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The purpose of this research was to assess the degree of sediments contamination with heavy metals. In December 2013, 8 sediments samples were collected from several areas from Baia Mare. Each of the collected sediment samples was analyzed for pH, redox potential (ORP), electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS) and salinity with a portable multiparameter (WTW 3210i). In laboratory, using an ICP-OES, all the sediment samples were analyzed for iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and manganese (Mn).According to Romanian legislation the level of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn exceeded the maximum permissible limit (0.8 mg/kg, 40 mg/kg, 85 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg).Heavy metals are not removed from aquatic ecosystem by self purification and they can accumulate in suspanded particulates and sediments, as a consequence they are a real threath for the human health and ecosystem via food chain accumulation. more...

The main purposes of the present study were: to investigate the physico-chemical parameters of several mineral springs from Buzău County and to classify the investigated waters in mineral water classes, according to national legislation. The analyzed parameters were: pH, temperature, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), salinity, dissolved oxygen (DO) and turbidity. The water samples were collected during October 2014. Generally, the water samples proved to be slightly acidic to neutral, with high levels of TDS (37 7 – 1,271 mg/l). Some of the analyzed dissolved ions (carbonates, bromine and phosphate) were not detected in the analyzed waters. The major dissolved ions distribution is dominated by the presence of sodium (3.8 – 589.2 mg/l), calcium (36.5 – 126.3 mg/l), sulphates (60.3 – 412.2 mg/l) and bicarbonates (213.2 – 915 mg/l). Magnesium ranged between 9.9 – 40.6 mg/l, potassium between 8.7 – 45.2 mg/l, fluoride between 1.0 and 2.9 mg/l., nitrates between 6.4 and 108.9 mg/l and chlorine was between 9.1 and 211.8 mg/l. Some of the investigated water can be commercialized as sodic water, chlorine water, sulphate water and bicarbonate water. more...

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the drinking water sources quality from Mediaş Town, Sibiu County. In November 2013, 6 water samples were taken from different drinking water sources and each water sample was analysed to determinate physico-chemical parameters (using a portable multiparameter WTW 320i major ions (using DIONEX ICS1500 ion chromatograph and heavy metals (using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer model ZENIT 700 Analytik Jena). The investigated physico-chemical parameters were: temperature, salinity, electrical conductivity (EC), pH, total dissolved solids (TDS) and redox potential (ORP). The analysed major ions were: lithium (Li+), sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), magnesium (Mg2+), calcium (Ca2+), fluoride( F-), chloride (Cl-), bromide (Br-), nitrite (NO2-), nitrate (NO3-), phosphate (PO43- ) and sulphate (SO42-). The investigated heavy metals were: lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), cooper (Cu), iron (Fe), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr) and arsenic (As). The Water Quality Index (WQI) was calculated using the analysed water quality parameters and it ranged from 76 (very poor water quality) to 375 (unsuitable for drinking). more...

Zăpodie stream is subjected to pollution with organic matter, nutrients, heavy metals, due to leakage and seepage of leachate from landfill platform in Cluj-Napoca. For determining the quality of the Zăpodie stream we analyzed several physico-chemical indicators such as pH, TDS, EC, ORP and salinity during January-May 2012. Furthermore, we performed a physico-chemical analysis of the leachate so we can correlate with qualitative results obtained for Zăpodie stream. In addition we also measured the leachate concentrations of Zn, Cu, Cd, cations (Na²+, Ca²+, Mg²+) and anions (SO4²-, Cl-, PO43-). Ramp leakage exceeded the MAC (maximal admitted concentration) mentioned in NTPA 001/2005 and HG 352/2005 for Ca²+ and SO4²- and both can cause a possible pollution of mineral nature. For the case of heavy metals, Zn exceeded the values set by NTPA 001/2005. A biological analysis of stream water was also performed in order to monitor the activity and biological load in a polluted environment. After analysis we detected a water pollution indicator species, namely UNIRAMIA-insects: Chironomus. more...