nutrients from wastewater could be recycled and not disposed of. A circular economy can be created that can be based on the ability of algae to absorb and store nutrients: carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). This study investigates the stoichiometry between carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in wastewater from three geographical regions of Romania. The concentrations of inorganic nitrogen, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and total organic carbon were compared and evaluated. Three wastewater sampling points located in different areas were monitored, in the period 2013-2017 for the sampling point located in the central-northern part of the Romanian Plain and in the period 2015-2017 for the other two studied areas. The obtained results showed very high values of total nitrogen concentrations with values between 28.2 mg/L and 107.2 mg/L for the southeastern part of Romania. The values of the stoichiometric ratio’s C/N, C/P, N/P have varied over time with maximums in the autumn and winter seasons which indicates the existence of significant contamination of wastewater. It may be possible in the future to improve the performance of wastewater treatment by adjusting C, N, and P parameters.

Exposure assessment using biomonitoring

Complex studies were performed combining macroscopic and biochemical analyzes of selected biomonitors, exposed in exposure systems outdoor with mixtures of pollutants as well as controlled exposure with certain concentrations of pollutants in fumigation chambers. In this study, the following plant species were used as bioindicators: Nicotiana tabacum, Petunia hybrida, Ricinus comunis, Trifolium pretense. The exposure plant samples were compared with control samples of biomonitors maintained under standardized conditions in the climate chamber. Classical methods of biochemistry combined with those of exposure biomonitoring have led to the completion of knowledge about the ways of action of plants to pollution. The analysis of some of the antioxidant compounds that are representing a structural class of chemicals (enzymes) with a wide range of biological functions, with the role of free radical inhibition, was performed. Many of the constituent compounds in certain cell types, also called active compounds, in this case, polyphenols are present in the body of some plant species. Polyphenol's presence in organisms, that are not usually present or are in normal quantities, is caused by stress, (pollution being a stress factor). Large amounts of polyphenols in plants are also given by the presence of pollutants in the environment. Through these extensive combined studies, it has been demonstrated that pollution can be a degenerative factor at the biochemical and physiological level, at the plant tissue level, with irreversible effects.

Assessment of environmental pollution level caused by shipbuilding industry

The purpose of the paper was to create databases that would allow a proper assessment of the degree of marine pollution generated by the shipyard industrial sector. The study was conducted over a period of three years, between 2015 and 2017. The parameters determined for the waters collected from the shipyard were within the maximum allowed limits according to the norms in force. However, values very close to the maximum allowable limit were observed in the case of groundwater for nickel, determined from the drilling located near the fuel depot in 2015 and chlorides determined from the drilling located near the galvanizing workshop, both in 2016 and in 2017. The analyzed parameters for the soil samples, collected from various sampling points and different depths, were below the value of the alert thresholds for less sensitive soils, according to Order 756/97. The databases created for this study can contribute as an incipient basis for the development of larger studies that include other industrial sectors as well as a longer evaluation period.

The influence of toxic metals As, Cd, Ni and Pb on nutrients accumulation in Mentha piperita

Medicinal plants are, for a considerable part of the population, an important source of treatment for certain diseases. They contain essential nutrients for the human body such as magnesium, iron , and zinc. The present study shows the influence of the addition of As, Cd, Ni, Pb on mineral nutrients in different organs of Mentha piperita. The experiments were carried out in the laboratory for a period of three months (May-July). Mentha piperita plants were AsCd and AsCdNiPb exposed up to final concentrations corresponding to the soil intervention threshold according to Romanian Order no.756/1997 (25 mg/kg As, 5 mg/kg Cd, 150 mg/kg Ni and 100 mg/ kg Pb). Simultaneously with these experiments, a control experiment (M) was performed. To evaluate the effect of the addition of AsCd and AsCdNiPb on the accumulation and transfer of Ca, Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, Fe and Zn, the transfer coefficient (TC), the translocation factor (TF), and the enrichment factor (EF) were calculated. A higher concentration of Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, and Zn was observed especially in the mint root in the experiments in which AsCdNiPb was added compared to those in which only AsCd was added. The AsCdNiPb addition did not influence the translocation of micro and macronutrients from the root to the aerial (edible) parts of the plant. In the case of the AsCd, addition, the translocation of zinc from the root to the aerial parts (leaves and stem) of the plant was increased.

Options to improve the coagulation process operation in a drinking water treatment plant. Case study

Aluminum salts are widely used across Romania in surface water treatment as coagulants. It is well-known that the efficiency of these coagulants has a complex dependency on the nature of the raw water, being affected by temperature, pH, and suspended solids. The objective of this case study was to compare the coagulation-flocculation efficiency process of raw water from the Bega River, at low temperature and turbidity, taking into account the use of alternative coagulating agents such as alum, poly aluminum chloride (PAC), and their mixing in 1:1 ratio. The raw water samples were treated using the "Jar Test" procedure, comparable with the current plant conditions at Timisoara Waterworks and taking into account possible operational improvements. For the mixture method applied in which was combined alum and PAC in 1:1 mixing ratio were achieved lower concentrations in aluminum residual, TOC, and turbidity.