Chemometric analysis of groundwater quality data around municipal landfill and paper factory and their potential influence on population's health.

AIM: To assess the level of 15 groundwater quality parameters in groundwater samples collected around municipal landfill and paper factory in order to evaluate usefulness of the groundwater and its possible implication on the human health. METHODS: Obtained data have been analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) technique, in order to differentiate the groundwater samples on the basis of their compositional differences and origin. RESULTS: Wastes and effluents from municipal landfill did not contribute significantly to the pollution of the aquatic medium. Groundwater degradation caused by high contents of nitrate, mineral oils, organic and inorganic matters was particularly expressed in the narrow area of the city centre, near the paper factory and most likely it has occurred over a long period of time. The results have shown that the concentrations of the most measured parameters (NO3-N, NH4-N, oils, organic matter, Fe, Pb, Ni and Cr) were above allowed limits for drinking and domestic purposes. CONCLUSIONS: This study has provided important information on ecological status of the groundwater systems and for identification of groundwater quality parameters with concentrations above allowable limits for human consumption. The results generally revealed that groundwater assessed in this study mainly does not satisfy safe limits for drinking water and domestic use. As a consequence, contaminated groundwater becomes a large hygienic and toxicological problem, since it considerably impedes groundwater utilization. Even though, all of these contaminants have not yet reached toxic levels, they still represent long term risk for health of the population.

Changes in the lower Drava River water quality parameters over 24 years.

The goal of this study was to analyse 13 physico-chemical and microbiological parameters of the Drava River water at three sampling sites in the lower Drava region (eastern Croatia) over two distinct periods: the pre-war period between 1985 and 1992 and the post-war period between 1993 and 2008. Over both periods, most parameters kept within the tolerable water quality limits, while NO3-N, NH4-N and BOD5 were higher. The lower Drava showed slight organic pollution with high concentrations of dissolved oxygen. High levels of total coliforms and heterotrophic bacteria in the post-war period were only found downstream of the town of Osijek. Upstream of Osijek, the river showed a tendency for improvement.

An analysis of the pollution problem in Slavonski Brod (eastern Croatia).

H2S, PM2.5, O3, NO2, SO2 and meteorological parameters such as temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, wind speed and wind direction were measured simultaneously in an eastern Croatian town called Slavonski Brod during the season winter/spring 2010. Emissions from the nearby cross-border (Bosnia and Herzegovina) oil refinery were identified as sources of temporary elevated concentrations of H2S. The maximum daily averages of PM2.5 concentrations during the winter period were as high as 240 microg m(-3) which is a value 10 times greater than the threshold prescribed by the World Health Organization. It is considered that the heating season, dense traffic, intense industrial activities and temperature inversion during stable weather conditions are prevailing contributors to higher winter concentrations of PM2.5. The results of the principal component analysis technique (PCA) have shown that lower air temperature, lower wind speed and higher relative humidity play a significant role in the winter pollution episodes. From a public health point of view, implementation of measures aimed at reducing the levels of H2S and PM2.5 should be considered.