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The acid mine drainage (AMD) can be a major source of water and soil pollution. To evaluate the chemical composition of the AMD and its impact on surface waters, a total of 132 water samples, both surface and waste waters, were collected during four field campaigns in November 2018, December 2018, March 2019 and April 2019. There were also collected several samples from the tailing dam material and sediments from the rivers where acidic waters are discharged. The physico-chemical parameters (pH, redox potential, electrical conductivity, total dissolved salts and salinity) were measured by a portable multiparameter (WTW multi350i, Germany), while the dissolved ions (NO2-, NO3-, Br-, F-, Cl-, PO43-, SO42-, Li+, Na+, NH4+, K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+) were analysed by ion chromatography and the metal content (Cu, Zn, Fe, Cr, Cd, Ni, Pb) was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Most of the water samples had an acidic pH, with high electrical conductivity values (up to 9,360 μS/cm). The waters had a high level of SO42- (up to 8141.8 mg/l), Fe (up to 1,216.2 mg/l), Cu (up to 71.9 mg/l) and Zn (up to 61.98 mg/l). The tailing dam material was characterised by high levels of Fe (39.87 - 40.72 g/kg), Zn (81.3 - 241.1 mg/kg), Cu (343.5 - 942.3 mg/kg) and Pb (41.4 - 77.1 mg/kg). The analyses indicated the negative impact of AMD discharge in surface waters, which proved to have high levels of SO42- and heavy metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Romania, there are rural areas where the access to safe drinking water sources is still an unsolved issue. The main objective of the present study was to assess the quality of several underground drinking water sources from two rural communities from Romania and to evaluate the suitability of using those water sources in drinking and agricultural purposes. The investigated parameters were: pH, redox potential (Eh), electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), salinity, dissolved ions (F-, Cl-, Br-, NO2-, NO3-, PO4-3, SO4-2, Li+, Na+, NH4+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+) and metals (Fe, Zn, Cr, Cu, Cd, Ni, Pb and Mn). The analyses indicated high levels of sulphates (up to 353.2 mg/l) in the wells from Cluj County and high concentrations of nitrates (up to 111.4 mg/l) and nitrites (up to 1.49 mg/l) in the wells from Bistrița-Năsăud County, these parameters frequently exceeded the safely limits imposed by national and international legislation. The levels of the other investigated parameters were generally below the maximum limits imposed by national and international legislation. Based on the sodium adsorption ratio, sodium percentage and magnesium adsorption ratio values, most of the investigated water sources can be safely used in agriculture purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tanning is the most important operation in leather processing, which turned the leather into a non-putrefying material. Tanning may be carried out with chromium salts (III) or with a variety of other tanning agents. In present days, tanning with chromium salts (III) is the most widely used technique in industrial processing of leather, almost 90 % of leather goods being processed by this method. Taking into account the fact that the wastes from the leather and fur industry are framed by Commission Decision 532/2000 under code 04 01 08 (non hazardous), this study aim's to analyze the leachability of total chromium from tanned and dyed leather waste originated from leather processing industries, in order to establish the environmental risks of them. Leachability tests, conductometric tests and determination of the refractive index were carried for three types of tanned leather waste (G-gray, Bn-brown, Bk-black), at different temperatures. The results shown that the values for the total chromium in leachate were higher than the maximum allowed concentration for the hazardous waste (MAC = 70 mg/kg). The leachability of total chromium increased at low temperatures (5-13°C) and at high temperatures (40-60°C). In Romania an important amount of tanned leather waste reaches the municipal landfills. These results indicate that the leather waste can be disposed only in special landfills for hazardous waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Baia Mare region is one of the most polluted areas from our country due to extraction and processing of ores with high content of Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn and precious metals. The main objectives of the present study were: to assess the groundwater quality by determine the physico-chemical parameters values, dissolved ions and heavy metal concentration and to evaluate if those groundwater sources can be used for irrigation and drinking purposes by calculating 10 specific quality indexes. A total of 70 groundwater samples were collected from 14 private wells and springs from Baia Mare and surrounding areas (November 2013 and December 2013, June 2014, September 2014 and December 2014). In situ a portable multiparameter WTW Inolab 320i respectively a portable turbidimeter were used to determine the physico-chemical parameters like: pH, ORP, EC, TDS, DO, salinity and turbidity. The dissolved ions (Li+, Na+, NH4+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, F-, Cl-, Br-, NO2-, NO3-, PO4 3-, SO4 2-) were analysed in laboratory by using an ion chromatograph IC DIONEX 1500. An atomic absorption spectrometer ZEENIT 700 was used to determine the heavy metals concentrations like: Cd, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn. After calculating the specific quality indexes (WQI, MI, HPI, PI, SAR, % Na, SSP, MH, MR and KR), the obtained results indicated that the majority of the investigated water sources are not recommended for drinking and most of them are suitable to be used only like irrigation waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims procurement and testing of ways using leather waste from tanneries, by incorporating them into a composite. This new material was subjected tests to determine leachability total chromium and lead in leather waste. Flow of production was as follows: grinding skin, placing the composite composition of a CRT glass waste to replace natural aggregates, own recipes, samples forming and demoulding. The new composite was then subjected to leachability test for total chromium and lead. The primary objective of this study was to achieve a composite material that can be used as material for the construction, in compliance with current standards of construction and environmental legislation. The proposed method of waste recovery skin is viable and beneficial to the environment and provides economic benefits by creating jobs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper represents an ample study on hazardous waste came from WEEE, namely CRT glass. The aim of this study was to obtain a composite structural material which would integrate CRT (cone) glass. The hereby study is structured and presented into three main parts: literature data, the experimental part and results interpretation and general conclusions. Chemical analyzes were made with Atomic Absorption Spectrometry method and the lead (Pb) leachability of the new material made was monitored. Also mechanical strength test were made using a Tehnotest device. Mechanical tests were conducted for resistance to compression and flexure of the material. For the new material were obtained good results and it can be viable both from metal leachability and mechanical resistance point of view. The obtained data and results show the possibility to incorporate hazardous waste into new composite materials and represent a foundation for further research and new directions to follow are opened for profound investigation in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a strong relationship between drinking water contamination with heavy metals like Pb, Cd, Cu, Mo, Ni, or Cr and chronic diseases such as renal failure, liver cirrhosis, hair loss, and chronic anaemia. The present study evaluates the content of nickel, cadmium and manganese in thirteen private wells from four rural areas located in Baia Mare (NW Romania) metropolitan area. Based on the Ni, Cd and Mn concentration, the heavy metals daily intake rates were calculated for the female, male and children who use these water sources as drinking water supplies. The daily ingestion rate of Ni, due to water consumption, was considerably higher for the inhabitants from Tăuţii de Sus (0.38 . 0.96 μg/day/person), while the Cd (0.04 . 0.11 μg/day/person) and Mn (0.53 . 0.98 μg/day/person) ingestion was higher for the inhabitants from Bozânta Mare and Bozânta Micâ villages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of the present study was to determinate the quality of well water by analyzing the presence of dissolved anions from several well water samples from a rural area. The samples were taken from Nadăş village, located in Crisul Repede village, Cluj County. At the beginning of the study there were 17 wells selected, but only 10 private wells have been chosen (W1, W3, W4, W5, W6, W7, W12, W13, W15, W16) for the analysis of dissolved anions content: F-, Cl-, NO3-, NO2-, PO4-3, SO4-2. The wells were selected according to the electrical conductivity (EC) values that ranged between 409 μS/cm (W12) and 1251 μS/cm (W4). EC was within the MPL (maximum permissible limit) set by national legislation which is 2500 μS/cm. In the water samples taken from W1, W5, W6, W7 nitrate exceeded the MPL (50 mg/ L according to the national legislation). In the water sample from W6 nitrite exceeded the MPL (0.5 mg/ L according to the national legislation). In the water sample from W1 sulphate exceeded the MPL (250 mg/ L according to the national legislation). The present study indicated that some of the investigated water sources may pose some health problems if the waters are used as drinking water, especially due to the high content of nitrate and nitrite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comprehensive study regarding the pollution of the groundwater, in a rural area. Drinking water samples have been collected from ten wells from Cotu-Vameş village, Neamţ County for two years (2011 and 2013). These drinking water samples were analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), ammonium (NH4+), nitrite (NO2-), nitrate (NO3-), chloride (Cl-), color, smell, oxidability, turbidity, coliform bacteria, Escherichia coli, enterococci and total number of germs. Three of the wells had a large number of coliform bacteria over the maximum permissible values according to the Romanian legislation for drinking water (LAW 311/2004; 458/2002). Water quality index (WQI) was calculated in order to evaluate the overall quality of groundwater and its values ranged between 22 (excellent quality) and 84 (very poor quality). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper investigates how the anthropogenic activities influence the Somesul Mic River water quality. A total of 194 water samples were collected from various sites along Somesul Mic River course, inside Cluj Napoca town, for seven months (November 2012 - May 2013). The physicochemical parameters such as: temperature, pH, redox potential (ORP), total dissolved solids (TDS), salinity, electrical conductivity (EC), calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), sodium (Na+), ammonium (NH4+), potassium (K+), lithium (Li+), fluoride (F-), chloride (Cl-), nitrite (NO2-), bromide (Br-), nitrate (NO3-), phosphate (PO43-) and sulfate (SO42-) were determined. In order to assess the Somesul Mic River water quality we had calculated the water quality index (WQI) which had the values between 25 (excellent) and 128 (unsuitable for drinking). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a passive sampling method for formaldehyde determination in air samples is described. The method is based on the derivatization of formaldehyde with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine, followed by liquid chromatography coupled to UV-Vis detection analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessment of indoor air quality by passive sampling of NO2 and O3 in schools of Alba County. Romania. This study is performed within the project "SINPHONIE - Schools Indoor Pollution and Health: Observatory Network in Europe, 2010-2012. For this study, in Romania were chosen five schools from Alba County. This study is important because approximately 20 % percent of the population spend their days in schools. Students are at greater risk because of the hours spent in school facilities and because these are especially susceptible to pollutants. Sampling is done using Radiello cartridges, these will be exposed for a period of five days in three classes during which students operate and in parallel will make a sampling in the schoolyard. The monitoring period is identical to each school. After the cartridges have been exposed will be analyzed in the laboratories of the Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering. The analysis of NO2 and O3 are made with UV-VIZ spectrophotometer. This study aims to regulate indoor air quality in schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the evaluation of schoolchildren from five primary schools (classes' I-IV), located in Alba County. The presented methodologies stand for thoracic and respirable particulate matter, carbon monoxide, -dioxide, temperature, relative humidity and ventilation rate. The measurements were done in three classrooms, and one exterior point. The five locations were Unirea, Aiud, Alba Iulia, Sebeş and Vinţu de Jos. This article is in consistent with the measurement protocol for indoor and outdoor of the SINPHONIE project (Schools Indoor Pollution and Health Observatory Network in Europe), for physical and chemical measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the sampling procedure of indoor dust for analyses of biological indoor contaminants in five schools in Alba county, Romania, included in the SINPHONIE (Schools Indoor Pollution and Health: Observatory Network in Europe) Project study. The SINPHONIE project is a complex research project covering the areas of health, environment, transport and climate change, aiming to improve air quality in schools and kindergartens. The sampling was performed during heating season, and consisted in three types of sampling procedures: sock sampling, EDC sampling and ALK sampling. The results of the sampling campaign and analyses will set the basis for a comprehensive risk assessment regarding the impact of indoor air quality in classrooms on children's health and performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]