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The quality of surface waters has an important role in the environmental context. Someşul Mic river quality, in the studied area, is influenced by the pollution resulted from Floreşti locality and Cluj- Napoca city. Were collected and analyzed 28 water samples from the course of the river, on a distance of 20 km crossing Cluj-Napoca city. The studied physico-chemical parameters were: pH, redox potential (Eh), electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS) and salinity, using a WTW 350i multiparameter. The anions (F-, Cl-, Br-, NO3-, NO2-, SO42-, PO43-) and cations content (Li+, Na+, K+, NH4+, Ca2+, Mg2+) were analyzed using a IC 1500 Dionex Ion Cromatograph. The sampling was realized in two campaigns: Octomber 2018 and February 2019. According to the analyzed parameters, the quality of Someşul Mic River, in the investigated area, corresponds to a moderated water quality index (WQI = 64.94). In the investigated collection points, in three cases were identified high concentrations of nitrates (NO3-), above 5 mg/l. For most of the investigated parameters, the values measured in autumn 2018 were higher than those from spring 2019, one cause might be represented by the precipitations before October 2018, which brought a load of chemicals and contributed mainly to the higher nitrate values. The values of the analyzed parameters in spring 2019 tend to show an increasing trend from upstream to downstream. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's modern society, people spend much of their time in closed spaces (at home, at work, at school etc.), the quality of the air inside these spaces being very important for the occupants' health. This study monitored the indoor air quality in classrooms, seminar and office rooms, within the Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering from Cluj-Napoca and outside the building (the inner courtyard). Two air sampling campaigns were carried out, one during the cold period (March 2019), and the other during the warm period (April 2019). The monitored substances were: carbon dioxide (CO2), particulate matter (PM2.5.5, PM10), formaldehyde, total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) as well as the temperature and relative humidity of the studied rooms, respectively the outside courtyard, using BQ16 and BQ30 Trotec equipment’s. The average values for CO2 concentration exceeded the recommended 1,000 ppmv ASHRAE standard value, especially after a period when the rooms were not ventilated and the number of people inside increased. Concentrations of PM2.5.5 and PM10 were below the recommended ASHRAE standard value, of 25 μg/m3 for PM2.5.5 and 50 μg/m³ for PM10, so indoor air quality is not inappropriate for this reason. Formaldehyde and TVOC concentrations measured in the monitored rooms, did not exceeded the recommended standard values. Their concentrations were lower outside than inside, so it can be considered that their source was an internal one and their concentrations increased as the number of people in the room increases. In the seminar room the CDI (Chronic Daily Intake) value for formaldehyde has the value 0.052 mg/kg·day, slightly exceeding the recommended value by U.S.EPA (1989), of 0.045 mg/kg·day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Romania, the critical situation of the wastewater treatment plants is caused by the old sewage networks and the purification installations, the modification of the sewage capacity without its adaptation to the constructive parameters, the poor managerial capacity and the poor financial situation of the public utility operators. The wastewater treatment plant from Cluj-Napoca, was recently upgraded, the technology was innovated and introduced the tertiary wastewater treatment stage. This unit collects and treats the wastewater from the city of Cluj-Napoca and from the adjacent areas. To evaluate the quality of the wastewater and of the treated water, the samples were collected over a period of 8 months (September 2015 - April 2016), daily, at the entrance and exit point from the treatment plant. Because our focus was mainly on the tertiary stage, the analyzed parameters were: pH, COD(Cr), BOD5, total suspensions, ammonium, nitrates, total N, total P. With regard to the quality of the analyzed waters, it can be concluded that all of the eight analyzed parameters show high values in the wastewater and after purification the values decrease, within the maximum permissible limits given by law. In the months with higher temperatures the quality of the wastewater is weaker, and we noticed that the monitored parameters are slightly higher but also the amount of wastewater increases. On the basis of the results we can say that the efficiency of the purification processes is very good and the tertiary stage introduced in the wastewater treatment process is of high importance especially in the reduction of the phosphorus content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rural population from Romania is dealing even today with the absence of access to a sure drinking water source. Therefore in 2002 only 65% of the Romanian population had access to drinking water, distributed in 90% from the urban environment and 33% from the rural one (www.recensamant2002.ro). This work presents a case study referring to a 3 month (April-May-June 2011) monitoring of weekly samples of the quality of well water (10 samples) from Tureni village, Cluj County. A portable multiparameter model WTW 720 Germany was used to measure the pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), temperature, oxidation-reduction potential and salinity of the collected water samples (these tests were done on site). In laboratory, using the photometric method (RQ Flex instrument, Merck) we determined : Ca2+, Mg2+, SO42-, Cl- and NO3- (C. Nertan et C. Rosu, 2008). The analyzed well water samples have values over the legally admitted limits by the Romanian legislation for the drinking waters (L 458/2002) in the calcium cation, the nitrate and sulfate anion, but also in the global parameters: salinity and TDS . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A set of 500 water samples collected from various sites of Tarnava Mare River, between Medias and Copsa Mica were analyzed, during three years (2010-2012). The physicochemical parameters like: temperature, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), salinity, calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), sodium (Na+), lead (Pb2+), chloride (Cl-), sulfate (SO42-), ammonium (NH4+), nitrite (NO2-) and nitrate (NO3-) were determined. The results were compared with the standards prescribed by WHO (2003) and Romanian Water Law (2004). It was found that the water samples collected from various sites were contaminated with chloride, nitrate and nitrite. Since health, plant and animal life can be affected, the system needs to be monitored and improved in terms of water quality, based on appropriate measures and rehabilitation options, to make it good for uses. In particular, the industrial units along the river need to improve their technology and implement cleaner production methods. [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]