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Genetic diversity in crop plants is the conditio sine qua non for sustainable agriculture and long-term food security. Our research carried out the morphological, agronomic, and physico-chemical characterization and resistance to late blight of 35 tomato landraces from seven countries. These landraces have been approved and appear in the Official Catalog of Varieties. The International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) descriptors have been used to describe the tomato's morphological and agronomic characteristics. For the physico-chemical characteristics, the dry matter, the pH, and the carotenoid content (lycopene, lutein, and β-carotene)) were analyzed. Carotenoids were monitored by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results showed that the morphological diversity of landraces was very high. Three landraces of remarkable commercial value have shown increased resistance to late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans, one of the most damaging diseases of tomato. Also, six landraces had a lycopene content exceeding 100 µg/g sample. The carotenoid content ranged between 0.769 (Marmande-FR 166) and 140.328 mg kg−1 FW (Răscruci). The landrace with the highest β carotene content was PT 308 with 65.499 mg kg−1 FW, while the lowest values were registered for Marmande-FR 166 with 0.105 mg kg−1 FW. The present study provides essential information on the morphological and agronomic qualities of these tomato landraces and their lycopene and other carotenoid content. The results are discussed in light of the importance of tomato landraces in meeting the preferences of different producers and consumers, the choice of the most suitable landraces for specific pedoclimatic conditions, and the supply of carotenoid pigment sources for the pharmaceutical industry. Our research responds to humanity's great global challenges: preserving agricultural biodiversity, protecting the environment by identifying pest-resistant varieties, and also protecting consumer health by finding important sources of antioxidants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water is an indispensable element for life and society, raw material for productive activities, energy source and means of transport, a determining factor in maintaining the ecological balance. The experiment took place in Gherla, Cluj County. The following water quality indicators were determined: pH, conductivity and turbidity, during March - May, 2020. The monitoring of the physical parameters of the drinking water quality in the municipal network was performed every week, which allowed obtaining monthly and full averages experimental - April-May 2020, in this way useful and edifying information was obtained regarding the monitored parameters. The analyzed water quality indicators vary within the limits accepted by Law no. 458/2002 regarding the quality of drinking water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contamination with heavy metals (HM) represents an environmental and health concern. One green solution to this problem is phytoremediation that uses plants to mitigate the contamination. Through phytoextraction, heavy metals are translocated and taken up by the plants and then stored in various organs (both aboveground and underground). Repeated disposal of harvested biomass can speed up the decontamination process. The resulting biomass can have various concentrations in heavy metals depending on the level of contamination. The fate of phytoremediation biomass rises further environmental problems. Market opportunities for safe valorization of the biomass might contribute at extending this technology to larger scales. To achieve this, the selection of plant species should consider besides the accumulation capacity also the potential economic value (aromatic and energy crops, pulp-paper crops, timber trees or ornamentals). Biomass can be used for the obtaining of safe essential oils, energy (thermal, electric), biofuels, biochar and organic acids with various uses. New emerging directions are phyto-mining for retrieval of certain valuable metals as well as the utilization of soils rich in Fe, Zn and Se for crop biofortification. The existing opportunities are dependent on contaminants, their level and plant selection. Phytoremediation strategy should take in consideration the valorization channels and possibilities from a commercial perspective in order to help integrate this green technology into a sustainable value-chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metals have been used by humans for thousands of years. Since ancient times lead was used for pottery glazing while mercury was attributed medicinal properties. Awareness of the danger that heavy metals pose for environment and human health has been gradual. Soils normally contain almost the full range of heavy metals, originating from lithogenic source and from anthropic activity. The first use of the term "heavy metals" in scientific context dates back to 1936. In time has been used as broader concept including elements that cannot be classified as metals or even metalloids. Most definitions given in the past took into consideration only one criteria at a time in defining "heavy metals" and since 1980 many scientists expressed their dissatisfaction for the imprecise delimitation of the concept. Based on a three-way criteria a comprehensive definition limits "heavy metals" to a category of elements that concomitantly are: natural occurring metals, have atomic number >20 and elemental density >5 g/cm³. Based on this definition 51 elements from periodic table can be considered "heavy metals", excluding some such as: Al, As, Se, Ti. Over 20 heavy metals are recognized for the serious health conditions they can induce in humans. Given the increasing pollution in last century, policy efforts are directed towards preventing and limiting heavy metals contamination of the environment, drawing thresholds and requiring remediation. [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]

Romania's water resources are formed by surface waters such us: rivers, lakes, the Danube River (≈ 90%) and underground waters (≈10%). Water pollution not only affects water quality but also threats human health, economic developments & social prosperity. The characterization of surface water quality is the overall assessment of the analytical results obtained periodically in monitoring system. The study presented in this paper aims to monitoring the water quality of the Someș River, along its route in Dej locality, characterizing some physical and chemical quality indicators, namely pH, conductivity and turbidity, between March and May period, 2018. The result reveal that pH over the entire experimental period were within the limits given by the Standard regarding the Surface Water Quality, respectively 6.5- 8.5 pH units. The average values obtained for the conductivity are within the normal range for surface waters. The evolution of the medium values obtained for turbidity was atypical in the sense that maximum average values were 7.54 NTU for the whole experimental period in one point of monitoring, the Standard limit being 5 NTU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Lapus River, the persistence of contaminants depends on the degree of physical, chemical and biological poststorage rehabilitation, and the geomorphology of the water course, being relatively high. The collected sediments have changed their coloration according to the nature of the gray-brown to brownish-brown impact, and in the sections immediately downstream of the surface contamination sources, a finely coat of colloidal suspensions (flocs) formed following the reaction chemical neutralizing pH. Average concentrations were recorded for Ni in section 2 downstream of mine water discharging into the Lapus River, the trend of contamination being transferred to section 4. The assessment of the level of sediment contamination was made in correlation with aspects related to alluvial transport, hydrology and the morphology of evil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aquatic environment takes up the contaminants, often immobilises them in sediments and renders them in time the geological substratum with or without modification of the sediment biochemistry and/or can be taken up by plants that contribute significantly to existing or newly introduced behavioral toxicity potential or existing metals. The sampling, processing and preservation of sediment samples in order to determine the content of metals was based on the appropriate standards. The two water monitoring sections, upstream and downstream of the studied area, highlighted the Cd 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater originating from two rural communities from Cluj and Bistrita Nasaud counties was analyzed using parallel ion chromatography, the focus being on major anions (chloride, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate and sulphate) and cations (potassium, sodium, ammonium, calcium and magnesium). These analytes were determined simultaneously using a Shimadzu two-channel instrument with non-suppressed conductivity detection, separations being carried out using an Allsep Anion 7u column and an Universal Cation 7u column. From the 17 investigated sampling sites (wells up to 20 m deep), four proved to have nitrate concentrations higher than the maximum allowed limit according to the Romanian Law of Water Quality (50 mg/L), ranging from 57.82 to 311.13 mg/L, while high levels of ammonium were detected in three sites (from 0.94 to 11.74 mg/L, compared with the 0.5 mg/L which is the maximum admitted level). Groundwater originating from Apahida (Cluj County) proved to be highly contaminated with inorganic ions, the major causes being the intensive agriculture applied in this area and the salifer layers. However, some highly contaminated sites were recorded also in Prundu Bargaului from Bistrita Nasaud County; the major cause here is the manure storage relatively close to the water wells. The proposed analysis method increases much the laboratory productivity by decreasing the sample preparation time and the analysis time, all analytes being determined simultaneously in one run; it is simple and rapid, having potential to be used in groundwater quality surveys in the purpose of correlating diffuse pollution inputs with changes in water quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents a concise overview of available statistics for rabbit livestock production and compares It with other meat production (chicken, pig, cattle). Data reflects quantities for production, trade, at European and world level and for Romania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to briefly emphasize the shale gas technology of extraction and because the important role of water within this process, the imperious need to preserve the water quality. If rigorous geological prospects indicate the presence of gas in shale, it is extracted using the hydraulic fracturing technology. The water delivered by tank trucks mixed with sand and additives is injected into a well, at near 1,500 m, under high pressure, from a pumper truck, through a probe (lined with several layers of steel and cements for protecting the groundwater of the fluids that are pumped through the probe and also of the natural gas that is released and collected inside the well). For obtaining gas from shale, holes are horizontally made in stainless steel and cement casing of the probe up to shale, and gas is extracted from the fractures with steel pipes. The reflux water is conducted to depuration stations in order to be cleaned and reused (about 10 - 30% is recycled). The residues (wastewater and solids) resulted from depuration process are stored in special facilities designed and built with aim of waste storage. Usually, such a well is productive for several decades. Complete exploitation of such facility needs about 10,000 -20,000 m3 water. By comparison with other types of fuels, the ratio water volume used/unit of energy, is the lowest for shale gas production. The negative experiences worldwide, concerning environmental protection, with accent on water issue, must be taken into consideration if Romania would implement hydraulic fracturing technology in order to obtain shale gas, especially focused on total accomplishment of exploitation standards and regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The overall objective of water management, which adopts integrated water resources management (IWRM) approaches is to satisfy the freshwater needs of all countries for their sustainable water management. Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) is a process which promotes the coordinated d~velopment and management of water, land and related resources in order to maximise economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems and the environment. The concept of water footprint has introduced a new and wider dimension in integrated water resources management. The water footprint of a country is defined as the volume of water needed for the production of the goods and services consumed by the inhabitants of the country. This paper reviews the current knowledge about water footprints (WFs) and aims to analyses and discusses the concept of waler footprint as a useful tool in integrated waler resources management. The paper will provide the reader the recent information on this topic, offering new perspectives for global water strategies and policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deterioration of the marine environment has become evident all over the world and European waters are no exception. Therefore in the last few years the European Union has been engaged in an effort to develop a marine strategy to protect the marine environment and a more encompassing integrated maritime policy that would provide a comprehensive system for the management of the uses of the marine areas of Europe. The EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EG, MSFD) provides a regulatory framework for the management of the impacts of a variety of human activities on the EU's marine waters. The MSFD introduces the notion of "good environmental status" ronment and constitutes a framework for the sustainable use of the marine environment in order to ensure its continued use by current and future generations. The effective protection of the marine resource base is indeed a precondition for achieving sustainable wealth and generating employment, at a time when the EU is seeking to reinvigorate its economy. It will also enhance the quality of life in the European Union. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glacial mountain lakes represent a small percentage of total surface of Romanian territory and they must be studied to establish reference conditions, accordingly to Water Framework Directive, for the lowland, more polluted lakes, or to examine ecological processes in areas sheltered by the effects of the direct anthropogenic disturbances, such as local pollution or land use change. Due to the presence of fresh water resources, and suitable camping places, the environmental impacts of tourist fluxes, in mountain areas, is concentrated in the vicinity of the mountain lakes. This study describes the water quality of two glacial lakes (i.e., Bâlea Lake and Caltun Lake), situated in the Southern (Fãg~ra~) Mountains, Romania). The survey was carried out in the summer of 2011, in the ice-free period. Water samples were collected from three different sites for each lake covering the entire lake surface and were analyzed for a pre-defined set of physical and chemical indicators. The results have shown a generally good water Glacial mountain lakes represent a small percentage of total surface of Romanian territory and they must be studied to establish reference conditions, accordingly to Water FramewQrk Directive, for the lowland, more polluted lakes, or to examine ecological processes in areas sheltered by the effects of the direct anthropogenic disturbances, such as local pollution or land use change. Due to the presence of fresh water resources, and suitable camping places, the environmental impacts of tourist fluxes, in mountain areas, is concentrated in the vicinity of the mountain lakes. This study describes the water quality of two glacial lakes (i.e., Bâlea Lake and Caltun Lake), situated in the Southern (Făgăraş) Mountains, Romania). The survey was carried out in the summer of 2011, in the ice-free period. Water samples were collected from three different sites for each lake covering the entire lake surface and were analyzed for a pre-defined set of physical and chemical indicators. The results have shown a generally good water quality. The obtained data was classified according to Order 16 1/2006 into five quality classes, and the classification of the lake was established by using the percentile system V (90%). quality. The obtained data was classified according to Order 161/2006 into five quality classes, and the classification of the lake was established by using the percentile system V (90%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are by-products of petrol transformation; a report prepared by ICON, London, United Kingdom in 2001, showed that the principal sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in wastewater are domestic usage, storm runoff and commercial effluent. This work presents the results on 14 commonly occurring and/or highly carcinogenic PAH compounds listed as priority pollutants by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the European Union. Wastewater samples were collected starting from October 2010 until May 2011. Results were expressed by the cumulative amount of 5 from 6 compounds listed in decision No. 2455/2001/CE of the Council of European communities (Council Directive, 1991), ranging from 0.0136 ppb in Floresti sewer to 0.0104 ppb in Cosbuc sewer or from 0.0102 ppb in Someseni sewer to 0.0036 ppb in Napoca sewer (February), being also expressed as cumulative amount of 14 from 16 compounds recommended by the USA Environmental Protection Agency which ranged from 0.5584 ppb in Floresti (February) sewer to 0.3735 ppb (February) in Cosbuc sewer or from 0.3406 ppb in Someseni (February)sewer to 0.3064 ppb (March) in Napoca sewer. The research focuses on two main objectives: to determine the concentrations of PAHs in Cluj Napoca's sewerage system (establishing the contribution of each sewer) and to determine the different potential sources of PAHs. PAHs were extracted using liquid-liquid extraction with hexane and determined by high performance liquid chromatograph with both diode array and fluorescence detection. The PAH concentration varies significantly, which may in part be due to differences in the catchments areas. The obtained data provided a general picture of PAHs sources for the sewerage system in urban area of Cluj. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of ProEnvironment Promediu is the property of Bioflux SRL and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of ProEnvironment Promediu is the property of Bioflux SRL and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study offers a general perspective on conservation status and socio-economic constraints in Buila-Vânturariţa National Park. Buila-Vânturariţa National Park (BVNP) is a protected area established in 2004. The park is also a protected area in the European Union, as part of the Network European Ecological Natura 2000 (as Site of Community Interest: ROSCI0015 Buila - Vânturariţa, and Special Protected Area: Cozia-Buila-Vânturariţa ROSPA0025). Buffer zone of the park is a fragile area where economic development of Bistriţa limestone quarry needs to respect the conservation of environmental components. From a legal perspective, the park buffer zone does not allow economic activities which are destructive to the environment. The main constraint remains the overlapping of the southern limit of BVNP and Natura 2000 sites over the operational perimeter of the quarry Bistriţa (area of about 16 ha) and access roads to the top of the quarry. The opening activity in the top of the quarry is important for regional socio-economic context (chemical industry). An environmental impact assessment was applied for quarry which is placed very close to the park. The problems of current and future constraints need to be carefully identified and quantified in protected areas of Romania, as do the root causes and effects of these constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the recent decades, the environmental impact produced by municipal solid wastes has received special attention. All new EU countries are involved in the process of implementation of the European Council Directive 31/99/EC on the landfill of waste in the European Union. As consequence National legislation, adapted to fit the EU requirements, focuses on integrated waste management and environmental control of municipal solid waste landfills, from start-up to closure and assimilation into the environment. In Romania, by Government decision, HG 349/2005, was established the obligatoriness of closing unconform waste landfills located in urban areas starting at July 2009. As consequence the owner of municipal waste landfill Medias started the proceedings of closure for the landfill. The aim of this study is to compare, from an environmental point of view, different alternatives for the closure of the municipal solid waste landfill Somard-Medias (Romania). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research of geo-systems reveals similarities between these specific geographic components and socio-economic and historic heritage cultural landscapes. Geo-systems are strongly related to natural components, but they have small but relevant human (anthropic) elements. (Geo)-facets represent subcomponents of geo-systems analyzed through ecologic perspectiveThe paper provides an analysis for the evolution and spatio-temporal variation of two climatic parameters (precipitation and evapotranspiration) and one hydrological parameter (the flown water volume) over a common period of time (1970-2007) in Ialomita. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nutrients leaching from the agricultural soils is a major environmental concern worldwide. The risk of nutrients leaching in soils fertilized with straw and manure was tested in mesocosms experiments during seven months. The biotic community of the mesocosms was controlled to assure a different functional diversity for each kind of fertilizer. After rainy periods, mesocosms collected leacheate was chemically analyzed in order to determine the amount of NO3-, NH4+, PO43-, K+. The outcomes have underlined the great leaching capacity of the nitrate (NO3-). The highest NO3- total amount recorded was of 1170 ppm while the smallest was of 641 ppm. Leaching capacity of the other nutrients, is more reduced compared with nitrate. The levigation capacity inreased in order K+> PO43-> NH4+. The results indicated also that the nutrients leaching is significantly greater for manure treatments than that of straw treatments. The greatest loss of nutrients was observed in high biological diversity treatments. [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]

The article emphasizes the results obtained in 2013, concerning the water quality in urban areas, Cluj - Napoca, respectively. The samples were harvested from the public network, from points located in the same places as last year, districts: Zorilor, Mărăşti, Grigorescu, Gheorgheni, Mănăştur, and center of the municipality of Cluj -Napoca. There were periodically recorded (three time a week), during March 4th - May 26th, 2013, the following water quality parameters: pH, conductivity and turbidity from the established monitoring points, pH monitoring led to average values within normal limits, except that from the center of the municipality of Cluj - Napoca, while the monitoring of conductivity led to average values that frame within normal limits, except the center of the municipality of Cluj - Napoca. The water turbidity frames in normal limits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to quantify the levels of largely distributed organochlorine compounds(pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls) in various biological media of animal origin from Cluj County,Romania. Organochlorine pesticides residues (DDT and its metabolites, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin,hexachlorbenzene, heptachlor, α-hexachlorcyclohexane, β-hexachlorcyclohexane, ?-hexachlorcyclohexaneand ?-hexachlorcyclohexane) were detected in 2.3-62.5% cow milk samples, lacteous sub-products andbovine fat tissue samples without exceeding maximum admitted limits according to the 86/363 Directive ofthe European Council. Polychlorinated biphenyls residues (PCB-28, -52, -101, -138, -153 and -180) wereidentified in 42.43-60.87% of analyzed samples with mean values similar to those previously reported inproducts and sub-products of animal origin in other geographical areas from Romania. Hence, the presenceof persistent organic pollutants acting as endocrine disruptors in products and sub-products of animalorigin from Cluj County is confirmed, thus supporting the passage and bio/accumulation of thesecompounds across the trophic chain to the man. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]