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Neurosyphilis was an incurable and in most cases fatal disease until the beginning of the antibiotic era. The aim of this paper is to find out how the etiology and clinical symptoms of neurosyphilis were perceived, what diagnostic and treatment methods were used in Lithuania in the interwar period (1920-1939). We analyzed the first scientific medical journal Medicina in Lithuania and Baltic States. The main cause of neurosyphilis in the interwar period was identified as a consequence of untreated or undertreated syphilis. Wasserman, Pandy and Nonne-Apelt globulin reactions, as well as evaluation of cerebrospinal fluid cytosis were the most commonly used laboratory tests to diagnose the disease. Heavy metal therapy (arsenic, bismuth, mercury salts) and fever therapy (injections of the malaria agent, boiled cow's milk, neobenzinol and pyrifer) were used to treat neurosyphilis in Lithuania in the period of 1920-1939. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil researches of recreational areas and street protective green plantations were carried out in Alytus city in 2009-2019, in accordance with the "Greenery and Green plantations Condition Monitoring Program, 2008". The soils in the park areas are noncarbonated, with a predominantly sandy fraction and poorly structured. Soil near streets have been found to be alkaline (pH 6.7-7.9), less alkaline (pH 8.2-8.4); in the area of newly planted streets and recreational greenery - alkaline (7.1-7.9). The amounts of P, Na, Ca, Mg, Cl correspond to the background indicators of Lithuanian soils. According to the amount of mobile potassium (K2O), soil is low in potassium and mobile phosphorus (P2O5) varies from low amount (51-100 mg kg-1) to high amount (> 200 mg kg-1) groups. The main amount of heavy metals were present under the limits of background concentration (or less). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste incineration process generates two main by-products streams: fly ash and bottom ash. Bottom ash is composed of a variety of oxides, heavy metals and salts. Chemical materials distributed unevenly in different fractions of bottom ash. This study investigates the heavy metals (Pb, Cd) content dependence of bottom ash and fraction composition. Studies were performed with five different fractions (0-2 mm; 2-5.6 mm; 5.6-11.2 mm; 11.2-22,4 mm; 22.4-40 mm) of fresh bottom ash. After a onestep leaching test (distilled water was used as a solvent), was determinate, that highest concentrations of the lead (Pb) (from 0.141 to 0.146 mg/l) are leached from the smallest (0-2 mm 2-5.6 mm) bottom ash fractions particles. Heavy metals concentration in these fractions eluates respectively was 2.83 and 2.91 times higher than the limit value of leaching. The highest concentration of cadmium (4.214 mg/l) was determinate in 0-2 mm fraction bottom ash eluate. concentration of cadmium was 1.40 times higher than the limit value of leaching. It can be concluded that 0-2 mm; 2-5.6 mm fraction bottom ash can't be used in civil engineering, without pre-treatment (eg. washing or aging). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphological indexes are indicative of toxicant effects in fish. Unfortunately, morphological parameters [gill-, liver-, kidney-, viscero-, etc., somatic indexes and the integrated condition factor (CF)], are usually determined in field studies to assess the general fish condition under effect of multicomponent pollution and did not reflect the effects of specific polluting substances (e.g. heavy metals). The purpose of this study was to experimentally evaluate the effect of priority heavy metal model mixture formed based on Maximum-Allowable-Concentration accepted for Lithuanian receiving water bodies (Zn - 0.1, Cu - 0.01, Ni - 0.01, Cr - 0.01, Pb - 0.005 and Cd - 0.005 mg/L, respectively) on condition parameters of one-year-old Atlantic salmon after seven-, fourteen- and twenty eight- day exposure. Significant changes in liver-, kidney- and viscero-somatic indexes were determined, while CF and branchio-somatic-index were found to be not indicative for such kind of the exposure. Correlation analysis between the parameters studied revealed a number of meaningful patterns. The obtained data were compared with the results of the field study in salmonid rivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The more intensive growth of agricultural crops adding mineral fertilizers, environmental pollution make the soil degraded: reduce the fertility of soil, increase the concentration of heavy metals. Especially dangerous is a common, synergistic effect of heavy metals. Vermicompost optimizes pH, texture and organic material content - the soil indicators, which are the major contributors to migration of heavy metals in the soil and to the plants from it. In the article there is an investigation of vermicompost influence on bioaccumulation of heavy metals in common meadow- grass. After experimental research it is determined that immobilization of heavy metals was the best in soil-vermicompost substrate, prepared in a ratio 1:2. The cadmium (Cd) concentrations were lowest and the difference of HM content determined between roots and shoots was the most in biomass grown up in that mixture. In the underground part of plant the concentration equal to 11.10 mg/kg and in the part of above ground - 1.05 mg/kg. The situation of lead (Pb) and copper (Cu) is analogous. This is the optimal ratio of mixture preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abundant resources, natural and organic material - sapropel containing a multitude of different chemical elements has a great potential to be used in different areas, but for now these rich resources are not widely used because of different chemical composition of sapropel research is very few. The article deals with silicon sapropel as a sorbent is able to absorb heavy metals from the solution depending on the time and the concentration of heavy metals in the solution. The sorption studies of heavy metal concentrations were measured in dry sapropel sample using Thermo Scientific Niton® XL2 series of X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XPS). Also, the heavy metal concentrations in solution were measured by atomic absorption spectrometer AAnalyst 200 (AAS). Get sapropel sorption capacity results are analyzed through absorption capacity curves and Matala ion removal efficiency curves. Also, comparing the results with the initial concentration of heavy metals sapropel and foreign authors used sorbent properties. After thorough research sapropel sorption capacity can be added to the knowledge of sapropel properties utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper was used various literature reviews on amount of heavy metals in MSW (Municipal solid waste) and distribution of heavy metals after MSWI (Municipal solid waste incineration) process. Also is given calculation methodology of possible heavy metals distribution to different phase. Eventually distribution of heavy metals to the environment in municipal solid waste incineration process was evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sewage sludge treatment and utilization is an important issue for a biodegradable waste management strategy. Heavy metals in sewage sludge complicate its use. Vermieomposting is one of the ways to improve the characteristics of sewage sludge and to reduce the residual concentrations of heavy metals. Study on changes in the concentration of heavy metals (Chromium, Nickel and Cadmium), when vermieomposting sewage sludge, was performed using Californian earthworms (Eisenia fétida). For that purpose, 60 kg of sewage sludge from Vilnius Waste Water Treatment Plant were taken thus inserting 1.5 kg of Californian earthworms into it. Optimal conditions for work (optimum temperature, moisture, pH) for earthworms to survive were maintained in the course of the study that lasted 120 days and was conducted in June - August. The samples of sewage sludge and earthworms were taken every 10 days. The concentrations of heavy metals in sewage sludge were measured using atomic absorption spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, depositing municipal waste in landfills is the dominating method in Lithuania. A large amount of landfill leachate is the main environmental problem. Municipal waste landfill leachate is characterized by high biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) containing a number of heavy metals and concentration of organic compounds. The colmatation of landfill leachate collection systems is another burning problem that occurs due to certain characteristics of leachate such as suspended solids, an increase in calcium and magnesium concentrations and vital activity of microorganisms. Therefore, it is necessary to examine conditions affecting these parameters. The paper presents and analyses the characteristics of experimental data, assesses the factors having the greatest influence on recent development and introduces the measures that should be taken into account so that to the ensure optimal operation of the systems for collecting municipal waste landfill leachate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil as an ecosystem is actively involved in the climate formation process. Therefore, it is important to assess soil quality indicators such as total carbon and CO2 emissions. Soil respiration shows carbon emission from soil into the atmosphere. This is a great indicator illustrating the biological activity of soil. The most effective CO2 emission can be noticed in the afternoon and may reach 0,201 g CO2 m-2h-1. Soil organic matter is considered to be its indicator of quality, which is one of the most important components of biosphere consistency and stability. Following the conducted study, a significant trend towards the content of total carbon in the layer of the surface (0-10 cm) soil was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A co-precipitation technique for nickel(II), chromium(II), manganese(II), lead(II) and zinc(II) with the aid of copper(II) cyclo-hexylmethyldithiocarbamate was established. The influences of some analytical parameters such as pH, sample volume, amounts of cyclo-hexylmethyldithiocarbamate and copper(II) on the recovery of metal ions were investigated. The heavy metals in the precipitate were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The range of detection limits for the heavy metals was 0.003-0.005 mg/L. The atomic spectrometric technique with co-precipitation procedure was successfully applied for the determination of Ni, Cr, Mn, Pb and Zn in industrial wastewater and sediment samples from Ladipo stream in Lagos, Nigeria. The mean concentrations for these metals using co-precipitation procedure were not significantly different from corresponding concentrations obtained using spectrometric techniques without co-precipitation procedure [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates toxic effects of heavy metals (Ni, Cu) and their binary mixture (Ni+Cu) on the cardio-respiratory system of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) larvae depending on the type of metal, metal concentration and the duration of their exposure. The one-day larvae of rainbow trout were exposed to Ni (0,1; 0,2 mg/l, respectively), Cu (0,25; 0;5 mg/I, respectively) and their binary mixture. During long-term exposure (30 days), the physiological parameters of larvae, e.g. heart rate (counts/ min), gill ventilation frequency (counts/min) after 5, 10 and 20 days of exposure were recorded. During experimental studies, the effects of heavy metals and their binary mixture on the heart rate and gill ventilation frequency of rainbow trout larvae depending on the type of metal, their concentrations and exposure duration were determined. Consequently, comparative studies on toxic effects of heavy metals and their binary mixture on the cardio-respiratory system of rainbow trout larvae showed that the binary mixture was more toxic to larvae than to single metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concentration of microelements that can cause toxic danger, including heavy metals in nutritional products, is regulated by establishing tolerable limits of their concentration. The general parameters of safety of nutrition products are regulated by the Lithuanian Standards of Hygiene (LSH) HN 54:2001. The aim of this work was to determine the concentration of Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Sr, Rb, Ba and Ce, La, U in Lithuanian honey and freshwater fish, using ICP-MS model ‘Element’ (Finnigan MAT). It was established, that the concentration of heavy metals in Lithuanian honey vary in a large range: Pb 2.9 ÷ 22.1 μg/kg, Cd 4.1 ÷ 14.6 μg/kg, Cu 119.6 ÷ 342.9 μg/kg, Zn 514.0 ÷ 5638.6 μg/kg. The determined amounts of deleterious microelements stay within the MTL of LSH. The amounts of heavy metals determined in Lithuanian honey were lower compared to honey of other EU Countries. According to Rb amounts in honey, it can be assorted into honey of grassland and forest. 2446.5 μg/kg of Rb was found in honey, which was collected in forest of Labanoras. This amount was by 4 ÷ 12 fold higher compared to remaining samples of honey. Considering to the correlation between the concentration of heavy metals, honey could be the indicator of environmental pollution. The fixed concentrations of Pb in fish flesh samples were below the maximum tolerable level of LSH, although one sample was contaminated with 2.125 mg/kg Pb, which was by 5 fold above the standard; however, 40% of fishflesh samples were contaminated with Pb exceeding the MTL value of the European Union (0.2 mg/kg). Further, in those fish flesh samples the Cd concentration transcendent the Lithuanian MTL (0.14 mg/kg) value was established. 45% of fish flesh samples were contaminated with the concentration of Cd exceeding the MTL value of the European Union (0.05 mg/kg). It was established that concentrations of Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn in fishbone corresponded to the allowable standards for fodder additives, processed from the fish products and other sea organisms. The amount of Pb, Cu and Zn in fish bone was higher than in fish flesh, except for Cd, where the concentration in bone was slightly lower compared to fish flesh . The results of this work obligate to control the amounts of heavy metals in honey and fish, regularly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim of research - to compare results of cadmium and lead level in cow's milk presented by Lithuanian and foreign scientists. Analyzes were carried out on fresh milk, delivered to five biggest Lithuanian milk factories. Milk was analyzed 5-7 times from 15-20 farms of each district. Concentrations of lead and cadmium were determined by poliarografic method. The average lead and cadmium content in milk from different farms was 0.01 mg/kg - 0.12 mg/kg and 0 - 0.02 mg/kg, respectively. The average lead levels in milk ranges from 0.017 mg/kg to 0.029 mg/kg (± 0.003) in five districts in 1991. Continuous air quality monitoring in the Vojvodina district of Serbia and Montenegro has shown high levels of Cd. 103 milk samples collected in Bogdanka coal mine and other industrial areas in East Central Poland were analyzed in 1998. The average lead and cadmium content was significantly higher in milk produced in the same place where the mine is located in comparison with other towns around the mine. 40 samples of cow's milk were analyzed in Calabria, Italy. The highest determined value was lead - 1.32 μg/kg and the lowest cadmium 0.02 μg/kg. MRLs were not exceeded in United Kingdom, Croatia region of Zagreb, East Slovakia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]