Articles

The study aims to assess the identification of the specific species of plants for selection of certain plant species and utilization of selected one’s in experimental biomonitoring studies.The purpose of the proposed study was to develop and apply new techniques, methods and methodologies for air quality assessing in the context of climate change and updating of international environmental studys. The novelty of the active biomonitoring method using plants is an innovative research area for the National Research and Development Institute for Industrial Ecology in terms of the use of sentinel species. The first stage research activity was aimed to identify plant species with specific response to certain environmental pollutants, in our case, ozone. By exposing higher plants (from the Solanaceae family) to various environmental conditions, a direct impact measurement of ground-level ozone was considered - as an indicator of environmental pollution (air) - there was a significant difference relationship between soil level ozone variation and foliar necrosis.

Fine particles (smaller than 2.5 µm) penetrate more deeply into the lungs than coarse particles (2.5–10 µm). Recent health studies indicate a link between fine particle concentrations in the outdoor air and certain health effects. Adverse health effects from breathing air with a high PM2.5 concentration include: premature death, increased respiratory symptoms and disease, chronic bronchitis, and decreased lung function particularly for individuals with asthma. In an effort to reduce and control the hazards associated with PM2.5, EPA (Ecological Protection Agency) issued federal standards in 1997 to be complied on a county basis. The guidance on monitoring published by EPA emphasizes placing monitors in areas impacted by fine particles that are also locations where people live, work, or play. The study covered by the present project is referred to determination over three years of the pollution level with PM2.5 particulate matter in areas with intense road traffic and assessment of this pollution on population health. This will be done by means of specific test, in a first phase for respiratory function, ventilator functions, respectively, and in a second phase the characteristic tests for the presence of poly- and mono-nuclear hydrocarbons in particulate matter. The tests in the second phase will include the tests for dosing α1 antitripsina, 1 hydroxypyrene and S-phenylmercaptic acid on batches of exposed and control human subjects. The present paper will present the level of pollution with PM2.5 in the area of interest. This level is based on measurement conducted according with SR EN 14907/2006 standard requirements. Also, the paper will present the dynamic of daily pollution level evolution in correlation with road traffic, both for cold and hot seasons.

Bucharest is one of the most polluted cities in Europe, with a very high population density and intense traffic. Because many residential buildings and shopping centers are located near different busy roads and crossroads, the air pollution induced by traffic affects the inhabitants in the area. The level of air pollution needs to be constantly monitored in order to take appropriate measures when the concentrations exceed the limits. Most of the measurement techniques require time and expensive equipment, therefore, a big attention turned into finding an air pollution indicator that could be precise enough, easily and cheap to determine. The paper presents some preliminary studies regarding the correlation between noise pollution and the concentrations of NO2, SO2, CO. The measurements were conducted at different distances from some very busy roads and crossroads in order to determine a pattern. The data have been processed with a statistical analysis program in order to establish if the noise level can be used to assess the urban air pollution generated by traffic. Most of the results indicate a good correlation between noise and chemical pollutants. Noise level can be a good indicator for air pollution, especially for the situation when there is no need of a precise determination.

Air pollution is a serious problem in many heavily populated and industrialized areas in the world. It affects vegetation, and also human health. The diversification of emission sources, among them vehicles, industrial processes, waste burnings and fuel storage, create zones with different species and concentrations of air pollutants. In this paper was studied the excessive accumulation of toxic metals such as Al, Cr, Ni, Zn, Pb in vegetation as a risk factor for ecosystem and also for human health. The purpose of the study was to establish an optimal method of determination for toxic elements accumulation in leaves, using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). These results made to suppose that, visible and analyzed responses of in in-situ exposed bio monitors compared with heavy metal accumulation depended on the atmospheric situation during the period of exposure, which could assess the efficiency of biomonitoring programs in the region. The advantage of this study consists in new and appropriate approach using a friendly methodology for air monitoring and favoring the development of a circular and sustainable economy.