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Groundwater pollution is a threat to the environment and human health because it is an important source of drinking water. Groundwater is used to supply water to communities and pollution occurs when harmful substances and contaminants infiltrate into the groundwater. Through excessive use of fertilizers, agriculture is a major contributor to groundwater pollution. This study tests the impact of organic and mineral fertilization on the groundwater physiochemical parameters and explores the potential consequences of using manure as fertilizer on groundwater nitrate pollution. The experiment was carried out in Satu Mare County, Romania, where both organic (manure) and mineral fertilizers were applied to potato cultures to test their impact on 18 physiochemical parameters of groundwater quality. Basic Statistics, Nitrate Pollution Index (NPI), and Principal Components Analysis were used for emphasizing the impact of mineral and organic fertilization on groundwater quality and relationships between analyzed groundwater parameters. The results show that groundwater corresponding to the site where the higher dose of organic fertilization was applied is characterized by nitrate concentrations (64.92 mg/L) and pH values (6.3 pH units) beyond the allowed limits. Based on the calculated NPI (2.21), it falls within the significant pollution category. Two principal factors were identified as having an impact on groundwater quality: fertilizer type and administered dose, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Storage of waste in simple landfills leads to considerable harmful effects over time. As long as this waste was produced in small quantities, its negative influence on the environment was also reduced by the fact that annihilation was possible through natural factors in the environment. At the moment, the old non-compliant landfill at Pata Rât, a warehouse that did not have an operating license during the operation, is in the closing and greening stage. This study was performed to determine the degree of soil pollution, respectively to establish the quality class of the land located in the perimeter of Apahida commune, Dezmir locality, Cluj county, located near the Pata Rât landfill. In the perimeter of the waste storage ramp from Pata Rât, waste was stored without separating them into categories of materials and without any treatment or neutralization. Regarding heavy metal pollution, two limits were determined that exceed the maximum allowed value (respectively for Nickel from 50 to 57.4 mg / kg (increase by 14.8%) and for Lead from 50 to 72.2 mg/kg SU (increase by 44.4%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The air pollution concerns more and more the Romanian society. Air pollution consists in change of composition, in terms of the proportion, of its constituents and apearance of new constituents with harmful effects on biocenosis and biotope. Chemical pollution sources can be natural or artificial. Through this project we aim to highlight the air quality through indicators - NOx, NH3, SO2 şi H2S - the most populated district in Cluj - Napoca, respectively Mănăştur District. The practical objectives were: to monitor the considered area, the air charge in NOx, NH3, SO2 and H2S, the calculation of their weekly, monthly and entire period averages, and comparison of the individual data and media with the maximum permitted levels, in order to reflect the air quality in terms of content of the mentioned indicators. During experimental period, the average concentration of nitrogen oxides was equal to 250.81 mg/cm³, average concentration of ammonia 156.25 mg/cm³, average concentration of sulfur dioxide 503.61 mg/cm³, and the average concentration of hydrogen sulfide 47.64 mg/cm³. Although Mănăştur District from Cluj - Napoca recorded the largest urban agglomeration and the traffic is heavy, there were identified no exceedances of the allowable limits for any of the studied indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metals are found in higher sediment concentrations than in water. Water, more or less, acts as a medium for transporting the elements and therefore the metals have a reduced retention time in the aqueous environment. This depends on the type of metal. The sampling was done to identify how the Pb concentration changes depending on the impact of the contamination sources. According to the present experiment, we have highlighted the Pb concentrations on the basis of which the level of contamination was established, which was subsequently confirmed and justified by the loading of these parameters in the sediment. The highest concentrations in the sediment were recorded for Pb in section 2 downstream of mine water discharge in the Lapus river, the contamination tendency being transferred to section 4. The assessment of the level of sediment contamination was made in correlation with transport aspects alluvial, hydrology and river morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the pollution from the environment, the heavy metals also contaminate the mushrooms. The pollution degree depends on several factors such as climate, area of origin, mushroom composition, humidity level, and radioactivity. Samples were collected from the following areas: Sălaj, Cluj, Braşov, Baia Mare, Satu Mare, Bistriţa-Năsăud. The content of fat, protein, humidity, heavy metal (Pb and Cd) and fungi radionuclides (Boletus edulis) and chanterelle mushrooms (Cantharellus cibarius) were evaluated. The content of Cs 137 in (Boletus edulis) built in the Baia Mare area and the lowest in the Brasov area. Cs 134 showed the lowest values in yellow sponges compared to dry boletus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolutions recorded in Romania, during last decade, characterized by social, political and economic changes, mainly influenced by becoming full member of European Union, impose special attention on environment quality. Presently, the Romanian inventory of main atmospheric pollutants is performed at regional level, and corroboration of gathered data is the role of National Agencies of Environmental Protection, which delivers annual reports. Based on a ten years period, 2003 - 2012, the article emphasizes a picture of the sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), ammonia (NH3), and non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) pollution evolutions in Romania. The results show the downloading tendency of above mentioned pollutants emissions, which, is result of adopting and transposing EU regulations but, unfortunately also, result of industrial activity reducing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution is a mixture of solid particles and gases in the air with negative effects on humans and other living organisms, but also on the environment. Car emissions, chemicals from factories, dust, pollen and mold spores may be suspended as particles. Some air pollutants are poisonous. Inhaling them can increase the chance you'll have health problems. People with heart or lung disease, older adults and children are at greater risk from air pollution. Air pollution isn't just outside - the air inside buildings can also be polluted and affect your health. Acid rain describes sulfuric and nitric acids deposited from the atmosphere. Often associated with precipitation, the term also applies to dry acidic materials. These acids commonly result from sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides reacting with moisture and other substances in the atmosphere. Although there are natural sources for these chemicals, much attention has been given to manmade sources, such as coal power plants. Acid rain is problematic due to acidification of soil, rivers, and lakes beyond the tolerance range of plants and animals. Acid rain can also erode man-made structures. The only way to fight acid rain is by curbing the release of the pollutants that cause it. This means burning fewer fossil fuels. Many governments have tried to curb emissions by cleaning up industry smokestacks and promoting alternative fuel sources. These efforts have met with mixed results. But even if acid rain could be stopped today, it would still take many years for its harmful effects to disappear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air care is one of the factors that support our environment is favouring transport of pollutants version environment. The main objectives at international level and National version are represented by the policies adopted to reduce emissions of greenhouse gaze. Therefore a particular attention is paid in order to supervisory activity and improving air quality. Current laws and measures on air quality address specific sectors, processes, fuels and pollutants. Some of these laws and measures set limits on the amount of pollutants that countries can emit into the atmosphere. Other measures are aimed at reducing exposure of the population to levels of harmful pollutants for health by limiting high concentrations - the amount of a particular pollutant in the air in a given area at a certain point in time. The aim of the present study was to expose the main regulations concerning air quality at European level by transposing it nationally, through Laws and Regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activities due to urban traffic are the main source of pollution that causes serious damages to human health. The activities in the urban environmental represent sources of pollution to all natural and anthropic factors, so they must be measured and controlled in a way that environmental impact and effects on human health are within the limits admitted by the legislation. Traffic-related emissions are a complex mix of pollutants consisting of nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, volatile organic compounds, ozone, and many other chemicals such as trace toxics and greenhouse gases. The quantity of pollutants released in the urban atmosphere because of the traffic can be quantified with classical methods. In Cluj-Napoca the pollution problem is of growing importance given the escalating number of vehicle dynamics, but also increased levels of emissions due to the large number of old cars. The present study was conducted in order to quantify the emissions from traffic in Cluj Napoca City by using the available data from local authorities and available websites and comparing them with the limit values admitted by the regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The greenhouse effect refers to the trapping of heat by certain gases in the atmosphere. Although these gases occur in only trace amounts, they block significant amounts of heat from escaping out into space, thus keeping the Earth warm enough for us to survive. Without greenhouse gases, the average surface temperature of the earth would be about -18 degrees Centigrade. This warming is altering the earth's climate system, including its land, atmosphere, oceans, and ice, in far-reaching ways. Global warming is harming the environment in several ways including; increase of average temperature/desertification, rise in Sea level, rainfall variability and deviation in seasonal characters. However human have been adding greenhouse gases in excessive amounts to the atmosphere ever since the Industrial Revolution, which is enhancing the greenhouse effect. This increase in greenhouse gases has the potential to cause catastrophic problems for Earth and its inhabitants. The actual rise is not very much, but the Earth's ecosystem is very fragile and small, changes can have large effects. Almost 100% of the observed temperature increase over the last 50 years has been due to the increase of greenhouse gas concentrations like water vapour, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane and ozone. Carbon dioxide is the biggest reason for the greenhouses effect that leads to global warming. There are two key areas where individuals can help and reduce the emissions of CO2. These are electricity consumption and transportation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Romania, the nutrient pollution of drinking water is a real problem, more serious than in other European countries that have taken actions in this direction for many years. The most important source of nitrate and nitrite intoxication is water from fountains. In most communities and villages in Romania, most fountains are polluted with chemical substances, infiltrated into underground water from stables or farms, due to the leakage of animal manure directly in the groundwater. In this cases, the nitrate concentration in water from fountains exceeds the admitted limit for drinking water. The purpose of this study was to highlight the importance of nitrate pollution from drinking water, and to offer a set of preventive measures that can be taken in each household in order to avoid intoxication with nitrates and nitrites. Among the prevention measures taken at each household, at community level, the implementing of a waste management program and an appropriate manure management rests a mandatory requirement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The water pollution is first of all a consequence of the lack of prevention and also inertia of public interest initiatives, often being claimed technical and economical difficulties. The aim of this paper is to present the results of monitoring the water quality from a mountain river. The analysis was carried on within the Laboratory of the Monitoring of Environmental Quality from the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj - Napoca, during April - June 2013. Temperature recorded values between 16 -21°C pH, 6.5 - 6.9, conductivity 70.2 uS/cm - 72,8 uS/cm, turbidity 0.05 - 0,16 NTU, dissolved oxygen 10.01 -9.10 mg/L. All monitored parameters that are the basis of identification of the water quality indices, during monitored time interval, April 1st - June 26st 2013 framed within normal admitted limits, which demonstrate the lack of pollution of this river segment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]