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The access to a safe drinking water represents a prerequisite of the modern days. Often, in the case of shallow aquifers, various human actions in the recharge area can induce unwanted changes in the quantity and quality of the underground waters. The main objective of this paper is to find out the groundwater vulnerable zones in shallow aquifers in the city of Jibou and its surrounding areas, which is situated in the northwest of Romania. The underground water supply source in Jibou city (11,000 inhabitants) is located in the immediate vicinity of the locality, being subjected to pressures due to the development of the locality. Groundwater vulnerability to contamination was assessed by using DRASTIC model in a Geographical Information System (GIS) environment. The model combines the influence of various factors i.e. depth of water, net recharge, aquifer media, soil media, topography, impact of vadose zone and hydraulic conductivity in calculating a vulnerability score. Coupled with the rich data base on underground water quality, the model can serve as decision support in selecting management measures and planning of further developments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigates the degree of heavy-metals contamination of a non-timber forest species in terms of food chain contamination (plants-animals/plants-man) in an area with a historical pollution in the context of ceasing the main activity of the major air pollutant, Sometra S.A. Copsa Mica, since 2009. The heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd) content in common blackberry (leaf and fruit), was determined in eleven sampling areas located at different distances and altitudes, in the forestry area surrounding the city of Copsa Mica (Romania). In order to assess the results, one control plot, a "clean area", was chosen at 26.40 km from the source of the main polluter, near the city of Blaj, Alba County. The analyses were performed using a Perkin-Elmer Analyst 700 Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. Zn, Pb and Cd were found at concentration exceeding the permissible values with factors ranging from 2.6 to 5.83 times. The pattern of heavy metal distribution was correlated with the spatial positioning relative to the main pollution source, and average air dispersion conditions of the area. In both, blackberry leaves and fruits, the Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu contents record the same evolution against distance from the source of pollution and altitude. The differences between the studied metals are statistically assured at different threshold of significance, except Cu, Cd and Zn in blackberry leaves, Cd and Zn, in blackberry fruits, which recorded variations statistically not significant (p>0.05), if quantified at different distances. Strong to moderate correlations may be identified between Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu content from blackberry fruits and leaves, and distance from the source of pollution, and altitude. The factors identified as being determining for the accumulation of such quantities of heavy metals are: closeness of the sampling area to the main pollution source, also the morpho-analytic characteristics and particularities of the blackberry leaves (large surface of the foliage limb, the presence of hair on the inferior epidermis). The harvested blackberry products in Copsa Mica area showed the potentially toxic heavy metals that exceed the maximum permitted limits. In the case of predominance of atmospheric deposits, blackberry leaves retain with high efficiency particles containing heavy metals. The consumption of medicines but also food products (blackberry fruits) can lead in the time to heavy accumulation of Pb and Cd in the human body (especially in children) with a real health risk. As to therapeutic products (blackberry leaves) we can state that drinking infusions on a regular basis with significant traces of Pb and Cd can transfer in the liquid being a health danger subsequently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the mining area from Aghireș, Romania, the exploitation activities of quartzkaolin sands and brown coal induced environmental disruptions, especially regarding the geological, geomorphological and hydrological components. The quarry exploitations led to the formation of several artificial water-bodies, referred to as mining lakes in this paper. These lakes may offer a great potential for the whole mining area in case of rehabilitation. The present study aims to identify the main physical and chemical characteristics of existing mining lakes, and to determine the influence of the geological substratum on them. As methods of analysis, both on-site and laboratory testing have been used. The final results confirm the initial premise that the water quality is influenced by the geological substratum, especially regarding the dissolute compounds and the concentration of hydrogen ions. In this respect it has been observed that three of the ten investigated mining lakes have an extremely acidic water environment (with pH levels lower than 4.0), while the rest have neutral pH levels. This is explained by the presence of coal deposits associated with pyrite in the underlying formations of acidic lakes. In fact, acidic waters are quite frequent in areas with underground coal resources. In correlation with other environmental impact studies, the outcomes of the present one will facilitate the development process of the most appropriate rehabilitation strategies for the investigated mining area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]