Lipid Biomarkers in Urban Soils of the Alluvial Area near Sava River, Belgrade, Serbia.

This study focused on the investigation of soil samples from the alluvial zone of the Sava River, located near the heating plant in New Belgrade, Serbia. Using gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID), a broad range of alkanes, including linear -alkanes (C to C) and isoprenoids, was analyzed in all samples. The obtained datasets were effectively made simpler by applying multivariate statistical analysis.

Investigation of potentially toxic elements in urban sediments in Belgrade, Serbia.

Concentrations of 10 potentially toxic trace elements were measured in soil samples collected from 18 sites in urban areas of Belgrade, the capital and the largest city in Serbia. Samples were analysed in order to assess the extent of soil contamination and to distinguish natural and anthropogenic input. The results demonstrated a general Zn, Pb, and Cd enrichment in surface samples, hence, after comparison with guidelines, it has been determined that there is a potential risk for human health.

Assessment of the environmental significance of nutrients and heavy metal pollution in the river network of Serbia.

In this paper, the data for ten water quality variables collected during 2009 at 75 monitoring sites along the river network of Serbia are considered. The results are alarming because 48% of the studied sites were contaminated by Ni, Mn, Pb, As, and nutrients, which are key factors impairing the water quality of the rivers in Serbia. Special attention should be paid to Zn and Cu, listed in the priority toxic pollutants of US EPA for aquatic life protection.

Evaluation of sediment contamination with heavy metals: the importance of determining appropriate background content and suitable element for normalization.

In the present study, concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Co, Mn, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Zn) were determined at 35 river sediments in Serbia. The anthropogenic heavy metals input and quantification of the metal enrichment degree in sediments were estimated by calculating geo-accumulation indices (I(geo)) and enrichment factors (EF). These pollution indices have been calculated using different background values (continental crust and local background values) and different element used for normalization (Al and Fe), followed by result comparison.

Freshwater environmental quality parameters of man-made lakes of Serbia.

In this study, 28 lakes were selected from the freshwater resources of the network of man-made lakes throughout the Vojvodina Province and the central part of Serbia. Samples were analyzed for the physicochemicals indicators of the water and nutrients. Most of the values of the chemicals indicators and nutrients of the samples from the Vojvodina Province exceeded the Water Act and Regulations on the Monitoring of Water Quality introduced by the Government of the Republic of Serbia (MWQ) and/or the World Health Organization (WHO) drinking water standards.