Critically raw materials as potential emerging environmental contaminants, their distribution patterns, risks and behaviour in floodplain soils contaminated by heavy metals.

The expanding demand for new critical raw materials can lead to their increased release to the environment in the form of emerging environmental contaminants (EECs). However, there has never been a comprehensive study that takes into account the total EEC content, the content of various EEC fractions, their behaviour in floodplain soils, and potential ecological and human health risks. The occurrence, fractions, and influencing factors of the seven EECs (Li, Be, Sr, Ba, V, B, Se) originating from historical mining in floodplain soils of various ecosystems (arable lands, grasslands, riparian zones, contaminated sites) were investigated. Based on the evaluation of the overall levels of EECs (potentially toxic elements) in comparison to the soil guideline values set by European legislation for Be, Ba, V, B, and Se, it was found that only Be did not exceed the recommended limits. Among the elements analyzed, Li had the highest average contamination factor (CF) of 5.8, followed by Ba with 1.5 and B with 1.4. Particularly concerning was the discovery of a potential serious health risk associated with Li exposure for children, as indicated by hazard quotients ranging from 0.128 to 1.478. With the exception of Be and Se, the partitioning of the EECs into the different fractions revealed that the EECs are primarily bound with the residual fraction. Be (13.8%) had the highest percentage of exchangeable fraction as the most bioavailable in the first soil layer, followed by Sr (10.9%), Se (10.2%), Ba (10.0%), and B (2.9%). The most frequently observed correlations were between EEC fractions and pH/KCl, followed by soil organic carbon and manganese hydrous oxides. Variance analyses confirmed the impact of different ecosystems on EEC total content and fractions.

The Importance of Environmental Food Quality Labels for Regional Producers: A Slovak Case Study.

Regional products are considered an important element of European cultural identity, contributing to the development and sustainability of rural areas. The article presents the research of regional labels from the territory of the Slovak Republic. Our research was aimed at determining the views of producers towards the regional product labeling scheme. The survey took place from January 2020 to April 2020 using an online questionnaire via Google Docs. The results obtained from the questionnaire survey were statistically processed: t-test, Fisher's exact test, and Pearson correlation coefficient. We used Microsoft Excel and IBM SPSS Statistics 23 software. Based on the research results, we can state that two-thirds of producers (71.8%) are aware of the concept of a regional product. Most producers (82.0%) associate this concept with tradition and a specific region. They consider regional product labeling to be a tool to support the development of tourism (36.0%). A quarter of producers (25.7%) joined this scheme in order to add value to their products and help make consumers perceive them as safer products of higher quality. Based on the research results, we would recommend increasing the promotion of regional products on the part of the label coordinator.

The Relations between Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Exposure and 1-OHP Levels as a Biomarker of the Exposure.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are the products of incomplete combustion or pyrolysis of various organic materials. Their ubiquity in the environment leads to measurable levels of exposure. However, the exposure varies strongly between different regions in Europe. Some PAHs with four or more rings are suspected to be human carcinogens. Therefore, the occupational and/or environmental exposure to PAHs may cause a significant health risk. The aim of the study was to evaluate current levels of PAH exposure in defined groups of workers. METHODS: The industrial sites selected in this survey involved PAHs originating from coal tar pitch, carbon black, bitumen, and rubber fumes. Based on the historical data, the sites were expected to exhibit quantifiable levels of exposure to PAHs. The total study population consisted of 139 persons: 108 workers (85 males and 23 females) workers were occupationally exposed in aluminium production, the production of graphite electrodes, road construction, or the rubber forming industry and 31 control individuals in two groups. RESULTS: The highest concentrations ­ 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) levels (sum of 16 components according to the EPA list), as expected, were found in the aluminium production plant (55.15 µg.m−3) and production of graphite electrodes (54.25 µg.m−3). The lowest concentrations were found in personal air samples of road construction workers (1.93 µg.m−3). The concentrations of 1-hydroxypyrene as a pyrene metabolite (1-OHP) in the urine of the exposed group of workers were found in levels 0.74 µmol.mol−1 creatinine before the exposure and 2.27 µmol.mol−1 creatinine after the exposure (arithmetic mean values). 1-OHP concentrations in post-shift urine samples were highly correlated with the total airborne PAHs concentrations and pyrene concentrations in air. The correlation coefficients (rS) between 1-OHP concentration and pyrene or total PAHs in air were 0.710 and 0.752 (p < 0.05). This statistical analysis confirmed the effect of the occupational exposure to PAHs and pyrene on body burden in workers. However, a modifying effect of gender, smoking habits, dietary intake, genetically modified metabolism, and the use of medication on the toxicokinetics of pyrene was not determined as significant. CONCLUSION: Based on the results a strong correlation between the concentration of 1-OHP in urine as an exposure biomarker and the concentration of pyrene or PAH was affirmed.

Environmental exposure to hydrogen sulfide in central Slovakia (Ruzomberok area) in context of health risk assessment.

The activities of the kraft pulp-mill in Ruzomberok have great impact on ambient air quality in the town and the neighboring villages. The malodorous sulfur compounds adversely contribute to the overall emission profile. The reduced sulfur proportion forms the inorganic and organic compounds containing sulfur atoms in their lowest oxidation condition (S2-). The total sulfur proportion reduced includes hydrogen sulfide, mercaptans, dimethyl sulfide, dimethyl disulfide and other sulfur compounds. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S)--as mentioned above--is of prime importance. The kraft pulp-mill has measured of hydrogen sulfide contained in ambient air since 2002. The environmental samples were collected in 7 localities in all their selection based on the geographic, climatic and demographic factors. Four exposure localities in the Ruzomberok neighborhood, have been defined by the specified criteria. Exposure assessment was made for each exposure locality by determination of the average daily inhalation dose. The average concentration of H2S reached 5.8 microg x m(-3) in the most polluted locality (Cernová, 2003). To complete the health risk assessment, the standard risk characterization procedure was made by the Hazard Quotient (HQ) calculation for hydrogen sulfide exposure. The highest level of HQ, almost 7, was identified in the event of a worst case exposure scenario (using the 95% concentrations), as for exposure group C. Statistically significant decrease of reported H2S levels was noted during the entire measurement period (-0.25/year, p < 0.001).