Nowadays, urban centres in countries of the Western Balkan region (including Bosnia and Herzegovi... more Nowadays, urban centres in countries of the Western Balkan region (including Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H)) are experiencing some of the poorest European and global air quality due to the extensive use of solid fuels (e.g., wood, coal) and old vehicle fleet. Western Balkan countries lack state-of-the-art atmospheric sciences research despite high levels of ambient pollution, which makes the efforts to understand the mechanisms of their air pollution imperative. The city of Sarajevo, the capital of B&H, is situated in a basin surrounded by mountains. Particularly during the winter months, topography and meteorology cause significant pollution episodes. The Sarajevo Canton Winter Field Campaign 2018 (SAFICA) took place from Dec 04, 2017 to Mar 15, 2018 with on-line aerosol measurements and collection of daily, continuous filter PM10 samples for off-line laboratory analyses. SAFICA aimed to give the first detailed characterization of the Western Balkans aerosol composition including org...
International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 2021
The study at hand presents for the first time the use of pyrophyllite as adsorbent for nitrate re... more The study at hand presents for the first time the use of pyrophyllite as adsorbent for nitrate removal from soil and artificial fertilizers. A series of column and batch adsorption experiments were conducted to examine the effects of the adsorbent’s various parameters, the contact time, pH of the solution, the initial concentration of nitrate, concentration and adsorbent granulometry. Pyrophyllite fractions of 0.25, 0.50 and 1.00 mm had very similar pH values of aqueous suspensions and were in the weakly basic range. Nitrate adsorption capacity on pyrophyllite expressed by recovery factor values ranges from 93.14 to 99.77%. High recovery factor values from 90.44 to 97.45% for 1, 3, 5 and 8 mL min−1 flow rates were obtained using all pyrophyllite fractions. Nitrate removal was very effective by the contact time of 1 and 2 h, and the recovery factor values were in the range of 90.38–91.47% and 92.15–93.18% for a contact time of 1 h and 2 h, respectively. In addition, elution of nitrate from pyrophyllite was performed using the following solution with different pH values: 1.70 (synthetic gastric juice), 6.40 (rainwater), 7.70 (distilled water), 9.30 and 12.50 (NaOH solution). Elution was very low for all used solutions and was the highest at the pH 9.30. The results show that the use of pyrophyllite for removal of nitrate from artificial fertilizers and soil was an adequate approach because it has a high nitrate adsorption capacity, while the nitrate elution from the pyrophyllite was very low.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are compounds known for their adverse effects on human he... more Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are compounds known for their adverse effects on human health. Many of them are proven carcinogens, especially those with 5 and 6 aromatic rings, which under normal tropospheric conditions are found in the particle-phase. Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) is often measured as their general representative. Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is among the European cities with the poorest air quality. However, in Sarajevo PAHs are neither routinely measured within the air quality monitoring network nor have been a subject of extended, continuous field studies during the most polluted cold periods of the year. The capital of Croatia, Zagreb, is located approximately 300 km air distance north-west from Sarajevo. PAH mass concentrations in Zagreb have been measured continuously since 1994 within air quality monitoring networks. During winter 2017/2018, the SAFICA project (Sarajevo Canton Winter Field Campaign 2018) was carried out in order to characterize the chemical composition of organic and inorganic aerosol in the Sarajevo Canton. This paper presents the results of PAH measurements in the cities of Sarajevo and Zagreb at one urban location per city. Daily (24 h), continuous samples of PM10 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters ≤10 μm) were collected during heating season, from December 27, 2017 to February 27, 2018. Mass concentrations of eleven particle-phase PAHs in Sarajevo and Zagreb from filter samples collected during the same period were compared. The average BaP ambient mass concentrations in Sarajevo and Zagreb were 6.93 ng m-3 and 3.11 ng m-3, respectively. The contribution of BaP to the total PAH mass concentration was similar at both locations (11%). However, much higher contributions of particle-phase fluoranthene and pyrene were found in Sarajevo. Contributions of individual PAH, diagnostic ratios and factor analysis indicate that combustion of gasoline and diesel from vehicle traffic are a potential source of PAHs at both locations, as well as combustion of other liquid fossil fuels (petroleum and fuel oil). Wood burning was occasionally indicated as a PAH emission source in Zagreb, while in Sarajevo the contribution of PAHs from wood and coal combustion was more evident. Calculated value for total carcinogenic potency (TCP) of PAHs, which was estimated using toxic equivalence factors from the literature, in PM10 samples collected in Sarajevo was more than twice higher than in Zagreb (10.6 ng m-3 and 4.7 ng m-3, respectively). BaP had the highest contribution to the TCP at both locations (69 and 67%).
ABSTRACT Airborne particulate matter of up to 10 µm collected at an urban and a rural area at Sar... more ABSTRACT Airborne particulate matter of up to 10 µm collected at an urban and a rural area at Sarajevo in 2013 and 2014 was acid digested for determination of total concentrations or extracted with synthetic gastric juice for the bioaccessible fractions of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn and determined by graphite furnace and flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The total concentrations of Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, and V were higher at the urban site, while those of Cd, Ni, and Zn were virtually equal at both sites. The average bioaccessible fractions exhibited the following trend at both sites: Fe > Zn > Cu > Mn > Pb > Cr > V > Ni > Cd. Enrichment factors and daily intake of metals by inhalation were calculated.
In this study, Cu, Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr, Co, Mn, Fe, and Zn metal levels of 24 fruits and 17 vegetables... more In this study, Cu, Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr, Co, Mn, Fe, and Zn metal levels of 24 fruits and 17 vegetables were determined by using atomic absorption spectrometry, flame technique. Presence of heavy metal in randomly collected samples of different types of fruits and vegetables from various markets and shopping centers in Sarajevo city was detected. The levels of metals in almost all samples (washed) were found bellow from the maximum permissible limit recommended by WHO/FAO. All the fruits and vegetables could generally be characterized by low levels of cadmium (0.25-0.66 μg/g), chromium (0.74-1.66 μg/g), nickel (0.33-9.33μg/g), lead and cobalt (levels were below detection limit), and relatively high levels of zinc (0.62-55.41 μg/g), copper (0.86-68.41 μg/g), iron (5.74-173.22 μg/g) and manganese (0.72-258.78 μg/g).
International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology
Samples of lichens, mosses and soil were used to compare lichen Hypogymnia physodes and moss Hypn... more Samples of lichens, mosses and soil were used to compare lichen Hypogymnia physodes and moss Hypnum Cupressiforme as air pollution bioindicators by heavy metals and for air and soil pollution estimation. The content of heavy metals Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry, and Hg was determined by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry. Mean concentrations of Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn in lichens were 17.77, 0.49, 1.20, 7.73, 9.61, 4179, 0.014, 35.05, 7.30, 12.18 and 41.32 mg/kg, in mosses 19.34, 0.62, 3.01, 11.34, 10.48, 1696, 0.043, 135, 13.68, 54.52 and 54.79 mg/kg, and finally in soil 96.50, 2.23, 15.77, 46.79, 30.35, 24,343, 0.338, 833, 55.71, 42.86 and 86.19, respectively. Comparison of metal content in lichens and mosses sampled at the same locations showed a very strong to strong correlation for Bi, Ni, Cd, Fe, Pb, Co and Cr. Metal content in biological materials ranged from very high naturality to very high alteration. Very strong correlations of Bi with Cd and Pb and strong correlations for the pairs of Bi–Co, Cu, Fe, Ni, Ni–Co, Cr–Cu, Cd–Co, Co–Cr and Co–Hg were obtained in lichens. In the case of mosses, very strong correlations were obtained for Bi–Cd and Bi–Pb and strong correlations of Cd with Co, Ni, and Pb, Cr with Hg and Co were determined. In addition, the results were interpreted through enrichment factors reflecting the atmospheric availability of anthropogenic pollutant heavy metals.
Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 2021
Abstract The objective of the study was to assess the health risk related to the presence of heav... more Abstract The objective of the study was to assess the health risk related to the presence of heavy metals in street dust samples collected from Canton Sarajevo (CS). Street dust samples (42) were grouped in three categories: high density traffic roads, medical centers/parking and parks. The mean concentrations for Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) were 1.71, 30.99, 74.85, 674.4, 221.9, 33.16, 41.46, 22.97 and 53.92 μg/g, respectively. According to correlation matrix analysis very strong positive correlation was found between Zn and Fe. The Hazard index (HI) values for non-carcinogenic substances for adults and children were 2.46E-1 and 1.31E + 00, respectively. There is a possibility of occurring of non-carcinogenic effects of street dust on children, as opposed to adults. Exposure pathway that most impact the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk, for both, children and adults, is the ingestion followed by the dermal and inhalation route. The carcinogenic risk caused by Cd, Cr and Pb in the street dust could be considered negligible.
Trace metals are natural components of the environment but they have become a matter of great con... more Trace metals are natural components of the environment but they have become a matter of great concern because of the continuous increase in the concentrations of these metals in our environment. Atmospheric deposition is considered a major source of toxic metals such as Hg, Cd, Pb and several others in the ecosystem. The increasing use of rainwater as an alternative household water source has led to the increased interest in the monitoring of rainwater quality. <br> <br> The heavy metal (Cu, Cr, Cd, Mn, Ni and Hg) in samples of atmospheric precipitation was determined in order to assess possible contamination of rainwater. The samples were collected continuously during three seasons (winter, spring and summer) in the period from December 2009 to June 2010. The sampling was conducted at two sites of the Sarajevo Canton: Bjelave (urban area) and Ivan Sedlo (rural area). The results showed that heavy metal contents (except copper and cadmium) were higher in samples from Bje...
Nowadays, urban centres in countries of the Western Balkan region (including Bosnia and Herzegovi... more Nowadays, urban centres in countries of the Western Balkan region (including Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H)) are experiencing some of the poorest European and global air quality due to the extensive use of solid fuels (e.g., wood, coal) and old vehicle fleet. Western Balkan countries lack state-of-the-art atmospheric sciences research despite high levels of ambient pollution, which makes the efforts to understand the mechanisms of their air pollution imperative. The city of Sarajevo, the capital of B&H, is situated in a basin surrounded by mountains. Particularly during the winter months, topography and meteorology cause significant pollution episodes. The Sarajevo Canton Winter Field Campaign 2018 (SAFICA) took place from Dec 04, 2017 to Mar 15, 2018 with on-line aerosol measurements and collection of daily, continuous filter PM10 samples for off-line laboratory analyses. SAFICA aimed to give the first detailed characterization of the Western Balkans aerosol composition including org...
International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 2021
The study at hand presents for the first time the use of pyrophyllite as adsorbent for nitrate re... more The study at hand presents for the first time the use of pyrophyllite as adsorbent for nitrate removal from soil and artificial fertilizers. A series of column and batch adsorption experiments were conducted to examine the effects of the adsorbent’s various parameters, the contact time, pH of the solution, the initial concentration of nitrate, concentration and adsorbent granulometry. Pyrophyllite fractions of 0.25, 0.50 and 1.00 mm had very similar pH values of aqueous suspensions and were in the weakly basic range. Nitrate adsorption capacity on pyrophyllite expressed by recovery factor values ranges from 93.14 to 99.77%. High recovery factor values from 90.44 to 97.45% for 1, 3, 5 and 8 mL min−1 flow rates were obtained using all pyrophyllite fractions. Nitrate removal was very effective by the contact time of 1 and 2 h, and the recovery factor values were in the range of 90.38–91.47% and 92.15–93.18% for a contact time of 1 h and 2 h, respectively. In addition, elution of nitrate from pyrophyllite was performed using the following solution with different pH values: 1.70 (synthetic gastric juice), 6.40 (rainwater), 7.70 (distilled water), 9.30 and 12.50 (NaOH solution). Elution was very low for all used solutions and was the highest at the pH 9.30. The results show that the use of pyrophyllite for removal of nitrate from artificial fertilizers and soil was an adequate approach because it has a high nitrate adsorption capacity, while the nitrate elution from the pyrophyllite was very low.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are compounds known for their adverse effects on human he... more Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are compounds known for their adverse effects on human health. Many of them are proven carcinogens, especially those with 5 and 6 aromatic rings, which under normal tropospheric conditions are found in the particle-phase. Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) is often measured as their general representative. Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is among the European cities with the poorest air quality. However, in Sarajevo PAHs are neither routinely measured within the air quality monitoring network nor have been a subject of extended, continuous field studies during the most polluted cold periods of the year. The capital of Croatia, Zagreb, is located approximately 300 km air distance north-west from Sarajevo. PAH mass concentrations in Zagreb have been measured continuously since 1994 within air quality monitoring networks. During winter 2017/2018, the SAFICA project (Sarajevo Canton Winter Field Campaign 2018) was carried out in order to characterize the chemical composition of organic and inorganic aerosol in the Sarajevo Canton. This paper presents the results of PAH measurements in the cities of Sarajevo and Zagreb at one urban location per city. Daily (24 h), continuous samples of PM10 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters ≤10 μm) were collected during heating season, from December 27, 2017 to February 27, 2018. Mass concentrations of eleven particle-phase PAHs in Sarajevo and Zagreb from filter samples collected during the same period were compared. The average BaP ambient mass concentrations in Sarajevo and Zagreb were 6.93 ng m-3 and 3.11 ng m-3, respectively. The contribution of BaP to the total PAH mass concentration was similar at both locations (11%). However, much higher contributions of particle-phase fluoranthene and pyrene were found in Sarajevo. Contributions of individual PAH, diagnostic ratios and factor analysis indicate that combustion of gasoline and diesel from vehicle traffic are a potential source of PAHs at both locations, as well as combustion of other liquid fossil fuels (petroleum and fuel oil). Wood burning was occasionally indicated as a PAH emission source in Zagreb, while in Sarajevo the contribution of PAHs from wood and coal combustion was more evident. Calculated value for total carcinogenic potency (TCP) of PAHs, which was estimated using toxic equivalence factors from the literature, in PM10 samples collected in Sarajevo was more than twice higher than in Zagreb (10.6 ng m-3 and 4.7 ng m-3, respectively). BaP had the highest contribution to the TCP at both locations (69 and 67%).
ABSTRACT Airborne particulate matter of up to 10 µm collected at an urban and a rural area at Sar... more ABSTRACT Airborne particulate matter of up to 10 µm collected at an urban and a rural area at Sarajevo in 2013 and 2014 was acid digested for determination of total concentrations or extracted with synthetic gastric juice for the bioaccessible fractions of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn and determined by graphite furnace and flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The total concentrations of Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, and V were higher at the urban site, while those of Cd, Ni, and Zn were virtually equal at both sites. The average bioaccessible fractions exhibited the following trend at both sites: Fe > Zn > Cu > Mn > Pb > Cr > V > Ni > Cd. Enrichment factors and daily intake of metals by inhalation were calculated.
In this study, Cu, Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr, Co, Mn, Fe, and Zn metal levels of 24 fruits and 17 vegetables... more In this study, Cu, Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr, Co, Mn, Fe, and Zn metal levels of 24 fruits and 17 vegetables were determined by using atomic absorption spectrometry, flame technique. Presence of heavy metal in randomly collected samples of different types of fruits and vegetables from various markets and shopping centers in Sarajevo city was detected. The levels of metals in almost all samples (washed) were found bellow from the maximum permissible limit recommended by WHO/FAO. All the fruits and vegetables could generally be characterized by low levels of cadmium (0.25-0.66 μg/g), chromium (0.74-1.66 μg/g), nickel (0.33-9.33μg/g), lead and cobalt (levels were below detection limit), and relatively high levels of zinc (0.62-55.41 μg/g), copper (0.86-68.41 μg/g), iron (5.74-173.22 μg/g) and manganese (0.72-258.78 μg/g).
International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology
Samples of lichens, mosses and soil were used to compare lichen Hypogymnia physodes and moss Hypn... more Samples of lichens, mosses and soil were used to compare lichen Hypogymnia physodes and moss Hypnum Cupressiforme as air pollution bioindicators by heavy metals and for air and soil pollution estimation. The content of heavy metals Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry, and Hg was determined by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry. Mean concentrations of Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn in lichens were 17.77, 0.49, 1.20, 7.73, 9.61, 4179, 0.014, 35.05, 7.30, 12.18 and 41.32 mg/kg, in mosses 19.34, 0.62, 3.01, 11.34, 10.48, 1696, 0.043, 135, 13.68, 54.52 and 54.79 mg/kg, and finally in soil 96.50, 2.23, 15.77, 46.79, 30.35, 24,343, 0.338, 833, 55.71, 42.86 and 86.19, respectively. Comparison of metal content in lichens and mosses sampled at the same locations showed a very strong to strong correlation for Bi, Ni, Cd, Fe, Pb, Co and Cr. Metal content in biological materials ranged from very high naturality to very high alteration. Very strong correlations of Bi with Cd and Pb and strong correlations for the pairs of Bi–Co, Cu, Fe, Ni, Ni–Co, Cr–Cu, Cd–Co, Co–Cr and Co–Hg were obtained in lichens. In the case of mosses, very strong correlations were obtained for Bi–Cd and Bi–Pb and strong correlations of Cd with Co, Ni, and Pb, Cr with Hg and Co were determined. In addition, the results were interpreted through enrichment factors reflecting the atmospheric availability of anthropogenic pollutant heavy metals.
Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 2021
Abstract The objective of the study was to assess the health risk related to the presence of heav... more Abstract The objective of the study was to assess the health risk related to the presence of heavy metals in street dust samples collected from Canton Sarajevo (CS). Street dust samples (42) were grouped in three categories: high density traffic roads, medical centers/parking and parks. The mean concentrations for Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) were 1.71, 30.99, 74.85, 674.4, 221.9, 33.16, 41.46, 22.97 and 53.92 μg/g, respectively. According to correlation matrix analysis very strong positive correlation was found between Zn and Fe. The Hazard index (HI) values for non-carcinogenic substances for adults and children were 2.46E-1 and 1.31E + 00, respectively. There is a possibility of occurring of non-carcinogenic effects of street dust on children, as opposed to adults. Exposure pathway that most impact the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk, for both, children and adults, is the ingestion followed by the dermal and inhalation route. The carcinogenic risk caused by Cd, Cr and Pb in the street dust could be considered negligible.
Trace metals are natural components of the environment but they have become a matter of great con... more Trace metals are natural components of the environment but they have become a matter of great concern because of the continuous increase in the concentrations of these metals in our environment. Atmospheric deposition is considered a major source of toxic metals such as Hg, Cd, Pb and several others in the ecosystem. The increasing use of rainwater as an alternative household water source has led to the increased interest in the monitoring of rainwater quality. <br> <br> The heavy metal (Cu, Cr, Cd, Mn, Ni and Hg) in samples of atmospheric precipitation was determined in order to assess possible contamination of rainwater. The samples were collected continuously during three seasons (winter, spring and summer) in the period from December 2009 to June 2010. The sampling was conducted at two sites of the Sarajevo Canton: Bjelave (urban area) and Ivan Sedlo (rural area). The results showed that heavy metal contents (except copper and cadmium) were higher in samples from Bje...
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