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Conventional and unconventional energy production has an important contribution to carbon footprint enhancing. Because of large controversy of shale gaze exploitation perspective in Romania, we consider of high interest to emphasize, a methodology for quantifying the carbon footprint of the methane resulted from shale gaze exploitation. In context of analyzing the relatively new unconventional energy resource as shale gaze exploitations, we are mentioning the American literature, who shows that 3.6% - 7.9% of the methane from shale-gas production escapes to the atmosphere in venting and leaks over the lifetime of a well. The methodology, we analyze, takes into account direct emissions of CO2 from end uses consumption, indirect emissions of CO2 from fossil fuels used to extract, develop, and transport the gas, methane fugitive emissions, venting and equipment leaks, in accordance with steps recommended by the Organization Environmental Footprint (OEF) Guide. The source of examples is EPA emissions report 2010. An important step for responsible management, of this new approached perspective of energy producing in Romania, is to take into consideration all issues that could contribute to environmental safety, and among these the calculation of the carbon footprint is of interest, due to the important details it supplies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims to emphasize the last decade status of the most frequent mycotoxic contaminants of the common crop cereals: maize, wheat, barley, two row barley, soy, rye, etc. The structure of the main mycotoxins treated in this paper (ochratoxine, zearalenone, aflatoxine, trichotecene, patulin, fumonisine) is presented, mentioning the producing organisms. The limits stipulated by Romanian authorities are comparatively presented with those present in EU. The importance of the environmental factors (clime, temperature, moisture, storage conditions, etc.) on mycotoxic cereal contamination is also treated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic agriculture is considered to be a durable system, in which the manure utilization assures a high quality of the production obtained and also of the soil's properties. Through application of high quantities of the organic fertilizers, in dozes of 50t/ha and 100 t/ha of manure, comparatively with variants fertilized with NPK and unfertilized variants, results showed an improvement of the soil's properties to all cultures as fallowed: pea-beans, wheat, potato and maize. The results obtained on argic phaeozem revealed that 50 t/ha manure applied on soil lead to increased the hydro stability of the soils aggregates between 5 and 8%, increased values of wilting point coefficient and also the pH values between 0,5 and 1 to all cultures. A higher quantity of manure, 100 t/ha has not showed high differences compare to witness regarding the aggregate stability and led to increase of the CO values, which means a negative effect during the drought season when plant cannot take the water from showers, which will be held from soil. Regarding the organic matter content, the values were different depending on culture and their efficiency to use manure. Thus, the differences between witness and 100 t/ha manure variant were the highest, at pea (2.12) and wheat culture (1.76). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification of the urban areas where bigger air pollutants generally, and metallic pollutants, particularly, concentrations compared to limit allowed maximum concentration are recorded are important in elaboration and implementation of the plans and programmes of air quality management, but also for permanent updating of these and their alignment to the continuous reality changes.. In this context, we emphasize the importance of using the tree planted in urban areas, as bioindicators for identification of air pollution with heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn, etc.), their tendency to accumulate in vegetal material, leaves, and/or needles, respectively, being well known. In majority of cases, the heavy metals environmental air pollution leads to lesions of the vegetal tissue of the trees, mainly in leaves. The research aims to identify the lead pollution by using, as bioindicators, the trees planted in neighbourhood of the stations of air quality monitoring in Cluj - Napoca town. The research objectives consist in identification of the trees as possible biomonitoring agents and quantification of lead accumulation in trees leaves, with the aim of identification the areas where the lead concentration in leaves is superior to the limit lead maximum allowed concentration. The study was developed in Cluj - Napoca, and samples were harvested from trees located in areas from neighbourhood of the air quality monitoring stations respectively: CLU-1 (Aurel Vlaicu St.), CLU-2 (Centre - area from neighbourhood of Nicolae Balcescu College), CLU-3 (1 Decembrie 1918 Boulevard), and CLU-4 (area around Expo Transilvania). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The restoring ecological structure and dynamics to an earlier state (presumably less disturbed by humans) generally and soil restoration particularly, became desiderate worldwide. Because it is a non-renewable resource it should be utilised in a sustainable manner. Good practice regarding soil removal and reinstatement requires that soils should be returned as closely as possible to their original state after disturbance. The primary objective of soil restoration is to minimise the degradation of the resource and to promote the reestablishment of a functional plant - soil system for the long-term. Failure to protect soils during disturbance results in their degradation, with consequent environmental impacts both on-site and off-site through: soil erosion, loss of soil organic matter and nutrients, leading to a decline in soil fertility; soil compaction leading to waterlogging and destruction of soil structure (important for root establishment); loss of biological activity and diversity due to poor storage conditions and loss of organic matter. The main principles of soil restoration includes the followings: Recognising the problems which can arise during removal, storage and reinstatement, either due to the sensitivity of the soils or poor management of the soil resource. Ensuring that soils are stripped according to horizon, and the horizons are replaced in order, can lead to avoid the soil truncation, inversion and mixing of subsoil and topsoil Avoiding damage to soil structure by compaction, which has significant long-term effects on both soft function and establishment of vegetation. The best practice is to avoid compaction but remedial action can also be taken to alleviate problems once they arise. When there may be insufficient soil for restoration due to the nature of the development project and in accidental soil loss. It is necessary in these exceptional cases to consider importing soils or using soil forming materials on-site. Successful restoration of soil and vegetation requires a degree of understanding of the role and importance of soil in terrestrial habitats, not only for sustaining vegetation, but also for its environmental functions such as storage and filtration of water. Soil restoration and reinstatement are integral to sustainable land use planning and are considered as part of most large-scale developments. The general principles and guidelines in this advisory note can also be applied to ensure successful restoration of soil for nature conservation. There is a need for a greater understanding of soil properties which are essential for supporting habitats of conservation value, particularly the tolerance and threshold values for soil physical and chemical properties for specific habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]